Aaron Rodgers agrees to restructured Jets contract

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Aaron Rodgers has signed a reworked contract with the Jets and gave them a huge discount.

The superstar quarterback inked a two-year, $75 million contract, a league source said. It’s fully guaranteed and nearly $35 million less than Rodgers had remaining on his contract.

Rodgers said after practice Wednesday that he had agreed to a new deal and that the details would come out later in the day. It’s no surprise that Rodgers signed a multi-year deal, but the money he gave back was eye-opening. It also shows how much he wants to win and is committed to the Jets.

For the trade from Green Bay to go through, Rodgers had to agree to convert his $58.3 million bonus this season to a salary of $1.165 million. That put Rodgers on the books for $107.55 million next year.

The cap hit on Rodgers’ new deal will be spread out over five years. It will give the Jets much more flexibility as they hope to continue to put players around Rodgers.

Rodgers made it clear earlier in the day that he's happy with the Jets and his intention is to play beyond this season.

“Definitely some of it is how much fun I’m having,” Rodgers said. “It’s all about the body, how the body feels. The team gave up significant pieces for it just to be a one-year deal. I’m aware of that. I think there was an awareness of that. Anything can happen with my body and with the success we have this year.

“I’m having a blast. I don’t really see this as a one-year and done thing.”

Rodgers, who will turn 40 in December, said he’s always wanted to play into his 40s. He brought up Tom Brady who was still playing when he was 45.

“Being a 40-year-old starter was a goal, just because that’s a big number,” Rodgers said. “To put yourself in that position means you got to really take care of yourself in the offseason. I adjusted some things with that goal in mind.

“Tom set the standard playing at 45, which is crazy. But less crazy when you start to get closer to that because you love the game and you still want to be there doing it. If you take care of yourself the right way, you put yourself in a position to at least entertain that thought.”

A four-time MVP, Rodgers has raised expectations for the Jets. They haven’t made the playoffs for 12 consecutive years. With Rodgers, it would be a major disappointment if the Jets don’t snap that drought.

He has also raised the Jets’ level of play during practice. Players on both sides of the football are praising Rodgers’ leadership and willingness to offer tips to help them improve. They believe playing with him and against him is making them better. Rodgers has made many throws that few quarterbacks can and certainly no one in a Jets’ uniform has in a long time.

“The guy glows in the dark,” Robert Saleh said. “He’s a pretty damn good quarterback.”

All signs pointed to Rodgers agreeing to play multiple years for the Jets when he left Green Bay, where he spent 18 seasons.

Rodgers believes the Jets have a legitimate chance to compete for a Super Bowl. He’s already built strong relationships with his teammates and his coaches.

He has an immense respect for Saleh and appreciates his leadership style. Rodgers is extremely close with offensive coordinator Nathanial Hackett, who spent three years in that role with Green Bay. Rodgers also said he’s “having a blast” working with passing game coordinator Todd Downing and quarterbacks coach Rob Calabrese, an East Islip product.

“It’s a new chapter,” Rodgers said. “It can be exciting. I think it’s going to be exciting for Green Bay moving on. It’s definitely been fun for me. … They stuck me in a really great corner where I got a bunch of funny [defensive] linemen on one side and [Allen] Lazard over on my left. That stuff’s all new. Getting to know the people around the facility is a lot of fun.

“Change can be difficult for sure, especially when it’s that drastic - 18 years in one spot. But if you can lean into it and embrace it, there are some really beautiful things on the other side that I’ve been experiencing so far. People have been great both in the City and in Jersey, and I’m just having a hell of a time.”

By Al Iannazzone

al.iannazzone@newsday.comAl_Iannazzone

Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.