Jets' Aaron Glenn will not revisit decision to move on from Aaron Rodgers, but knows QB is still dangerous
Former Jet and current Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Jets head coach Aaron Glenn. Credit: AP/Gene J. Puskar; Lee S. Weissman
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Aaron Rodgers has long been in Aaron Glenn’s rearview mirror. He did not want to revisit his decision to move on from Rodgers as the Jets prepared to face their old quarterback this week.
“That's been gone,” Glenn said Tuesday. “I'm not going to answer questions about guys that are not here. Right now, I’m looking at what our guys can do. I'm not going to sit here and answer questions on what I saw back then. It’s not relevant right now.”
Glenn was hired as Jets coach in January. In February, he informed Rodgers that the Jets were going in a different direction at quarterback. The Jets signed Justin Fields and officially released Rodgers in March.
Rodgers will be back in MetLife Stadium on Sunday, leading the Steelers against the Jets in Glenn’s head coaching debut. Glenn was complimentary of Rodgers as a player and knows the Jets’ defense could have their hands full against the savvy 41-year-old quarterback.
“He challenges in all ways, as far as him as a thrower, getting guys in and out of the huddle, being able to see the defense, and being able to put the guys in the right position,” Glenn said. “Listen, he's a future Hall of Famer. We all know that. So he's going to cause problems no matter what.”
Rodgers is a four-time MVP who came to the Jets in 2023 with extreme hype and fanfare. The Jets were considered Super Bowl contenders both seasons with Rodgers. They failed to reach the playoffs each year.
The 2023 season was derailed when Rodgers tore his Achilles tendon four snaps into Week 1. Last year was more tumultuous. The Jets went 5-12 and had to endure the in-season firings of coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas.
Although Rodgers threw for 3,897 yards and 28 touchdowns last season, there was a noticeable dip in his sharpness and effectiveness. Rodgers’ 11 interceptions were the third highest of his career and he finished with the fewest wins when playing at least eight games.
It’s natural that skills decline as players age, but Glenn said Rodgers is still dangerous.
“I've had the opportunity to go against that player a number of times, and listen, he's always been someone that really understands what the coordinator’s thinking,” Glenn said. “You could tell he does a lot of film study. Mentally, that never goes away. Physically, we all start to wane at some point as we get older. But I know at that position, when mentally you’re on point, man, he makes it a challenge. On tape, you’re going to continue to see that. Shoot when he was here, you see that.”
Glenn decided he wanted to turn the team over to Fields, a gifted runner who still hasn’t established himself as a passer. Fields will be facing his old team on Sunday, too.
He started the first six games for Pittsburgh last season while Russell Wilson recovered from injury. Fields threw for five touchdowns and ran for five more and led the Steelers to a 4-2 record.
He said he “considered” returning to Pittsburgh before signing a two-year, $40 million contract with the Jets.
Fields called it “just another game,” but he could appreciate the interest in two quarterbacks swapping teams and opening the season against each other.
“Oh yeah, the story line’s crazy,” Fields said. “That's why the NFL set us up for Week 1, just for that. But it’s cool. Cool to kind of see that, and it's going to be fun, going up against these guys on Sunday.”
Sauce returns
Sauce Gardner, who has been sidelined with a calf issue for a few weeks, returned to practice and declared himself “back to 100%.”
Left guard John Simpson (back) and backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor (knee) also was back at practice. The Jets will release their first injury report of the season on Wednesday.
Gardner wanted captain title
Gardner, who signed a four-year, $120.4 million extension in July, was disappointed he wasn’t voted a captain by his teammates. He said he won’t let it affect him.
“That is something that I want at some point in my career,” Gardner said. “I feel like it’s not too common for a corner to be named a captain.”
Fields, Garrett Wilson and Alijah Vera-Tucker were voted captains on offense, Quinnen Williams and Jamien Sherwood on defense and Marcellino McCrary-Ball on special teams. Gardner said a tie led to three offensive captains being named.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
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