Former Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers says there is no bad blood between him the organization that drafted him in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft. After all, he spent 18 great years in Green Bay, 15 as the starting quarterback, and, according to himself, became the best player in franchise history. The fact remains, though, that 2020-2022 were dramatic years for reasons completely separate from what was happening on the field.
In the years that followed the Packers drafting Jordan Love to eventually succeed him, Rodgers and the front office were in constant conflict. At one point, the future Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback demanded that general manager Brian Gutekunst be fired.
Of course, that did not happen. Instead, Rodgers was traded to the New York Jets where he promised a new winning era for the playoff-starved franchise. But that did not happen either. After missing the 2023 season due to injury, Rodgers has looked like a shadow of his former self on the field. What is more, his relationship with Jets owner Woody Johnson deteriorated, so much so that now it is being reported that the four-time NFL MVP will not be back in New York next season.
Will Former Green Bay Packers Quarterback Aaron Rodgers Play in the NFL in 2025?
![New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) passes the ball during the third quarter Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jets held off the Jaguars 32-25. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union], Green Bay Packers](https://wisportsheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/USATSI_25052232_168400517_lowres-scaled.jpg "Green Bay Packers: 3 Realistic Landing Spots for Former QB Aaron Rodgers in 2025 1")
The short answer to this question is that nobody knows, not even Rodgers himself. A few weeks ago, Rodgers told Pat McAfee that if he decided that the wanted to play in the NFL in 2025, he would like it to be with the Jets. However, he admitted that should they choose to move on from him, well, he would approach that situation if it happened.
Well, it appears to be happening.
The fact of the matter is that Rodgers has been contemplating retirement for some time. When he went into his darkness retreat following the 2022 season, he said that he was 90% retired; but when he emerged from the darkness and saw that the Packers were looking into trading him, his fire to play again returned.
That is the thing about Rodgers. Love it or hate it about him, he wants things on his terms. He may not 100% want to play in 2025, but he sure wants his career to end on his terms, and the team he is on deciding they do not want him is not his terms.
That being said, here are three NFL teams that realistically could be franchises Rodgers could play for in 2025 so that he can go out his own way.
1. The Seattle Seahawks
The thing about most quarterback-needy teams in the NFL is that they are years away from being competitive. At 41 years old, Rodgers likely has no desire to be a part of a rebuild. Ideally, for him, he would play for a team that is a quarterback away from being competitive, which is what everyone thought the Jets were when he first was traded there.
The 2024 Seahawks are 9-7 and out of the playoffs. Quarterback Geno Smith has a 70.2% completion percentage, but has thrown just 17 touchdowns and 15 interceptions, just one off the NFL lead.
Seattle can save $25 million in salary cap space if they cut Smith, which would, of course, leave their starting job wide open. Rodgers could go to Seattle for a year (and less money), play with their established offensive pieces, and mentor whatever young quarterback they bring in as his backup.
2. The Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers are 10-6 and in the NFL Playoffs this season. But both of their top two quarterbacks, Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, will be free agents after the year ends.
As they do not currently have a quarterback of the future, they could decide to bring in Rodgers, who has a good relationship with Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, and draft his successor in a similar situation described above.
Of course, this would mean they would not be interested in re-signing Wilson or Fields, and one might expect them to at least try to keep one of them. Still, the possibility of adding Rodgers might be one they do not let slip past them.
3. The Minnesota Vikings
Rodgers may have too much respect for the Packers to ever put on Vikings purple, but the fact remains he might be a great option for them.
Sam Darnold has had a fantastic season, but he will be a free agent and will likely command more money that Minnesota is going to be willing to pay.
Besides, they also have JJ McCarthy who, while he has missed the whole season with a torn ACL, is a former top-ten NFL Draft pick.
Rodgers could go to Minnesota and mentor McCarthy for a year while playing with a roster that won 14 games (so far) in 2024.
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