Aaron Rodgers, of course, is the biggest name among the former Green Bay Packers who are now playing for the New York Jets. However, he was not the first one to officially commit to New York. Allen Lazard signed a four-year $44 million contract with the team after Rodgers announced on The Pat McAfee Show that he wanted to play for the Jets.
Rodgers was eventually traded to the Jets for a first and second round pick in this year’s draft and a conditional second round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. After the trade, numerous other former Packers, including Randall Cobb and Adrian Amos, signed with New York.
But just how much of Lazard and Rodgers playing together again in New York was planned between the two? As it turns out, quite a bit.
Aaron Rodgers and Allen Lazard Planned to Play for the New York Jets While Still Under Contract with the Green Bay Packers
The Jets, who are being featured on HBO’s “Hard Knocks,” have already reported to training camp. During a media session, Lazard was asked about how much he and Rodgers coordinated playing together in New York. He responded (via Pro Football Talk):
“There was probably an eight-hour period of time where I was like, ‘What the f—, bro?’ And he was like, ‘It’s going to happen.’ I was like, ‘All right.’ We obviously had a very deep conversation and talked about the possibilities of where he would go, where I would go.
Not to say that him going here was the only reason why I came here, or me coming here was the only reason why he didn’t want to retire or stay in Green Bay, per se, but I knew he was doing everything he could do. A lot of the hype around, ‘Why is it not happening?’ Well, he had no control. He would’ve done it way before then.
“At that time I was training with him out in California. I was seeing him at least two, three times a week, so maybe if I wasn’t there I would’ve been a little more worried. But I was pretty confident.”
It certainly sounds like the conversations that Rodgers and Lazard had were occurring shortly after the season ended. While Rodgers claims he was undecided and that he was leaning towards retirement, it is hard to imagine he would have walked away from over $100 million.
After the season ended, Lazard made the comment that the Packers had made it pretty clear that he would not be back in Green Bay next season. Rodgers, too, has since stated that he felt like the season-ending loss to Detroit was the last time he would put on a Packer uniform.
Based on Lazard’s comments above, it is clear that the two identified New York early on and, while neither could guarantee anything, did everything they could to play together there.
Well, it worked.
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