Aaron Rodgers is back in the headlines as he reflects on his NFL future and opens up about a recent, uncomfortable experience with the New York Jets. On Thursday’s episode of “The Pat McAfee Show,” Rodgers shared insights into what has been a turbulent offseason and recounted a tense exchange with the team’s new leadership.
The veteran quarterback explained that after hearing about changes in the Jets’ front office—bringing in former Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn as head coach and Darren Mougey as general manager—he made the decision to travel to the team facility on his own dime. His goal was to have a meaningful, face-to-face conversation about his status with the team. What he got instead was a brief, dismissive meeting that left him stunned.
Rodgers described the meeting as unexpectedly short—only about 15 minutes. He said he anticipated an in-depth conversation but was met almost immediately with a blunt statement. “I’m in the middle of a discussion with the GM, and Glenn leans in and says, ‘So do you want to play football?’ I said I was interested, and he responded, ‘We’re going in a different direction at quarterback,’” Rodgers recalled. “That’s when I realized the trip was unnecessary. A phone call would’ve sufficed.”
Rodgers went on to express confusion and disappointment over Glenn’s reasoning for parting ways. According to Rodgers, Glenn told him, “I don’t want to be addressing the team and have guys looking at you instead.” Rodgers found the comment puzzling and confronted him on it. “I said, ‘Are you suggesting I’d sit in the back of the room undermining you? You don’t even know me.’ And he replied, ‘You don’t know me either.’ That’s exactly why I came to meet in person,” Rodgers explained.
Despite understanding the team’s desire to move forward without him, Rodgers felt the meeting lacked respect and professionalism. He also believes the Jets passed on an opportunity to gain valuable insights from someone with two decades of NFL experience. “Why not ask for my perspective? I could’ve shared thoughts on the team, leadership qualities, areas for improvement. There was zero interest,” he said.
Rodgers concluded that Glenn’s handling of the situation seemed isolated and not representative of others within the organization, as he had more productive conversations with several other Jets personnel. Still, the way things ended left a bad taste. “I wasn’t angry, just disappointed,” Rodgers said. “The level of respect in that conversation didn’t match what I expected, although based on the past two years, maybe I shouldn’t have been surprised.
