In a radio interview, Aaron Rodgers did not hesitate to return to his team, his ambitions and his connection with his offensive coordinator.
The 2023 season has been an annus horribilis for the Jets and their fans. Their immense hopes evaporated in a few snaps, torn with Aaron Rodgers' Achilles tendon.
But the star quarterback promises better days for the entire franchise, as he explained to SiriusXM last Thursday.
“I'm always confident, you know me, if I'm out there doing what I'm capable of. One: we will always have a chance. Two, it’s exciting because we are one of those 10 teams that can play for the title”
This dose of motivation and confidence will be necessary for the entire green army of New York.
“Last year we faced a lot of adversity, on and off the field. »
The New York Jets' first season with Aaron Rodgers at the helm was a disaster. Without its starting quarterback, the franchise ended up with a record of 7 wins for 10 losses and catastrophic offensive statistics. The offense scored 18 total touchdowns (32e of the league) for 15.8 points per game on average (29e).
Were Zach Wilson and Nathaniel Hackett responsible for this failure? Aaron Rodgers insistently defends the latter.
“You should trust me, and I trust Nathaniel. So for me, end of story. There was a lot of bullshit said. He (Hackett) has handled a lot of things very professionally over the last two years. In short, I think we have to believe in this relationship between him and me. »
Rodgers echoes Nathaniel Hackett's very difficult time with the Denver Broncos in 2022. An experience as head coach that did not last a year, with the worst offense in the league that year.
It probably also implies the harsh words of Sean Payton towards his predecessor.
No more room for error
Rodgers may be confident, but he remains pragmatic.
“We have to win, it’s obviously urgent. […] Some people don't like to talk about urgency, about expectations, about how our jobs hang by a thread every year. But that’s the reality of the NFL. »
There is urgency for the Jets, for whom the last positive season dates back to 2015, and the playoffs to 2010. The franchise has invested again this year (Haason Reddick, Mike Williams, etc.)
There is also urgency for Aaron Rodgers who will return from a serious injury at 40 years old.
And there is urgency for Nathaniel Hackett who will have to prove that his duo with his quarterback still works. Without Rodgers, Hackett only had one good season, with the Jaguars, in 2017.
