Aaron Rodgers Traded To the Jets: His First Week Summed Up

If you’ve been following football for the past few years, every off-season it’s been a waiting game as to what will happen next with the four-time league MVP Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers has played with the Green Bay Packers since the start of his career in 2005 when the Packers drafted him in the first round.

For the past few seasons, Rodgers has been considering options to depart the Packers, sign elsewhere, or even retire. Frustrated with the lack of Super Bowl appearances, Rodgers had kept Packers fans on the edge of their seats, anxiously dreading the day their quarterback would no longer play for their team. The Packers have only made it as far to the NFC Championship game during Rodgers’ campaign as a Packer.

This past week though, Rodgers has finally been on the move. It was announced that the New York Jets would be acquiring Aaron Rodgers and the Packers’ first and fifth-round picks in this past weekend’s draft. The Jets later traded their fifth-round pick from Green Bay to the Las Vegas Raiders in return for their sixth and seventh-round picks. The Jets’ first-round pick from Green Bay landed them Edge Rusher Will McDonald IV.

In his short time so far as a Jet, well, Rodgers has decided to wear the number eight on his jersey rather than 12 like he did during his time in Green Bay. “There are some iconic names that have played here — probably not more iconic than No. 12. And I heard what he said about retiring his number, but to me, 12 is Broadway Joe,” Rodgers told reporters at his introductory press conference Wednesday. Rodgers formerly wore the number eight during his time at Cal.

Rodgers has also continued to capture the hearts of New York sports fans, making an appearance at Madison Square Garden for game six of the first-round Metropolitan Division matchup between the New York Rangers and the New Jersey Devils Saturday evening. He also was spotted at the Garden again Sunday afternoon for game one of the NBA Playoffs as the New York Knicks took on the Miami Heat.

Rodgers’ future with New York looks hopeful, with lots of young talent backing him up and fan support both on and off the field. Only time will tell if Rogers will finally get his more than well-deserved Super Bowl ring.