Aaron Rodgers is Officially Out with the Jets: Where will He Go Next?

The NFL offseason is just getting underway, but one of the biggest questions has already been answered: Aaron Rodgers will not be a Jet in 2025.

This official announcement came on the heels of reports that the 41-year-old was given ultimatums by New York's management if they were to consider keeping him as their starting quarterback. Those demands included that he must no longer make outside media appearances (including his weekly ego-stroking on the Pat McAfee show) and attend the team's mandatory minicamps in the preseason (you would think the name “mandatory minicamp” already implied this, but Rodgers was not present for all of them last year).

It's unclear whether those restrictions were actually a sticking point or if the Jets were ready to move on regardless, but the future Hall of Famer is now officially looking for a new home. He certainly wasn't his MVP-winning self last season, but even as a proud hater myself, I must acknowledge that Rodgers was a top-32 quarterback in the NFL last season. If he is willing to take any starting job (which may be a big if), he will almost certainly find one. Let's break down the most likely new teams for Rodgers in 2025.

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Most Likely Landing Spots For Aaron Rodgers

Retirement

Let's just get the elephant in the room out of the way early — if I could only place a bet on one destination for Rodgers in 2025, it would be Costa Rica for another ayahuasca retreat. The two-time MVP is going to have suitors, but the teams that are likely to be interested aren't exactly the cream of the crop. Will Rodgers be okay with his 21st season in the league going to waste on a non-contender? Maybe not.

On the other hand, I do think there is an argument that, if Rodgers did plan on retiring, we would already know. It certainly would have softened the blow of his ignominious dismissal by the Jets if he instead announced that he was retiring — minicamp drama would quickly have been replaced by career highlight reels. I also wouldn't put it past Rodgers to believe that he still has the talent to singlehandedly turn some of the QB-needy teams around the league into contenders; he might not even be wrong, given how bad some of the quarterback play we saw last season was. Although retirement is more likely than any single landing spot, I would take the field before I would bet on Rodgers willingly fading into the sunset. 

Pittsburgh Steelers

When you think of teams that are a quarterback away from contention, the Steelers are undoubtedly the first team that comes to mind. After all, they even made the playoffs in 2024, riding a combination of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields to a Wild Card blowout. Both Wilson and Fields are free agents this offseason, but Pittsburgh still has an excellent defense and a top-tier coach (at least if your goal is to go 9-8 and lose in the Wild Card Round). 

However, there are questions to be asked about whether Rodgers in 2025 is even an upgrade over the Steelers' 2024 QB situation. Wilson outpaced his former NFC foe in both PFF Passing Grade (77.5 to 76.3) and adjusted net yards per attempt (6.39 to 5.87) last season. Fields ranked worse in both of those metrics, but he does add more value with his legs and has age firmly on his side. This may be the ideal landing spot for Rodgers, but I'm not so sure the Steelers will be interested.

Las Vegas Raiders

With regards to Rodgers, the Raiders are in essentially the opposite position of the Steelers. They desperately need a quarterback. The Jimmy Garoppolo/Aidan O'Connell/Gardner Minshew era was (shockingly) a failure, and the sixth pick in the draft is unlikely to be enough to land them either of the two top quarterback prospects in a weak class at the position. However, they don't exactly have an inspiring surrounding cast. Will Rodgers want to join a team that only won four games last season?

With that said, he may not have many options. The arrival of Pete Carroll in Vegas also makes this fit seem more plausible — Carroll and Rodgers likely have mutual respect from their time as rivals, and the 73-year-old head coach isn't likely to have signed up for a multi-year rebuild. Could the Davante Adams connection also help grease some wheels for Rodgers to end up in Sin City? The Raiders may actually be my top pick among NFL teams in terms of likelihood to land Rodgers.

Indianapolis Colts

While the first two teams on this list are essentially guaranteed to be adding a new starting quarterback this offseason, things aren't as certain in Indianapolis. Although he was benched halfway through the year for Joe Flacco, Anthony Richardson reclaimed his starting job and finished the season relatively strong. However, especially given that the same head coach and general manager pairing that benched him is still present, the former fourth-overall pick is undeniably on thin ice. 

If that ice is already fully broken and the Colts want a different starting quarterback for Week 1, their fit for Rodgers suddenly makes a lot of sense. Despite Richardson's struggles, Indianapolis finished with an 8-9 record last year. They were just two wins away from leading a very weak AFC South. They have a solid offensive line, plenty of weapons, and a good defense. In terms of teams that are genuinely a “QB away,” they may actually be on top of the list. The big question is whether they are ready to fully give up on Richardson, as Rodgers is not going to accept a landing spot where he has to fight for a starting job.  

Tennessee Titans

Most of what I said about the Raiders also applies to the Titans. Last year, they were very bad, and they have enough holes up and down their roster that Rodgers alone isn't going to elevate them to contention. Unlike the Raiders, they also have the first-overall pick, meaning they will have their choice of rookie quarterback. With that in mind, it's hard to see Rodgers landing in Tennessee.

However, we can also look at things differently. Recent rumors indicate that the Titans are seriously considering trading the first-overall pick — at the very least, this is a sign that they aren't 100% sold on any of the rookie signal-callers in this draft. If they are able to sell that pick for a haul of capital and players, they may look to make a quick turnaround with Rodgers at the helm. This is especially intriguing given that they are members of the same dismal AFC South division as the Colts. At the end of the day, the Titans need a quarterback, and Rodgers needs a team — that is enough to make this a plausible outcome. 

New York Giants

Maybe Rodgers doesn't have to go far to find his next home, as the other New York team is also in desperate need of a quarterback. The Giants' roster as a whole isn't very impressive, but they do have an elite young receiver in Malik Nabers.

More importantly, they join the Steelers, Raiders, and Titans as a team that is 100% guaranteed to have a new starting quarterback come Week 1. That could be a rookie, as they do have the third-overall pick in the draft. But this NFL offseason is looking like a game of quarterback musical chairs, and Rodgers and the Giants may simply both end up without other options when the music spots.  

Cleveland Browns

The Browns are a complete mess. They are going to be paying $46 million guaranteed (with a $73 million cap hit) to a serial rapist (allegedly) with a torn Achilles in 2025. Their best player, Myles Garrett, has requested a trade.

It seems like a truly terrible idea to add the drama that Rodgers brings into that mix … on the other hand, truly terrible ideas have been Cleveland's specialty of late. Their defense was still solid in 2024, and they have to have someone under center in 2025. This fit doesn't really make sense, which might be just why it makes all the sense in the world.

Unlikely Landing Spots For Aaron Rodgers

The following two teams are actually third and fourth, respectively, in betting odds to land Rodgers. But as far as I can tell, those numbers are being driven purely by narrative-based reasoning, without any real consideration for the football side of things. I would be absolutely shocked if Rodgers signed with either of these teams.

San Francisco 49ers

Maybe I'm biased as a 49ers fan and Rodgers hater, but I see no logical reason that he would end up a 49er this offseason. Yes, the California native was a 49ers fan growing up. But the Niners already have a quarterback who is younger, cheaper, and, in my eyes, better than Rodgers at this stage in his career.

The 49ers are set to either attempt one last run with this current core, in which case Brock Purdy's rookie contract is key, or building for the future, in which case the 41-year-old Rodgers is a nonsensical fit.

Minnesota Vikings

I honestly think the only reason the Vikings are as high in betting odds as they are is that people are amused by the idea of Rodgers following in Brett Favre's footsteps, and sportsbooks are more than happy to take advantage with ridiculous pricing.

Rodgers is not going to accept being a bridge quarterback, which is what he would be with 10th overall pick J.J. McCarthy waiting in the wings. If the Vikings don't think McCarthy is the guy for a roster that is ready to compete, why would they pick Rodgers over franchise tagging or re-signing Sam Darnold, who just had immense success in this system last season? I don't see it. 

Ted Chmyz is a fantasy football contributor for FantasySP. Find him on Twitter @Tchmyz for more fantasy content or to ask questions.