Feb 5, 2023; Pebble Beach, California, USA; Aaron Rodgers hits his tee shot on the fifteenth hole during the third round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am golf tournament at Pebble Beach Golf Links. Mandatory Credit: Ray Acevedo-USA TODAY Sports
Aaron Rodgers is a neverending media circus these days. It does seem that the political talk has died down, and hopefully we can concentrate on football again. Whether the rumors are true or not, it begs the question: could Aaron Rodgers play for the Jets while running for Vice President? That’s right. The current quarterback for the New York Jets was reportedly on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s VP shortlist. Luckily, more recent reports are saying this isn’t going to happen. How much more drama can we survive as Jets fans?
We will know for certain if Rodgers will pursue a political career while fulfilling his duties with the Jets. Kennedy must name a running mate in the coming weeks, as several states require him to have a vice-presidential pick for ballot access.
If Rodgers goes campaigning with Kennedy, he’d be away from the team the entire offseason. Training camp starts in July and continues through August, and then the regular NFL season starts in September. The timing couldn’t be worse, considering that the presidential election is set to be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. If Rodgers ends up running, he’d likely miss training camp and the first two months of the NFL season, which puts us in a pickle.
Let’s pray that Rodgers makes the right decision. All things considered, the chances of Robert Kennedy Jr. winning the election are slim. According to US sportsbooks that regularly feature political events, Kennedy is in the race with an odds of +3000 to win, which translates to a 3.2% chance of winning. Additionally, no independent presidential candidate has ever won a selection. Republican Congressman Ron Paul ran as an independent (third party) in 2008 and only won 0.03 percent of the popular vote.
If things go sideways, it’s lucky we just signed quarterback Tyrod Taylor to a two-year deal to serve as the backup quarterback. Last season, the Jets started four quarterbacks (Rodgers, Zach Wilson, Tim Boyle, and Trevor Siemian). Even if Rodgers does engage politically, the Jets will probably still be better off with Taylor and a new replacement for Zach Wilson until Rodgers gets back to the team.