Sep 11, 2023; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) is injured while being sacked by Buffalo Bills defensive end Leonard Floyd (56) during the first half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Adam Schefter has reported that the New York Jets are officially releasing Aaron Rodgers today. According to this tweet by Schefter, things break down this way.
Now official: Jets are releasing Aaron Rodgers after 4 pm today. The Jets will take on $49M in dead money by releasing Rodgers. He’s being designated as a post-June 1 cut, meaning they’ll carry his $21M cap hit until June 1, when it drops to $14M—saving $7M. But they then will absorb a $35M dead cap hit in 2026.
The Aaron Rodgers era in New York is over. The Jets have released the four-time MVP quarterback, designating him as a post-June 1 cut. The move brings massive salary cap implications but signals the franchise is ready to move in a new direction.
By cutting Rodgers, the Jets will absorb $49 million in dead cap charges, spread across two seasons:
Rodgers’ time in New York will be remembered as a saga of high hopes and heartbreak. He was expected to be the missing piece for a Super Bowl run, but his tenure started disastrously when he tore his Achilles just four plays into his 2023 debut.
After an intense rehab, Rodgers returned in 2024, but the results on the field were underwhelming. The Jets struggled to a 5-12 record, and despite flashes of brilliance, Rodgers never regained his elite form. His departure now leaves the Jets searching for stability at the quarterback position.
With his release, Rodgers now becomes a free agent. He has stated that he’s only interested in joining a team that “genuinely wants him” and has a strong supporting cast. While his future remains uncertain, teams like the Steelers and Giants have been speculated as potential landing spots.
As for the Jets, they wasted no time addressing their quarterback situation. The team has signed Justin Fields to a two-year, $40 million contract, marking a clear shift toward a younger, more mobile quarterback to lead the franchise.
Rodgers’ time with the Jets may not have lived up to the hype, but his impact on the franchise was undeniable. Now, the team looks ahead to a new chapter while Rodgers evaluates his next move in what could be the final stretch of his Hall of Fame career.