What Aaron Rodgers' Announcement Means for Detroit Lions
Aaron Rodgers announced Wednesday that he intends to play for the New York Jets in 2023.
After months of speculation regarding his future, the 39-year-old made his future plans public during his appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show" Wednesday.
"Since Friday, I made it clear that my intention was to play and my intention was to play for the New York Jets," Rodgers told McAfee.
No trade had been completed as of his appearance, but it appears to be imminent. According to ESPN, the Packers believe the veteran quarterback is worth two first-round picks.
His eventual trade will end an 18-year tenure with the Packers. In that time, he won one Super Bowl and started 223 games. He is the franchise's all-time leader in passing touchdowns, and ranks second to Brett Favre in passing yards.
In that span, he went 18-8 against the Detroit Lions. He lost his last three starts vs. Detroit, though, including a defeat in the 2022 season finale that kept Green Bay out of the playoffs.
Fans of the Lions will rejoice in the fact his last pass with the Packers was an interception tossed to safety Kerby Joseph.
Questions about Rodgers' future in Green Bay have been lingering for the past two seasons. He elected to stay with the organization following a divisional round loss that ended the 2021 season.
After the Packers ended the 2022 campaign with an 8-9 record and missed the playoffs, he announced that he would go on a "darkness retreat" to further contemplate his career.
Rodgers told McAfee that he entered his retreat "90% retired and 10% playing." He said he spent parts of five days making his decision.
The veteran voiced that he believed he was going to return to the Packers when the season ended, but the team changed its tune when he emerged from his darkness retreat.
The Jets were rumored to be in the hunt for Rodgers' services. They have been in the market for a quarterback, as 2021 No. 2 overall pick Zach Wilson's career has not panned out to the team's liking.
According to reports, Rodgers sent a list of demands to the Jets' front office. Among the demands were the team signing wide receivers Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb, along with tight end Mercedes Lewis.
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Rodgers cleared up the issue, indicating he has not made any demands and that all he is seeking is transparency with those involved.
The Jets followed through on Lazard, signing him to a four-year, $44 million deal on Tuesday.
With Green Bay moving on from its long-time quarterback, it will commit to 2020 first-round pick Jordan Love as the starter under center moving forward.
Heading into his fourth season, Love has played in 10 career games, with one start. Lions fans were exposed to the Utah State product for the first time in the 2021 season finale, when he played the entire second half.
In that game, he went 10-for-17 for 134 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. During his career, Love has thrown for three touchdowns and three interceptions, on 50-for-83 passing.
He appeared in four games in 2022, including a Sunday Night Football showdown with the Philadelphia Eagles. In that game, he went six-for-nine through the air for 113 yards and a score.
In Rodgers' career, the Packers won nine NFC North titles. He tormented the Lions with multiple moments, including a Hail Mary, game-winning touchdown pass at Ford Field on Dec. 3, 2015.
Love will take over under center, giving the Packers a new face of the franchise for the first time since Rodgers took over for Favre in 2008.
