New York Jets’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers, third from right, poses for a picture with general manger Joe Douglas, left, president Hymie Elhai, second from left, co-owner Christopher Johnson, third from left, owner Woody Johnson, second from right, and head coach Robert Saleh, right, after an NFL football press conference at the Jets’ training facility in Florham Park, N.J., Wednesday, April 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
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Never, in the entire history of professional sports has an athlete taken a pay cut of over $30 million to help his current team.
Until now.
With Aaron Rodgers agreeing to a new two-year, $75 million deal with the New York Jets, the future Hall-of-Fame quarterback took a pay cut of over $35 million in guaranteed money to help his team in the present and future. It was a move that no player in sports history has ever done to this point: an even more important mark as the quarterback position continues to be paid more and more by the player. It’s the type of move that will follow Rodgers for the rest of his career as a player doing anything possible to help his team win.
It’s also a clear indication that the quarterback is expecting to be with the Jets for longer than just the 2023 season.
While Rodgers rightfully gets a lot of the praise for a move like this, the Jets themselves should also be commended. For decades Gang Green was considered to be a place that no star would ever want to be. A place where misery always had company, and a place where losing was as common as the sun coming up.
In three short seasons with Robert Saleh and Joe Douglas at the helm, the team has transformed both on and off the field as an organization that is to be respected across the NFL landscape.
It’s what attracted Rodgers to New York in the first place. The quarterback has repeatedly stated how impressed he is with the Jets’ coaching staff, and how they’ve built a strong culture that will soon culminate in victories. Their…
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