Aaron Rodgers, Garrett Wilson traded “subtle shots” as once-promising chemistry fell apart during Jets’ 2024 freefall: Insider Report

Aaron Rodgers and Garrett Wilson were supposed to be a source of happiness for New York Jets fans. The quarterback instantly bonded with the wide receiver after he joined the Jets, and when he suffered a season-ending injury in 2023, no one was more affected than Wilson.

However, when the veteran passer recovered, their synchrony was off. The Jets' offense played much worse than expected, and the arrival of wide receiver Davante Adams only worsened their relationship, with Adams being Rodgers' best friend since they played together with the Green Bay Packers.

Wilson remains in New York, but Rodgers has since left the team and signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Jets' new quarterback is Justin Fields, who was Wilson's teammate when they played at Ohio State.

The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt highlighted how their relationship will help the team move forward in a positive direction. Rosenblatt also pointed out how the environment turned toxic between Rodgers and Wilson:

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"By the end of last season, Wilson and Rodgers weren’t exactly the best of friends. A relationship that started with promise ended with each taking subtle shots at each other in press conferences.

"Privately, the quarterback complained about Wilson’s tendency to freelance on routes, and there was frustration from Wilson — and others — about how Aaron was funneling targets to Davante Adams, shying away from running the ball and ignoring Wilson in the red zone," he added.

Aaron Rodgers signs 1-year deal with Pittsburgh Steelers

Rodgers joined Pittsburgh in a one-year deal worth $13.65 million that could increase to $19.5 million with incentives. Starters who sign in free agency rarely get long-term deals, and a 41-year-old quarterback would never see any team commit to him for more than the short term.

On Monday, the four-time league MVP made an appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show" and revealed that he signed a one-year deal with the Steelers because the 2025 season will likely be his final in the NFL.

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About the author

Henrique Bulio is an NFL and College Football journalist at Sportskeeda and the Editor-in-Chief of Pro Football Brasil. He has a total 13 years of experience working in American Football, and playing quarterback at an amateur level in Brazil has given him a unique perspective of the game.

Henrique follows the Philadelphia Eagles closely due to Michael Vick's historic performance on MNF against the Washington Commanders in 2010. His all-time favorite player is Ed Reed; he believes that Reed is the greatest safety to ever play the game. Bill Belichick gets the nod as Henrique's favorite coach for coaching the Patriots to glory over two decades.

If Henrique were to be able to go back in time and watch one game, it would be Super Bowl XLIX, where the Patriots and the Seahawks played a complete, back-and-forth game that concluded with one of the biggest talking points in NFL history.

Technical deep dives are Henrique’s specialty, and he ensures never to use misleading words in his articles, since he himself consumes a lot of information off the web. He has had the privilege of interviewing Cairo Santos, Lamar Jackson, Jim Harbaugh, Sean McDermott, Bruce Arians, Matt LaFleur, among others.

Aside from football, Henrique likes to play poker and Counter-Strike.

Know More

New York Jets Nation! Check out the latest Jets Schedule and dive into the New York Jets Depth Chart for NFL Season 2024-25.

Edited by Veer Badani