Aaron Rodgers has only been with the Jets for a day, but the 39-year-old quarterback already has his sights set on a championship.
During his introductory news conference, Rodgers joked about New York’s trophy case, indicating that the Lombardi Trophy from the team’s Super Bowl III victory was getting “a little lonely,” via ESPN.
It’s been 54 years since the Jets won the Super Bowl, back when Joe Namath led them to a historic upset victory over the Baltimore Colts, but Rodgers seems intent on changing that.
“I grew up watching old VHS tapes of the Super Bowls and so, obviously, I know about The Guarantee and Broadway Joe,” Rodgers said Wednesday. “It’s been a while since then.”
Owners of the longest playoff drought among all major American sports teams, the Jets haven’t sniffed the postseason in 12 years.
Since Rodgers took over as the Packers’ starting quarterback in 2008, Green Bay has made the playoffs in 11 of 15 seasons. During that same span, New York has made just two playoff appearances.
Despite missing the playoffs with the Packers last season, and the Jets having gone 7-10 last season, Rodgers indicated he thinks the team is ready to compete for a championship.
“Like I said last year after we played them, they’re not the same old Jets. This is a team that has a legitimate opportunity to do something special this year.”
The Jets will look to further fortify the roster surrounding Rodgers at the 2023 NFL draft beginning Thursday, when they will look add more pieces in hopes of securing the franchise’s second Lombardi Trophy.
