April 10, 2025
NEW YORK – Aaron Rodgers, now a free agent after a rocky Jets stint, has been branded a “bust” by his former New York Jets head coach, Robert Saleh. Saleh, speaking on the Up & Adams show Tuesday, didn’t hold back, saying, “Rodgers was a bust—never met the hype.”
Rodgers, traded to the Jets from the Green Bay Packers in April 2023 for a 2023 first-round pick, a second-rounder, and more, saw his tenure implode fast. A torn Achilles in Week 1 of 2023 sidelined him for the year, and his 2024 return—3,897 yards, 28 TDs, 11 INTs in 17 games (NFL.com)—couldn’t lift the Jets past a 5-12 finish. Cut in February 2025, he’s now on the market.
Saleh’s jab cuts deep for the four-time MVP, whose Jets saga paled next to his Packers glory (65,589 yards, 475 TDs). After the comment, Rodgers fired off a seven-word message to Packers GM Brian Gutekunst via text, per sources: “Brian, you ruined me with that trade.”
The message lays bare Rodgers’ frustration, pinning his Jets flop on Gutekunst’s decision to ship him out after 18 iconic Green Bay years. Traded amid tensions in 2023, Rodgers believes the move derailed his late-career arc, landing him in a dysfunctional Jets setup.
His 2024 stats showed flashes—68.3% completion, 7.8 yards per attempt—but turnovers and a porous offensive line sank the team. Saleh’s “bust” tag echoes Jets fans’ gripes after Super Bowl hopes fizzled, though Rodgers briefly joined the Lions’ practice squad post-cut.
Packers fans split online. Some backed Gutekunst: “Rodgers wanted out—Brian built around Love!” Others sympathized: “Saleh’s wrong—Aaron’s no bust, Jets failed him.” With $47 million in cap space (Over The Cap), Green Bay’s moved on, but Rodgers’ words sting.
At 41, Rodgers hunts a new gig—maybe with a contender like the Ravens. His Jets chapter’s closed, but the “bust” label and that seven-word zinger keep the saga alive.
