Though New York Giants legend and CBS Sports NFL analyst Tiki Barber criticized the Jets for going all-in on quarterback Aaron Rodgers going into the offseason, the Jets are hoping that Rodgers gave glimpses of what is to come for the team during their final three practices of the season.
According to Ryan Chichester of Audacy, Barber stated, “You’re talking about all these young quarterbacks,” on the WFAN “Evan and Tiki” program. “You think you can compete with everything going on in the NFL with a 40-year-old quarterback like Aaron Rodgers and the Jets? Heck, Aaron Rodgers is older than half of these coaches.”
The starting quarterbacks for all eight of the teams that will play in the divisional round of the current postseason tournament are under 30, as noted by Sanjesh Singh of NBC Sports Bay Area. The oldest of the group is Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff, who turned 29 in October.
In the meantime, Rodgers turned 40 on December 2 after sustaining a torn Achilles tendon four offensive snaps into the regular-season opener this past September. Nevertheless, provided he stays healthy, he will start for the Jets this summer.
Barber continued, “Take Tom Brady out [of the equation],” referring to signal-callers who lead teams to titles far into their retirement. “What other quarterback, elderly or otherwise, has performed this well to win a championship in the modern era? Most NFL forecasters believe that everyone is getting younger and that your team is becoming older at the position that matters most.”
Brady was 43 in February 2021 when he contributed to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Super Bowl LV victory.
After a disastrous 7-10 season, it’s commonly assumed that Rodgers’ support is the reason Jets head coach Robert Saleh, offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, and general manager Joe Douglas are still in their positions. For better or worse, since last spring, the idea has always been for Rodgers to serve as the Jets’ starting quarterback for at least two years. It’s too late for the Jets to turn around, even if some players on the team agree with Barber.
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