Shutterstock
Aaron Rodgers might need to consider retirement at this point. His tenure with the Jets has been nothing short of catastrophic – two failed seasons that have left him unemployed and now he’s taking public shots at teams who might consider signing him. While his regular-season brilliance with the Packers can’t be denied, securing just one Super Bowl victory from a single appearance feels like a massive underachievement for a quarterback with his generational talent.
After being cut by New York, Rodgers has been testing the free agency waters. The Steelers emerged as his most likely landing spot – he even disrupted their scouting schedule at Michigan’s Pro Day so he could tour their facilities. Despite Pittsburgh bringing back Mason Rudolph and drafting Will Howard (who just won a national championship at the college level), they’re still apparently waiting on Rodgers to make his decision.
But Pittsburgh isn’t his only potential suitor. The Saints have also been connected to the veteran QB after Derek Carr’s unexpected injury-related retirement. When questioned about New Orleans during a Memorial Day Weekend event, Rodgers didn’t just decline interest – he went out of his way to insult an entire state.
“No. That’s the answer. No. I’ve played there a couple of times but no. The answer is no. I’m too old, I don’t want to live in Louisiana. Sorry.”
At this same appearance, Aaron Rodgers was asked if he’d ever consider playing for the Saints.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 26, 2025
His response: “No. That’s the answer. No. I’ve played there a couple of times but no. The answer is no. I’m too old, I don’t want to live in Louisiana. Sorry.” https://t.co/ESeFywtDyx
The Saints are currently looking at a quarterback room consisting of Jake Haener, Spencer Rattler, and rookie Tyler Shough.
Aaron Rodgers made it a point to burn the New Orleans Saints bridge
The Saints connection is actually pretty new. Before the 2025 NFL Draft, Rodgers was primarily linked to the Steelers and occasionally the Vikings. Minnesota’s appeal isn’t surprising – Kevin O’Connell has become one of the most attractive head coaches for players to work with. The Vikings can’t afford to waste this coaching advantage, which puts immense pressure on their investment in J.J. McCarthy.
Rodgers’ dismissive comments about the Saints and Louisiana reveal his mindset – he’s only interested in joining a legitimate playoff contender. His Louisiana dig was unnecessarily harsh, but he’s clearly not interested in joining what will likely be one of the four worst teams in football next season.
The first-time head coach factor can’t be overlooked either. Rodgers doesn’t seem eager to play for Kellen Moore.
Moore might be younger than Rodgers, but he’s earned respect as a former QB in his own right. I believe he’ll eventually succeed with the Saints, similar to how Dave Canales appears to be building something promising with the Panthers. The difference is Moore doesn’t yet have his franchise quarterback. That player is probably still in college – possibly Doug Nussmeier’s son Garrett.
Truthfully, I’m not convinced any team actually wants Rodgers anymore. His body has become increasingly fragile in his late 30s and early 40s. His personality quirks and character no longer resonate with average fans. Most damaging is that he’s now creating more distractions than his on-field performance can justify. When that equation flips for even the greatest athletes, it signals their time in professional sports has passed.
New Orleans deserves a better franchise quarterback than Rodgers, while he deserves to be alone.
