Former NFL No. 1 pick Keyshawn Johnson believes Aaron Rodgers quit on the New York Jets in the penultimate game of the 2024 season.
In the Jets’ 40-14 loss to the Buffalo Bills, Rodgers voluntarily substituted himself out of the game, allowing Tyrod Taylor to take over for the 41-year-old. With Taylor in the game, the Jets made the matchup somewhat closer, throwing for two touchdowns after Rodgers threw two interceptions earlier in the contest.
After the game, Johnson, a former Jets wide receiver, drilled into the former Super Bowl champion’s demeanor. In particular, Johnson equated Rodgers and his attitude toward the New York franchise to being like a small child.
“But the fact that you were 112 yards, two interceptions, you was sacked a bunch and it was 33 to nothing or whatever it was,” Johnson began on FS1’s ‘Speak.’ “You decided to take your ball and go home because you wasn’t’ getting your way. What’s the difference between him and the dude [De’Vondre Campbell] in San Francisco?
“You quit on your team, man. I’m not going to be nice to Aaron Rodgers like that.” Johnson also made it a point to explain how Rodgers has on obligation to be with his teammates and play alongside them, even as they lose in blowout fashion.
However, because of how Rodgers’ demeanor was in the face of a lost season against one of the best teams in the league, Johnson stated that if he still played with New York, he wouldn’t want to be his teammate because of his attitude.
“I thought he was on a mission to convince them that he should come back – based on what he did yesterday, I don’t want to be nowhere near him,” Johnson continued. “Think about when we was little. We went to the playground on the eight-foot courts and we didn’t pick the dude to play.
“And he had he leather ball. Because we didn’t pick him, he took his ball and went home. That’s exactly what [Rodgers] did. He took his ball and went home cause he wasn’t getting his way. And the Bills was kicking his rear end. That’s just, the hell is wrong with Aaron Rodgers?”
The 52-year-old also shared that he was giving Rodgers the benefit of the doubt when head coach Robert Saleh was fired and wide receiver Mike Williams was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, the final straw was seeing the former MVP essentially give up on his team.
“But deciding I won’t want to play anymore, I’m gonna leave you out there to get beat up, put you out there, I’m gonna throw you in the fire, you go out there and be a piñata. I’m tired of being a piñata,” Johnson continued. “Even though they paying me $50 million, like stop man.
“I don’t accept that. People can say whatever the hell they want to say about me. I would never do that.” With his Jets career seemingly at an end after two disastrous seasons, Rodgers admits New York’s clash with the Miami Dolphins could be his final game.
“This game has given me a lot,” Rodgers told reporters. “I’ve given a lot back to it, and I’m thankful for it. I won’t be thinking about that on game day. I’ll just be enjoying this. I’m trying to stay in the moment, but, of course, it’s been a long career.
“I’m really proud of what I’ve been able to be a part of, what I’ve been able to accomplish, and I’m also looking forward to a nice mental and physical rest.”
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