Is The End of Aaron Rodgers Real This Time? - 2024 AFC East Preview

We've declared the end of the future Hall of Fame quarterback a few times already, but it feels different now

Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles just moments into the 2023 season (ESPN)

The Green Bay Packers were on the brink, and Aaron Rodgers was set to return to save their season. After a 4-1 start, they found themselves at 7-7 and in a must win position to make the playoffs. Their superstar quarterback Aaron Rodgers left a week 6 game against the Minnesota Vikings early after rival linebacker Anthony Barr shattered his collarbone on a sack where he slammed him into the ground. The play changed the course of NFL history, as the controversial “body weight” sack rule would be introduced in the following offseason to prevent quarterbacks from being injured that way in the future.

But after back-to-back overtime wins, led by backup Brett Hundley, Green Bay’s season was still alive entering Week 15. And now, Rodgers was coming back from his broken collarbone, taking the baton and anchoring the race to the postseason.

Or at least that was what was supposed to happen. Rodgers looked like a shell of himself against the Carolina Panthers. His arm strength clearly wasn’t there and he didn’t look comfortable. Green Bay lost, effectively ending their season. Rodgers, who had just turned 34, was placed on injured reserve after the game. Many believed we were seeing the beginning of the end of his legendary career. The game had passed him by, his body was too beat up. The magical run was over.

Read More: Who is the GOAT? Definitely Not Aaron Rodgers

Fast forward to 2021, and Rodgers finished the season by being named MVP for the second straight time — his fourth time overall. He led the reloaded Packers to a 13-3 season for the third consecutive year. Suddenly, the predicted end of Rodgers four years earlier looked foolish.

And now it’s 2024, and we are once again in the middle of an “end of Rodgers” cycle. But it feels different this time. There seems to be real reason to think the quarterback will never be the GOAT contender he once was.

Rodgers will turn 41 late this season. He blew his Achilles just moments into the 2023 season, putting a damper on the New York Jets’ entire season. The heel injury is probably the most devastating injury an athlete can suffer, and at that age, recovery isn’t guaranteed.

It’s not just the injury for Rodgers. The weird off the field stuff is hanging over him as well. He was reportedly a vice presidential candidate for independent Robert F. Kennedy, who has emerged as a bizarre figure in American politics. The quarterback has seemed distracted with culture wars and drug-fueled trips to Latin America. He, oddly, claimed he was going to return late last season and even managed to get off of IR and back to the active roster in a puzzling move by the Jets.

New York needs Rodgers to be the Rodgers we know if they hope to win a Super Bowl, though. A team with championship contending hopes saw its season die within minutes last season, and while the defense alone could be good enough to get them to .500, they need to do more to compete in a tough AFC East, and then challenge the likes of the Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens for the conference throne.

Read More: These Houston Texans Were 20 Years in the Making - 2024 AFC South Preview

We’ve falsely declared the end of Rodgers before, but this time there is reason to believe his days challenging for the MVP every year might be finished.

AFC East preview

1. Miami Dolphins

Division contender