NEW ORLEANS — Two Jets defensive stars are hoping that Aaron Rodgers returns as the team’s quarterback in 2025.
“If it was up to me, he’s coming back,” linebacker Quincy Williams said Tuesday during an appearance for Bounty towels. “On the field and off the field, he’s a great person. He takes our game to another level.”
Defensive end Jermaine Johnson agreed with Williams and told a story about Rodgers challenging him on the field during an offseason practice.
“He just comes in and was like, ‘What do you see right here?’ ” Johnson said. “I had a pretty good year last year, and I’m thinking I know something. I tell him what I see and he goes, ‘Hmm, OK, nothing else?’ and he’s almost challenging me, like ‘That’s all.’ He does a great job of making everyone around him better, which is a very, very key attribute to have in being a good leader, which every quarterback should be.
“Yes, obviously I’d like to have him back.”
The Rodgers decision is the biggest one hanging over the Jets this offseason, and the first major one that new coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey have to make.
Williams and Johnson were doing interviews Tuesday at the Bounty House of Wingman Booth, a campaign that ties the paper towel company to use after eating wings.
Both Jets players said they have spoken with Glenn and are excited about the new direction for the organization.
Williams said he was impressed watching Glenn’s introductory news conference.
“My biggest thing is till the wheels fall off,” Williams said. “I was kind of excited when he said, ‘Buckle your seat belts up.’ I was like, ‘Man, I’m already in the car, let’s go.’ ”
For Johnson, the thing that has him eager to play for Glenn is not his words but what he has already accomplished.
“I’m more impressed with the product he’s already provided out there in Detroit,” said Johnson, who said he will be ready for OTAs in May after recovering from a torn Achilles tendon. “He’s built something from the ground up. The Jets and Detroit were pretty much in the same shoes when I was at the Senior Bowl [in 2022]. Obviously, he’s doing something right. He’s not going to take full credit, but he’s doing something right. I’m excited to have a mind like that and a leader like that over here with us, leading us.”
There was hope last summer that the Jets would be playing in the Super Bowl on Sunday.
Instead, the players were here promoting a product.
Both said they won’t attend the game until they are in it, but this trip is a reminder of the goal.
“So close, but yet so far,” Williams said. “I’m very excited to be here, though. It feels good to be a little bit closer. It prepares your mind everything that’s going on and going into the year like, ‘Man, I’ve got to get back where they can come see me play instead of me going to see someone else play.’ I use it as motivation.”
