FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers was in a reflective mood as he prepares for what could be his last game with the New York Jets.
And of his impressive 20-year NFL career.
“Yeah, of course,” Rodgers said when asked Wednesday if he has considered that the season finale Sunday against Miami could also be it for him. The 41-year-old quarterback insisted, though, he's not ready to make a call on his playing future.
“I just need a break mentally to kind of refresh and put my feet in the sand,” he said. “And see where I’m at after that.”
Still, he very much sounded as though he doesn't necessarily expect to be back with the Jets — even if he does want to continue playing.
“I mean, gratitude, honestly," Rodgers said of his time in New York, repeating that sentiment throughout his 10-minute chat with reporters. "It’s been the best two years of my life."
He called it a “perspective adjustment” that happened for him during his rehabilitation process from a torn Achilles tendon that limited him to just four snaps in his ballyhooed debut for the Jets last season. Rodgers said he fell in love with the game of football again after 18 years in Green Bay and cherishes the relationships he has made with teammates, coaches and others in the Jets organization.
“Obviously wish things would have gone better on the field,” he said. "But nothing but gratitude for this time in my life."
Rodgers came to the Jets in April 2023 in a trade from the Packers and immediately stoked optimism throughout the organization and fanbase that New York could go on a Super Bowl run. Or two. Or even more.
Instead, those dreams quickly dissolved with Rodgers' injury last season. And he has dealt with other injuries during a season that again began with high hopes, but has crumbled into one of the most disappointing in franchise history.
The Jets are 4-12, fired coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas — and Rodgers has only shown spurts of looking like a four-time MVP. He has also acknowledged that the team could release him after this season.
“I think there’s going to be change here and if I’m a part of the change, then I just want to make sure everybody knows that I have nothing but gratitude for my time here,” Rodgers said. "It’s been a great experience all around, and again, I’m disappointed about the performance of both myself and as a team, but really thankful for the opportunity.
“If I feel good coming back and they want to make another run at this, that’d be fantastic. But I’m not naive to the situation we’re in.”
After the 2022 season, Rodgers' future with the Packers was similarly uncertain and the quarterback was leaning toward retiring. He went on a darkness retreat in Oregon, where he spent four days in isolation and then emerged re-energized about playing and decided he wanted to join the Jets.
Rodgers will again take some time to process his thoughts during the offseason.
“Probably darkness again,” Rodgers said of his plans, before smiling. “No, I think I’m done with that. I won’t be doing any darkness retreats this offseason.”
But he will consider whether he truly wants to go through the physical and mental grind of another season. And he doesn't think a decision will drag deep into the offseason.
“March is free agency,” he said. “I don’t think we’re even going to get that far just because there’s going to be a regime change here, at least with the GM. And then whatever they end up doing, I’m sure I’ll either get a call or have a conversation, and go from there.”
Rodgers has one year remaining on his contract with a $2.5 million non-guaranteed base salary. He would also be due a $35 million option bonus before the regular season begins and count $23.5 million against the salary cap. So, that's something the new regime will need to consider.
If Rodgers is cut or retires, the Jets could absorb a $49 million dead money charge next year unless they designate him a June 1 cut and can spread out that charge over two years.
But that's all for down the road in the near future.
The present is all Rodgers is focused on right now — and the one certainty is that he knows he'll take the field at MetLife Stadium for the Jets on Sunday.
“This game has given me a lot,” Rodgers said. “I’ve given a lot back to it and I’m thankful for it. I’m not thinking (and) I won’t be thinking about that come 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 also looking forward to a nice mental and physical rest.”
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) looks to pass against the Buffalo Bills during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers talks with th media following an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, left, hugs teammate quarterback Tyrod Taylor (2) after a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
HONG KONG (AP) — A Hong Kong court heard arguments Monday about the sentencing of democracy advocate and onetime-media magnate Jimmy Lai, whose conviction under a national security law could land him in prison for the rest of his life.
Lai founded the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper and was an outspoken critic of China’s ruling Communist Party. He was arrested in 2020 under the law imposed by Beijing following massive anti-government protests that rocked Hong Kong the year before.
In December, he was found guilty of conspiring with others to collude with foreign forces and conspiracy to publish seditious articles.
His conviction raised concerns about the curtailing of press freedom in the former British colony, which returned to Chinese rule in 1997.
His case could also test Beijing's diplomatic ties. The verdict drew criticism from foreign governments, including the U.S. and Britain. After the verdict, U.S. President Donald Trump, who had raised Lai’s case with China, said he felt “so badly.”
Lai, alongside other co-defendants, appeared in court for the four-day mitigation hearings. The maximum penalty is life imprisonment. Sentencing will come later.
Lai’s lawyer Robert Pang said his client's health, age and solitary confinement would make his sentence “more burdensome” compared to that of the general prison population. Lai is 78, so the impact of a lengthy prison sentence will be greater, Pang argued.
“Every day he spends in prison," Pang said, “brings him closer to the end of his life.”
When Lai entered the courtroom, he pressed his palms together, an apparent gesture to express gratitude, and smiled at those sitting in the gallery. The media tycoon appeared to be in good spirits and greeted a convicted Apple Daily editor who was also in the dock.
In August, his lawyers told the court that he suffered from heart palpitations. Hong Kong’s government said no abnormalities were found in a subsequent medical exam.
Prosecutor Anthony Chau said Lai’s health was stable. Chau said Lai had lost just 0.8 kg (about 1.8 pounds) over five years of detention, weighing 79.2 kg (about 175 pounds) when it was last measured this month. Lai is still considered obese as an Asian adult, Chau said. The obesity comment drew chuckles from some people sitting in the public gallery, and Lai also smiled.
But Pang argued that his client no longer lived up to his nickname of “Fatty Lai,” in contrast to images in videos filmed before detention and previously shown to the court.
Esther Toh, one of the three government-vetted judges, rejected estimating weight by relying on human eyes, saying people may look fatter on camera. Pang also said Lai's weight once dropped 11 kg (24 pounds) within a year, though the court heard he later regained some of the weight.
The lawyer said Lai suffers health issues like hypertension, diabetes and a blocked vein in one eye.
Pang argued his client's solitary confinement — which Chau earlier said was at Lai's request — was making his prison life “harsher” than others.
Before sunrise, dozens of people had already lined up outside the court building to secure a seat in the public gallery. Retiree Simon Ng, a former Apple Daily reader, said he arrived and waited in line since Friday morning, hoping to see Lai.
“I want to let him know that he’s not alone," Ng said. “Many people support him."
Lai was convicted of two counts of conspiracy to commit collusion with foreign forces to endanger national security, in addition to one count of conspiracy to distribute seditious publications. Lai pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The judges wrote in their December verdict that Lai spearheaded the conspiracies and took issue with what they called his “constant invitation” to the United States to bring down the Chinese government with the excuse of helping Hong Kongers.
Lai’s lawyers acknowledged during the trial that he had called for foreign sanctions before the national security law took effect, but insisted he dropped these calls to comply with the law. They also argued on freedom of expression grounds.
But the judges said that Lai had never wavered in his intention to destabilize the ruling Chinese Communist Party. After the enactment of the law, he intended to continue, though less explicitly, they said. They emphasized that Lai was not on trial for his political views.
Beijing has opposed what it called the smearing of Hong Kong's judiciary “by certain countries,” saying the judicial authorities perform duties according to the law.
Six ex-Apple Daily senior executives and two activists involved in Lai's case had entered guilty pleas, admitting that they had conspired with Lai and others to request foreign forces to impose sanctions, blockades or engage in other hostile activities.
The executives were publisher Cheung Kim-hung, associate publisher Chan Pui-man, editor-in-chief Ryan Law, executive editor-in-chief Lam Man-chung and editorial writers Fung Wai-kong and Yeung Ching-kee. Some of them, alongside the two activists Andy Li and Chan Tsz-wah, served as prosecution witnesses during the 156-day trial.
A guilty plea usually can lead to a sentence reduction. Under the security law, a reduced penalty may be granted to those who report on the offense committed by others.
Lawyers representing the two activists suggested their clients’ final sentences should be cut to under 10 years in part due to their cooperation in the case. Cheung’s lawyer, Lucas Lau, also cited his client's help in the case as one of the factors for a lighter penalty.
Chan Pui-man's husband, Chung Pui-kuen, a former top editor of Stand News who had been sentenced to 21 months in jail in a separate sedition case, was among those sitting in the public gallery.
Trump said after the verdict that he spoke to Chinese President Xi Jinping about Lai and “asked to consider his release." British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said his government has made it a priority to secure the release of Lai, a British citizen.
The hearing will continue Tuesday and will focus on Lai’s co-defendants.
People line up behind the barricades to attend the hearing about the upcoming sentence for pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai, outside the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts, in Hong Kong, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/May James)
Correctional Services Department vehicles arrive at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts, ahead of a hearing to hear arguments about the sentencing of democracy advocate and onetime media magnate Jimmy Lai, in Hong Kong, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/May James)
Members of foreign councils arrive at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts to attend a hearing to hear arguments about the sentencing of pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai, in Hong Kong, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/May James)
Robert Pang, center, lawyer for pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai arrives to the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts, ahead of a hearing to hear arguments about the sentencing of Lai, in Hong Kong, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/May James)
Teresa Lai, wife of pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai arrives to the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts to attend a hearing to hear arguments about the sentencing of Jimmy Lai, in Hong Kong, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/May James)
FILE- Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai is escorted by Correctional Services officers to get on a prison van before appearing in a court in Hong Kong, Dec. 12, 2020. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File)
