Jets’ season opener still overshadowed by Aaron Rodgers despite coach’s denials

Coach Aaron Glenn has downplayed it, but the presence and legacy of Aaron Rodgers continue to dominate attention surrounding the New York Jets’ opening game.

The New York Jets will open their season on Sunday at MetLife Stadium under a media and fan spotlight that many inside and outside the organization say still centers on former quarterback Aaron Rodgers, even as head coach Aaron Glenn resists the notion that Rodgers’ presence casts a shadow over the team. The attention reflects the lasting impact of Rodgers’ brief and turbulent time with the franchise and the larger scrutiny that accompanied his arrival and departure.

Rodgers, who briefly called MetLife “JetLife” during his time with the team, is expected to be in attendance for Opening Day, a fact that has done little to quiet discussion about how the franchise has been defined in recent seasons. Glenn, asked repeatedly about the former MVP and the distractions that followed his tenure, pushed back on the suggestion that the team’s focus is diverted by Rodgers’ presence, saying the organization is intent on concentrating on the current roster and the tasks at hand. Media outlets and club observers, however, say the optics and the narrative remain unavoidably tied to Rodgers.

"New York Post photo collage during Aaron Rodgers’ time with the Jets"

The issue has seeped into multiple dimensions of Jets life: ticket-holders and television audiences talk about Rodgers’ appearance, social and mainstream media resurface moments from his tenure, and beat reporters and national commentators continue to frame team narratives in reference to the quarterback’s arrival and exit. Brian Costello of the New York Post has signaled that his Sports+ coverage will provide on-field and off-field reporting throughout the season, noting the lingering curiosity about Rodgers as the club begins play.

Glenn’s posture has been to assert a forward-looking approach. The coach emphasized preparation, fundamentals and performance, and he declined to grant Rodgers’ attendance any special significance for the players’ mindset. Still, several team personnel and league observers told reporters the dynamic is difficult to avoid, given how much attention Rodgers attracted while in New York and how recent events have kept him in the public conversation.

The spotlight on Rodgers is not only a matter of celebrity. His signing, subsequent playing time, and the circumstances surrounding his departure brought intense scrutiny to the organization’s decision-making, roster construction and public messaging. For many fans and analysts, Sunday’s opener offers a point of closure or renewed attention, a public moment that allows the franchise to be judged anew. For others, it maintains the unresolved narrative about how the Jets managed a high-profile acquisition that ultimately did not produce the hoped-for results.

Within the building, younger players and newcomers have been tutored to treat the week like any other game-preparation period. Coaches say they are focused on implementing schemes, refining situational work and managing workload for a roster that remains a mix of established veterans and players still carving out roles. Glenn has repeatedly told media members that the internal emphasis is on the day-to-day work that produces wins, not on external storylines.

But the presence of Rodgers — and the inevitable questions that follow him — has already altered the tenor of the season’s first game week. Season-ticket holders, visiting fans and national viewers have shown heightened interest in attending or tuning in. Merchandise and promotions referencing Jets identity have experienced renewed attention, and the team’s social feeds have been punctuated by archival moments and commentaries tied to Rodgers’ influence.

Analysts who cover the AFC East and the Jets say this phenomenon is not unique to New York. When a quarterback of Rodgers’ stature joins a franchise, the surrounding narrative rarely evaporates quickly. The difference, they say, is whether a team can harness the attention to strengthen its cohesion and identity or whether the story continues to distract from on-field goals. The Jets’ coaching staff has repeatedly voiced the former objective: use a high-profile week to reinforce standards and expectations.

In recent days, conversations in the locker room have reflected a balance between acknowledging the external attention and insisting on internal focus. Players across positions have offered variations on the same theme: everyone recognizes the heightened interest, but their preparation remains rooted in routine. Some veterans acknowledged that the moment is unique and worth processing; younger contributors emphasized that they need to treat the event like any other game to avoid being overwhelmed by atmosphere or narrative.

Ownership and front-office figures have also been mindful of the optics. Team executives have sought to present a unified front, highlighting roster moves, coaching continuity and strategic priorities for the season. The organization’s public statements have tended to underline trust in Glenn’s leadership and the team’s ability to move forward, even as outside conversation continues to connect the franchise to Rodgers’ brief tenure.

For many observers, Sunday’s opener will be an early litmus test of how successfully the Jets can reframe the narrative. A convincing win, executed with discipline and poise, would likely diminish the outsized focus on Rodgers and shift attention to the players and systems currently in place. A loss or an uneven performance could intensify questions about the roster’s construction and the team’s long-term trajectory, amplifying the lingering debate about the Rodgers era.

As the Jets prepare for kickoff, the coaching staff and players maintain they will try to insulate the team from external storylines. Glenn’s insistence that Rodgers’ presence does not create a shadow is part of that effort. Yet the reality, reflected in media coverage and public interest, is that the former quarterback’s imprint on the franchise has not faded. Whether the on-field results will finally allow the organization to move beyond that chapter will be determined in the weeks and games to come.