Aaron Rodgers: Headline Magnet or Quarterback? Former Jets Coach Eric Mangini Weighs In
Aaron Rodgers has yet to throw a single regular season pass for the New York Jets, but his time with the team has been anything but uneventful. Since being traded to the Jets in April 2023, Rodgers has made more waves off the field than on it, creating a whirlwind of controversy that has left many questioning his commitment to the team.
Rodgers has become a magnet for controversy, drawing attention with his outspoken comments on fringe podcasts, his public support for fringe presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and his decision to skip mandatory practices. But perhaps most baffling has been his insistence on teasing a miraculous recovery from an Achilles injury, fueling headlines that have painted him more as a celebrity figure than a dedicated quarterback.
Former New York Jets head coach Eric Mangini has been particularly vocal about Rodgers’ behavior, interpreting it as a sign of someone who lacks regard for his teammates or the franchise. Mangini’s pointed criticism came during an appearance on Fox Sports 1’s First Things First, where he didn’t hold back in expressing his dismay.
“He doesn’t care. He doesn’t care. He doesn’t care about the other 10 guys,” Mangini asserted, making it clear that, in his view, Rodgers is more focused on himself than the team. Mangini went on to draw a comparison that has been gaining traction lately—one that Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud also highlighted earlier this summer—between Rodgers and the legendary Tom Brady.
The comparison, however, does not flatter Rodgers. Mangini emphasized that what sets Brady apart is his willingness to be coached, his openness to ideas, and his commitment to the team, even as he solidified his status as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. “Tom was coachable,” Mangini explained. “Tom wanted to be coached, and even though Tom was the greatest at that position, he was open to ideas that could make him better.”
In contrast, Mangini described Rodgers as someone who marches to the beat of his own drum, regardless of the consequences for his teammates or the coaching staff. “For Aaron, he’s just going to do whatever he wants to do, whatever is best for him,” Mangini said. “You other 10 guys, it’s not good for you, not good for the coaching staff, not good for anybody else. It doesn’t matter, because it’s just about him.”
Rodgers’ behavior has sparked a broader conversation about leadership, responsibility, and what it means to be a team player. While his talent on the field is undeniable, his actions off the field have raised concerns about his priorities and his willingness to put the team’s success above his own interests.
As the Jets prepare for the upcoming NFL season, Rodgers will not participate in any of the preseason games, opting instead to make his official return to the field after his September 2023 Achilles tear during a Monday Night Football matchup against the San Francisco 49ers on September 9. All eyes will be on Rodgers, not just for his performance as a quarterback, but also to see whether he can shed the reputation he’s cultivated as a headline-chasing figure who puts himself above the team.
For now, the question remains: Is Aaron Rodgers a quarterback who can lead the Jets to success, or is he a headline machine whose off-field antics will continue to overshadow his on-field potential? As the season unfolds, the answer will become clear—but for Mangini and others who share his concerns, the signs aren’t promising.
