The rain in Orchard Park felt a little more like a funeral than a regular-season finale. Honestly, if you watched the New York Jets get dismantled 35-8 by the Buffalo Bills on January 4, 2026, you saw the final gasp of an era that never actually breathed. We were told this would be different. We were told the darkness retreats and the off-season drama would culminate in a deep January run. Instead, the Jets finished 3-14, dead last in the AFC East, and Aaron Rodgers couldn't save the Jets from a fate that feels surgically attached to this franchise.
It’s easy to look at the scoreboard and blame the defense or the coaching carousel, but the reality is much more sobering. By the time that Week 18 whistle blew, Rodgers wasn't even the one under center—rookie Brady Cook was taking the snaps while the future Hall of Famer watched from the sidelines, a move that felt like a mercy killing for a season that died months ago.
The Buffalo Blowout: A Season in Microcosm
The game itself was a masterclass in "what could go wrong." Buffalo, led by Mitchell Trubisky of all people while Josh Allen rested for the playoffs, moved the ball at will. They jumped to a 21-0 lead before some fans had even found their seats. The Jets? They managed 9 first downs. Total.
That’s the part that stings. Aaron Rodgers couldn't save the Jets because, by the time 2026 rolled around, the roster was a shell of the "all-in" group Woody Johnson promised. Rodgers, who eventually moved on to a brief stint in Pittsburgh before their recent playoff exit, spent his final days in New York criticizing the "leaks in the boat." He wasn't wrong, but he wasn't the solution anymore either.
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Why the "Rodgers Effect" Failed
When you bring in a 40-plus-year-old quarterback, you’re betting on a very narrow window. That window slammed shut when the Jets failed to fix the offensive line and allowed a "culture of excuses" to permeate Florham Park.
- The Turnover Drought: The Jets forced only 4 turnovers all season. That is a historic low. You can't win in the NFL if your defense isn't taking the ball away.
- Quarterback Turmoil: Between Rodgers’ injuries and the rotating door of backups like Tyrod Taylor and eventually Brady Cook, there was zero rhythm.
- The Coaching Change: Replacing Robert Saleh with Aaron Glenn was supposed to spark a defensive resurgence, but the team actually got worse, clinching their 10th consecutive losing season.
What Most People Get Wrong About the 2025-26 Season
There’s a narrative that Rodgers simply "got old." That’s a bit too simple. In reality, the Jets' failure was a systemic collapse. Rodgers actually threw for over 3,300 yards and 24 touchdowns in his subsequent 2025 season with the Steelers, proving he still had gas in the tank. The problem was the environment in New York.
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As Rodgers himself put it in a recent jab at the organization, there are "special places" with tradition and town support, and then there was his time with the Jets. He called Pittsburgh the "antithesis" of New York regarding how they handle internal business. Ouch.
The Financial Fallout
The Jets are now looking at a 2026 season with massive dead cap hits and a roster that needs a total rebuild. They are slated to face the Titans, Cardinals, and Browns next year—teams that aren't exactly world-beaters, but for a 3-14 squad, every game looks like a mountain.
Moving Forward: The Post-Rodgers Reality
If you're a Jets fan, you've heard "wait until next year" so often it sounds like a threat. But the path forward requires a clean break from the "star-chasing" mentality. Aaron Rodgers couldn't save the Jets because one man, no matter how many MVPs he has, cannot fix a team that lacks basic foundational stability.
The focus now shifts to the 2026 NFL Draft and whether Brady Cook is actually the guy or just another name on the infamous jersey of failed New York quarterbacks.
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Actionable Steps for the Jets Front Office
- Prioritize the Trenches: No more skill position "splash" signings until the offensive line can protect a signal-caller for more than 2.5 seconds.
- Internal Transparency: Stop the "leaks" Rodgers complained about. A winning culture starts with a locked locker room.
- Identify the Identity: Are the Jets a defensive-minded team? An air-raid offense? Right now, they are neither, and it shows on the field.
The Rodgers experiment will go down as one of the most expensive and disappointing "what-ifs" in sports history. It’s time to stop looking for a savior and start building a football team.