In the midst of a turbulent season for the New York Jets, quarterback Aaron Rodgers attempted to inject some humor and positivity during his weekly appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. Following the Jets’ disappointing 37-15 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Rodgers acknowledged that the team’s “energy” was lacking and set an unexpected goal for their upcoming game against the New England Patriots.
“We’re playing with too much anger and not enough enjoyment,” Rodgers observed. “We’ve played this game for a long time, and we get paid incredibly well. This is our livelihood, to play a game most of us dreamt about or played as kids… Personally, on our team we just need to have a little more fun. Smile more, enjoy each other. It’s fun when you win, of course, but I think there’s ways of taking some of the pressure off, and it’s got to start with me this week.”
While Rodgers’s sentiment was well-intentioned, it received a mixed reaction from Jets fans. Some drew parallels to Tom Brady’s response to Baker Mayfield earlier in the season, when Brady admonished the Buccaneers quarterback for suggesting the team was “stressed out” in his presence.
“I thought stressful was not having Super Bowl rings,” Brady retorted. “This wasn’t daycare… If I was going to have fun, I was going to Disneyland with my kids. There’s a way to approach this game and it’s with the right mindset to push teammates.”
Despite the differing perspectives, Rodgers’s call for a more lighthearted approach to the game has sparked debate among football enthusiasts. As the Jets navigate through a challenging season, it remains to be seen if Rodgers’s words will have a tangible impact on the team’s performance.
