Aaron Rodgers went to the New York Jets mainly because after his time with the Green Bay Packers ended, the Jets were the only team willing to trade for him, and he was attracted by the opportunity to compete for a Super Bowl with them. Rodgers decided to keep playing rather than retire, and he was drawn to the Jets by the team's potential, the presence of offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett (whom he had a strong connection with), and the Jets' promise of a winning future. The Packers had communicated to Rodgers after his sensory deprivation retreat that it was time for him to retire or move on, so Rodgers chose to move on and joined the Jets in a trade involving six draft picks. He wanted to join a team that could win it all, and the Jets fit that vision at the time.
Later, the Jets moved on from Rodgers after two seasons primarily due to financial reasons and the long-term salary cap implications of keeping him. They also considered his age, health issues, influence, and performance. Rodgers wanted to stay and even pleaded to remain with the Jets, but the team's new coaching and management regime decided to go in a different direction to preserve financial flexibility and build for the future.
