The UFL Should Give Aaron Rodgers a Call

In what isn't much of a surprise, the New York Jets are going to be parting ways with former Green Bay Packers' quarterback Aaron Rodgers after two disappointing seasons. The narrative is now going to focus on his NFL future. Will he retire? Will another NFL franchise give him an opportunity despite some of the off-the-field baggage that comes with him?

I, however, am going to throw one more conversation into that narrative - the United Football League.

Before you ask, no I'm not drunk or on drugs and I didn't recently hit my head. I'll also be the first to admit the scenario I mentioned is the ultimate longshot, to the point I'm not sure Vegas would even put odds on it. However, as ridiculous as it sounds, this is something that potentially makes sense for both sides.

I'll start with Rodgers. At 41, he is at best, a transitional quarterback for an NFL franchise. He has made plenty of money so it's unlikely he'll sign with a rebuilding team just for the sake of a paycheck but at the same time, there will be very few, if any, Super Bowl contenders in need of a quarterback in 2025. This means, if he doesn't just choose to retire, he might find himself in a state of limbo, waiting for an injury to open a spot up.

If Rodgers were to sign with the UFL though, he'd arguably be the top dog. He'd be a starter and would be playing against practice-squad level talent. There's no reason to believe the UFL team that has him as the passer wouldn't be the favorite to walk away with the championship, giving him a shot at one more football-related accolade.

From the UFL's point of view, Rodgers is someone who will bring both attention and viewers to their league. Not all the press will be good, Rodgers has his sometimes-controversial opinions and isn't afraid to share them. However, for a fledgling league trying to find an audience, even that can benefit them, especially if Rodgers is talking about the UFL on platforms like the Pat McAfee show.

Convincing Rodgers to come to the UFL could also create a ripple effect. NFL players in a similar situation, name recognition but no longer making top dollar, could be encouraged to follow him and make the league a bit more credible while it's building its own stars. It'll probably never reach NFL-level ratings, but a talent/name influx wouldn't hurt.

At minimum, if Rodgers doesn't find his phone blowing up with NFL offers, it's something both sides should consider.