The New York Jets will be searching for a new quarterback this offseason after parting ways with future Hall-of-Famer Aaron Rodgers.
The Aaron Rodgers decision came as no surprise across the league as new general manager Darren Mougey said he wanted to ‘fix’ the Jets QB problem. Alongside the hiring of new head coach Aaron Glenn, it feels like the beginning of a new era for the New York Jets.
Despite 41-year-old Rodgers throwing for 3897 yards, the Jets finished the season with a 5-12 record, third place in the AFC East. 2024 marked the 14th straight season New York has missed the playoffs, the longest active drought across the whole of the NFL.
Rodney Harrison is a big believer in Detroit Lions backup Hendon Hooker becoming as Rodgers’ replacement. He wants the Jets to trade for Jared Goff’s backup.
Speaking on NFL on NBC, he said: “I am taking Hendon Hooker before I am taking Shedeur Saunders or Cam Ward. This Hendon Hooker, I have been on him for a while, he is a hidden gem in the national football league.”
Hendon Hooker college and NFL stats
Hooker was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft, at the time, he was recovering from a torn ACL. He served as Jared Goff’s backup quarterback in 2024, appearing in just three games for Detroit.
Hooker became a starter for Tennessee Volunteers in 2021 and in two seasons as the starting QB, he threw for 6080 yards with 58 touchdowns and just five interceptions.
In 2022, he finished fifth in Heisman voting, behind Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams and Houston Texans QB C.J. Stroud.
Alex Golesh on what makes Hooker a special quarterback
Former Tennessee coach Alex Golesh, who led Hooker during his college career, was asked what was so impressive about the quarterback, he said: “I think just his toughness, mental and physical both. You always have a chance when the ball is in his hand.
“Some critical times throughout the year, we’ve tried to put the ball in his hands, and obviously he touches the ball on every play, but I feel uber comfortable with him having the ball when it’s on the line that he’s going to make something happen with.
“Mental toughness, physical toughness, that kid is a winner, believes in himself, believes in his teammates, and as a coach all you want at the end is to have a chance to win.
“I feel like with Hendon, you always feel like you have a chance to win. Just his toughness.”
