Aaron Rodgers captivates NFL fans in 2023: From darkness retreat to Jets saga

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The 2023 NFL season for the New York Jets will go down in sports history as arguably one of the greatest what-if scenarios – What if Aaron Rodgers never ruptured his Achilles? 

Would the Jets have broken their 12-year playoff drought, or better yet, would the Jets have made their long awaited return to the Super Bowl as predicted by mentalist Oz Pearlman in an early episode of HBO’s "Hard Knocks"? 

Zach Wilson, left, and Aaron Rodgers in the first half as the Miami Dolphins defeated the NY Jets 34-13 at MetLife Stadium on Nov. 24, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey, to play in the first "Black Friday" NFL game. (Chris Pedota, NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK)

It is hard to say. 

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New York was officially eliminated from playoff contention after a brutal beatdown by the divisional rival Miami Dolphins on Sunday, marking their 13th straight season out of the playoffs – the longest active streak in the league. 

Constant inconsistency on offense and a struggling young quarterback have led to another woeful outcome for the organization. 

With just three games left on the schedule, here is a look back on Rodgers’ journey to New York and the events that followed. 

Aaron Rodgers, #12, and Randall Cobb, #18 of the Green Bay Packers, walk off the field after losing to the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field on Jan. 8, 2023 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. ( Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

Rodgers had spent all of his career playing with the Green Bay Packers, and it looked like he would finish it there as well. However, reports of discontent between Rodgers and leadership began brewing during the 2021