Aaron Rodgers seemingly dropped a hint that he could retire as the four-time MVP told a New York Jets staff member to hold onto the ball following his fourth touchdown pass against the Miami Dolphins.

On Sunday at MetLife Stadium, the Jets ended their horrendous 2024 season on a high with a 32-20 win over the Dolphins in an AFC East showdown. Rodgers completed 23 of 36 passes for 273 yards and four touchdowns, bouncing back in style after throwing an interception on his first throw of the game.

Earlier in the game, Rodgers threw his 500th career touchdown pass as he found Tyler Conklin in the end zone. The 41-year-old opted to keep that milestone ball, but he also decided to keep the ball of his final touchdown throw to Breece Hall.

After firing his fourth touchdown pass of the game, a six-yard dart to Hall, Rodgers collected the ball and went to the sideline to hand it to a staffer to be kept, per reports. If he decides to call time on his career, the quarterback seemingly wanted to keep the ball representing his final NFL touchdown.

Ahead of the Week 18 clash against the Dolphins, reports emerged suggesting Rodgers could not only be playing his final game for the AFC East franchise but also the final game of his career. The 41-year-old is coming off a torn Achilles and has endured a difficult season in New York.

Despite entering the campaign with Super Bowl aspirations, the Jets finished with a 5-12 record. The 2024 campaign has been one of the most disappointing in recent memory, and there is plenty of speculation suggesting Rodgers will depart the organization in the offseason.

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Aaron Rodgers had already decided to keep the ball used for his 500th touchdown pass

Rodgers had already decided to keep the ball used for his 500th touchdown pass ( 

Image:

Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images)

Rodgers addressed his future before the game, telling reporters: “I’ll just be enjoying this, I’m trying to stay in the moment. It’s been a long career. I’m really proud of what I’ve been able to be a part of and what I’ve been able to accomplish. I need a break mentally. I don’t want to make a decision until I’ve been able to rest mentally and physically… I just need a break to refresh, put my feet in the sand and see where I’m at after that.”

He added: “March is free agency, I don’t think we’re going to get that far because there’s going to be a regime change here with the GM and then I’ll either get a call or have a conversation and go from there.”

Rodgers refused to make a decision on his future following the win over the Dolphins, which represented perhaps his best performance of the season. As well as to Conklin and Hall, Rodgers threw touchdowns to former Green Bay Packers targets Allen Lazard and Davante Adams as the Jets ended the Dolphins’ slim hopes of reaching the playoffs.

Now, Jets fans must sit and wait to see what Rodgers decides to do next, whether that’s return to the NFL in New York or elsewhere, or turn his back on the game he has played professionally for two decades.