Following the New York Jets’ 23-20 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football, which dropped their record to 2-4, quarterback Aaron Rodgers didn’t hesitate to publicly criticize wide receiver Mike Williams for his role in a crucial game-sealing interception.
During the postgame press conference, Rodgers broke down the play in question, explaining how the Jets were driving downfield with the potential to tie or win the game. Instead, Rodgers threw an interception that effectively ended the Jets’ hopes. The veteran quarterback made sure to point out Williams’ mistake on the play.
“There’s two verticals, Allen (Lazard)’s down the seam, and Mike’s down the red line,” Rodgers explained. “So, I’m throwing a no-look to the red line. When I peek my eyes back there, Mike’s running an ‘in-breaker’… it’s gotta be down the red line.” His analysis left no doubt that he believed Williams was at fault for not being in the right position on the field.
The next day, Rodgers doubled down on his criticism during his weekly appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. While Rodgers claimed that he always holds himself accountable first, he still took another opportunity to highlight Williams’ error, even as the Jets were in the process of trading for Davante Adams to bolster their receiving corps—possibly signaling Williams’ time in New York could be coming to an end.
“If you watch my press conferences, you know I started with myself. When I’ve made mistakes, I say, ‘I’ve got to play better, make that throw,’” Rodgers said. “That’s the standard for everyone. There were a lot of mistakes throughout the night, but if you’re looking at just that play, that’s what the questions were about. Mike needed to get to the red line, which would’ve been a big gain, so I wasn’t calling him out for anything other than his responsibility in the details of that play. I have a lot of love and respect for Mike; he’s done some nice things for us, but in that play, he wasn’t in the right spot. You can make more of it if you want, but we should all be held to a standard. I hold myself to a standard of greatness, and it hasn’t been there at certain times.”
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Rodgers’ comments didn’t sit well with everyone, especially former New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who played for the team during their last successful season in 2015. Fitzpatrick, known for his leadership and respected by teammates throughout his career, took to social media to voice his displeasure with Rodgers’ leadership style.
“This response is the biggest thing I don’t understand about Aaron,” Fitzpatrick tweeted. “He can be super charismatic, and his swagger gives teammates the ultimate confidence, BUT why can’t he shoulder ALL the blame in the media and then get behind closed doors with Mike Williams, or the whole offense, or the whole team, and tell them he needs more out of them? The need to set the record straight at the expense of someone lesser than him just hurts me.”
Fitzpatrick’s criticism highlights a long-standing critique of Rodgers: his tendency to publicly assign blame rather than keeping those conversations behind closed doors.
Many believe that a leader should protect teammates in the public eye and reserve critiques for the locker room, a philosophy Fitzpatrick clearly subscribes to. His comments touched on the delicate balance between maintaining team unity and holding teammates accountable.
Adding fuel to the fire, the Jets’ acquisition of Davante Adams—Rodgers’ former go-to receiver from their days in Green Bay—could signal trouble for Williams’ future in New York.
Reports indicate that Williams, who joined the Jets this past offseason after leaving the Los Angeles Chargers, is now on the trade block. The timing of Rodgers’ public criticism, combined with the arrival of Adams, only deepens the speculation that Williams’ tenure with the team may be nearing an end.
For Rodgers, this situation puts his leadership style under a microscope once again. While some appreciate his straightforwardness and accountability, others, like Fitzpatrick, believe that publicly calling out teammates does more harm than good.
As the Jets navigate a rocky season and a quarterback who demands high standards from those around him, the question remains: will Rodgers’ approach strengthen the team, or further divide it?
In the meantime, Williams’ future with the Jets remains uncertain, and Rodgers’ leadership will continue to be a topic of conversation as the season progresses.
The addition of Adams, a proven star, could either help turn things around for the Jets or create more friction within a struggling offense. Only time will tell how Rodgers’ approach will impact the locker room and whether the team can rally behind him as they aim to salvage their season.
