Jets' Jermaine Johnson and former teammate Aaron Rodgers are connected by a jet
Jets' Jermaine Johnson suffered a torn Achillies tendon in Week 2 last season and former Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers tore his Achillies in Week 1 of the 2023 season. Credit: AP/George Walker IV; Jim McIsaac
Aaron Rodgers wasn’t able to achieve the goals he hoped to reach in his two seasons with the Jets, but he came through in a major way for one of his teammates.
Jermaine Johnson turned to Rodgers in a time of need last year and the then-Jets quarterback delivered the way he has so many times in a career that will put him in the Hall of Fame.
“He’s a future Hall of Fame teammate,” Johnson told Newsday.
Johnson tore an Achilles tendon in Week 2 last season and needed to fly to Los Angeles for the surgery. He couldn’t walk and didn’t want to go through the hassle of making his way through a busy commercial airport.
The Jets’ talented edge rusher decided to reach out to Rodgers and ask if he could use his private jet to fly to L.A. for his surgery. According to Johnson, Rodgers said, “Hell, yeah!” and added that he would make some calls and set it up.
Rodgers, who experienced the same injury one year earlier and flew to Los Angeles for the surgery, made it happen for Johnson — and covered all the costs.
Johnson said he had “every intent on paying” Rodgers for the flight and crew. He called Rodgers from the jet and asked for his information so he could reimburse him.
“Don’t worry about it,” Rodgers told him.
Johnson stayed in Los Angeles and rehabbed throughout the season. He and Rodgers spoke often and joked about the different stages of the recovery. Johnson appreciated that as well.
“He knows where I was at because he’s been through it,” he said. “Just keeping my head in a good place and being a good friend, a good teammate. There’s always love there.”
The Jets moved on from Rodgers after last season, waiving him in March. He then signed with the Steelers.
As fate would have it, the Jets open the season Sunday against the Steelers. Rodgers returns to MetLife Stadium on the same day that Johnson returns to action.
“I think it’s so funny,” Johnson said. “Initial thought was like, that’s funny. You can’t even write that. Nevertheless, it’s here, and to be honest, I’m going to try my best to just stay in the moment, stay bigger than the moment in terms of if it doesn’t matter who’s over there, who we’re playing, who’s back there. I got a job to do for this team.”
Johnson, who said he feels stronger and more confident now, wants nothing more than to sack Rodgers on Sunday.
“When game time comes around, I don’t really see friends on the other side,” he said. “When the clock hits zero, [I’ll] dap him up and say it’s good to see him, good luck the rest of the season.”
When the Jets first acquired Rodgers in 2023, Johnson said one of the first things he told the quarterback was that he was happy he was here but upset that he wouldn’t be able to sack him. Now he can.
“I know he’s going to give me his best and I’m for sure going to give him my best,” Johnson said. “I’m going to try my best to get him to the ground and affect him in however way I can. I’m just excited to compete.”
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
