Aaron Rodgers bonds with new Jets teammates at Knicks playoff games

AaronRodgers was sitting alone in the dark two months ago, pondering hisfuture while many speculated about his next move.

Now, theNew York Jets quarterback is the toast of his new town, bondingwith the Big Apple and his excited teammates.

“That’s alegend right there, that’s a Hall of Fame player,” wide receiverGarrett Wilson said Wednesday during a video call. “This issomething 20 years from now, 30 years from now, I can tell my kids,‘You know, I played with Aaron Rodgers.’ I try not to think aboutit too much at this point, you know, just because we’re going towork and he’s my teammate and that’s got to be the mindset.

“But thereality of it is it’s awesome, man.”

After anoffseason that included Rodgers going on an isolation retreat inOregon and deciding to continue his playing career — and with theJets — the four-time NFL MVP wasformallyintroduced by New York last Wednesdayafter acquiring himfrom Green Bay. The dealbroughtone of the league’s greatest playersto a franchisefrustrated by 12 straight seasons without a playoff appearance andhungry for a winner.

And Rodgersis already making an impact.

“We knowthat all of the sudden, all eyes are on us,” Wilson said. “We’vegot to back it up every time we take the field, you know, practiceor game.”

Rodgers isalso enjoying his turn as New York’s newest celebrity while takingin Knicks and Rangers games at Madison Square Garden.

“I metSpike Lee, Martha Stewart and Patrick Ewing,”Rodgerssaid Tuesday on “The PatMcAfee Show”on YouTube and SiriusXM. “I’m sitting next toJack Harlow. So much fun. Just having a ball.”

He wastherewithformer Packers teammate Allen Lazardand running backBreece Hall for the Rangers’ 5-2 win over the Devils in Game 6 lastSaturday. Rodgers and Lazard were back the next day for the Knicks’playoff loss to Miami in Game 1. On Tuesday night, Rodgers andcornerback Sauce Gardner sat courtside next to actor Jerry Ferraraand former Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist for the Knicks’ victoryin Game 2.

“It wasgreat being around a veteran guy like him, a down to earth guy who— I didn’t know he was that funny,” Gardner said.

“Everybodyknew who he was and I was able to just be in his shadow a littlebit.”

Rodgers,who’s 39, teased the 22-year-old Gardner about his age at timesduring their night out on the town — which started with the QBpicking up the tab for dinner at Carbone restaurant.

“We weregetting seated (at the Garden) and he was like, ‘We’re about to sitby Jessica Alba,’” said Gardner, last season’s AP Defensive Rookieof the Year. “I was like, ‘Oh, I don’t know who that is.’ He lookedat me like I’m crazy.”

Rodgersprobably would’ve had a similar look a few months ago if someonehad told him he’d be calling the New York/New Jersey area home — asa member of the Jets.

“I’m justpinching myself a lot of days,” Rodgers said. “I can’t believe it’sreal sometimes. It’s been a dream, for sure, just to be here.”

Rodgers isparticipating in offseason workouts, something he hadn’t done thepast couple of seasons in Green Bay while he feuded with thePackers’ front office. Aslow-motion video postedMonday by the Jetsof Rodgers throwing a pass to Wilson,last season’s AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, has gotten more than9.6 million views.

“I ain’tgonna lie to you, I was kind of starstruck at first,” linebackerQuincy Williams said with a smile. “I was like, ‘Hold on, coach,let me just take a little minute to just take this in,’ just towatch a few throws and seeing him in the green.

“And it waslike, all right, let’s get to work so we can give him moreopportunities to throw the ball.”

The Jetsare counting on Rodgers doing that and jumpstarting an offense thatranked near the bottom of the league in several categories the pasttwo years with Zach Wilson struggling in then-coordinator MikeLaFleur’s system. Rodgers is reunited with Nathaniel Hackett, hisoffensive coordinator for three years in Green Bay, including thelast two of his four MVP awards in 2020 and 2021.

Hackettisn’t the only former Packers teammate joining Rodgers in New York.The Jets signed Lazard, backup quarterback Tim Boyleandoffensivelineman Billy Turnerin free agency. They also already hadwide receiver Malik Turner and offensive lineman Adam Pankey.

The Jetsalsosignedwide receiver Randall Cobbon Wednesday night. Cobb hadtwo stints as Rodgers’ teammate in Green Bay and walked off thefield with the quarterback after the Packers’ season-ending loss toDetroit at Lambeau.

“It’s likethe first day of school every single day,” Rodgers said on “The PatMcAfee Show.” “Everything’s new and exciting and fun.”