New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard said he’s looking forward to a likely reunion with his former quarterback.
While nothing is official on the Aaron Rodgers front, the four-time NFL MVP has made his intentions known that he wants to play for the Jets in 2023.
“Obviously, standing here today, it feels good knowing that 12’s going to be my quarterback again,” Lazard said in a Zoom call with reporters on Friday.
Lazard, 27, signed a four-year, $44 million contract to join the Jets.
He caught 60 passes for 788 yards and six touchdowns in 15 starts with the Green Bay Packers in 2022. He has 169 receptions for 2,236 yards and 20 TDs in 57 games (40 starts) since signing with the Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2018.
“As a wide receiver, the best relationship you can have is with the quarterback, and the relationship I have with him has been phenomenal,” Lazard said of Rodgers. “Obviously, there’s an inclination that he’s coming here, but … after the season, after the last game, in the locker room, I mentioned how I have to worry about myself and take care of what’s best for me and I can’t worry about other people.
“Me and my decision coming here was purely based off that and making sure that I’m doing what’s best for my career. Obviously, him being here, it definitely helps the entire organization to be able to take that next step, make a deep playoff run and go win that Lombardi Trophy.”
Lazard admitted Friday that he felt the Packers showed little interest in welcoming him back.
“They didn’t seem like they were going to miss me too much,” he said.
Lazard joins a wide receivers room that includes Garrett Wilson, Elijah Moore, Corey Davis and Denzel Mims.
He also will be reunited with Nathaniel Hackett, who was hired as the Jets offensive coordinator after being fired as head coach of the Denver Broncos in December. Hackett was the OC in Green Bay from 2019-21.
