For the second time in two seasons with the New York Jets, Aaron Rodgers opens the regular season on “Monday Night Football.”
Rodgers, who was hurt on his first possession in the 2023 regular-season opener on MNF, is recovered from a torn Achilles and planning to kick off his 20th NFL season near his hometown with a visit to the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 9.
Rodgers, 40, spent 18 seasons with the Packers before a trade sent him to the Jets in April 2023 and opened the door for Jordan Love to take over in Green Bay.
In a homecoming for Rodgers — who went to Cal and grew up in Chico, Calif. — the Jets’ coaching staff also has direct ties for the reigning NFC champs.
Jets head coach Robert Saleh previously was defensive coordinator under 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan. Saleh was with San Francisco from 2017-2020 and worked with Shanahan earlier in his career with the Houston Texans.
The 49ers lost to the Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII, 25-22, Shanahan’s second Super Bowl loss to the Chiefs since being named head coach in San Francisco.
Rodgers played four snaps last season and was placed on injured reserve following surgery to repair his ruptured Achilles. He returned to practice late in the season and turned 40 in December.
He is 6-3 in his career against the 49ers.
San Francisco leads the series with the Jets with an 11-3 edge all-time.
The four-time MVP and 10-time Pro Bowl selection will oppose Brock Purdy, in the first in a series of matchups between Shanahan and former assistant coaches on the 2024 schedule. He’ll also square off with Mike McDaniel (Miami Dolphins), Sean McVay (Los Angeles Rams) and Matt LaFleur (Packers).
