After joining the New York Jets, Aaron Rodgers didn’t just take over as quarterback—he practically reshaped the team around himself. His arrival felt more like a mini “Friends” reunion than a typical NFL signing. Rodgers brought a few familiar faces from Green Bay to New York, making the transition smoother after his split with the Packers. Among those was wide receiver Allen Lazard, who signed a significant four-year, $44 million deal. Not long after, veteran receiver Randall Cobb also joined the team, and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, who previously worked with Rodgers, was installed in the same role in New York. The Jets even pursued Davante Adams, who eventually landed with the Rams. Despite all the efforts, most of Rodgers’ former teammates struggled to perform in New York.
Unlike the Jets, the Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t attempt to build their roster around Rodgers’ preferences. However, speculation around Allen Lazard’s future continued as he waited to see if a possible reunion with Rodgers could materialize—perhaps in Pittsburgh. Insider Rich Cimini even suggested that Lazard might be holding off on accepting the Jets’ new offer, anticipating Rodgers’ next move in free agency.
The #Jets and Allen Lazard have agreed on a revised contract for 2025. Will result $8.5 million in savings. https://t.co/7840knHVCh
— Jason_OTC (@Jason_OTC) April 10, 2025
Lazard’s time with the Jets hadn’t lived up to expectations. Over two seasons, he managed only 60 catches for 841 yards and seven touchdowns, numbers that didn’t justify his hefty contract. With Rodgers still unsigned and the Steelers rumored to be in play, Lazard was hoping for another team-up. But those rumors were finally shut down. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Jets and Lazard agreed on a restructured contract.
The details of the new deal, first reported by Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap, revealed that Lazard accepted a massive pay cut. His base salary dropped from $11 million to just $1.75 million—fully guaranteed. That’s an $8.5 million reduction. This new structure also lowered his 2025 cap hit from $13.2 million to $4.6 million. Lazard will now be a free agent in 2026, and if he leaves next year, he’ll carry only $4.368 million in dead money against the cap.
So, instead of heading to Pittsburgh for another reunion with Rodgers, Lazard will stay in New York, aiming to revive his performance alongside new quarterback Justin Fields. Meanwhile, Rodgers—still navigating free agency—has at least found support from a Steelers legend.
Ben Roethlisberger, the longtime Pittsburgh quarterback and two-time Super Bowl winner, publicly defended Rodgers amid growing criticism. Speaking on his “Footbahlin” podcast, Roethlisberger drew from his own recovery experience after a major elbow injury in 2019. That year, he only played two games before undergoing surgery. He returned in 2020 with solid stats—33 touchdowns and 10 interceptions—but admitted he still wasn’t fully recovered. “It’s the year after,” Roethlisberger said, suggesting that true recovery takes more time. He applied the same logic to Rodgers, who is returning from an ACL injury. According to Roethlisberger, people shouldn’t be so quick to judge Rodgers’ post-injury performance.
Rodgers did show flashes of his old self last season, throwing 28 touchdown passes with a 90.5 passer rating at the age of 40. Now 41 (turning 42 in December), Rodgers still believes in his ability to perform at an elite level. Whether Roethlisberger’s prediction about Rodgers coming back even stronger proves true—and whether that comeback happens with the Steelers—remains to be seen.