Aaron Rodgers left no doubt that he will embrace Zach Wilson in a way that it seemed he never did Jordan Love.
When Wilson said after last season that he would make life “hell” for the new Jets starting quarterback by competing to win back the job, he couldn’t have known that he was talking about his childhood idol and NFL mentor Rodgers.
So, is Rodgers ready for a challenge?
“He’s going to make my life hell in practice,” Rodgers said Wednesday at his introductory news conference, “and I’m going to make his life heaven off the field.”
Rodgers and Wilson built a relationship prior to the 2022 season when the Jets and Packers held joint practices, and they’ve stayed in touch.
“The last couple years he hits me up from time to time during the season,” Rodgers said. “Obviously we’ve spent time together. I love him, I really do.”
Just like a young Rodgers infamously received a cold shoulder from Brett Favre with the Packers, Rodgers reacted like he was being threatened when the Packers surprisingly drafted Love in the first round in 2020.
He won two MVPs in response.
The Jets’ situation is different because Wilson – the No. 2 pick in 2021 – was here first and lost his starting job to Mike White and Joe Flacco.
“I feel like part of my role here is to help him get his confidence back,” Rodgers said. “The team believes in him. That’s one question I asked: ‘How do you feel about Zach?’ Because I care about his feelings and I care about how he’s viewed. They really believe in him. They think he can be special – and so do I.”
On Monday, after months of speculation and rumors, the Jets and Packers came to an agreement on a trade that brings four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers to New York.
The trade immediately upgrades the Jets from rising team to playoff contender with the hopes that Rodgers will help break one of the longest active postseason droughts in sports.
The Jets receive: Aaron Rodgers, No. 15 pick (2023) and No. 170 pick (2023).
The Packers receive: No. 13 pick (2023), No. 42 pick (2023), No. 207 pick (2023) and a conditional second-round 2024 draft pick that conveys to a first-rounder if Rodgers plays 65% of the Jets’ plays in 2023.
The trade still needs to be finalized — the terms of Rodgers’ contract need to be worked out — and sent to the NFL.
Both teams will begin feeling this deal as early as Thursday at the 2023 NFL Draft.
For the Packers, it’s now about getting fourth-year QB Jordan Love ready to take over. With Gang Green, it’s about getting a whole host of new faces on the same page offensively.
Read more of The Post’s Aaron Rodgers coverage
Other young Jets’ players are celebrating Rodgers’ arrival by changing their Twitter profile photos to a young Rodgers.
Wilson hasn’t given an indication he feels unsupported.
“Nothing but great conversations with Zach,” Saleh said. “He’s excited about this opportunity to work with Aaron. I know he’s going to be picking his brain every day, so Aaron better be prepared for that in a positive way. We’re excited for him to take this next step. We’re not closing the door on him. We still think he’s got a chance.”
Wilson is signed for two more seasons and will be the NFL’s most expensive No. 2 quarterback.
“I think being around me and seeing how I go about my business, seeing how I lead, seeing how I interact with the guys, I think there are some things he can pick off from that,” Rodgers said. “Part of the opportunity here is to be a great mentor to him, teach him fundamental stuff and allow him to be around me and through osmosis pick up some things that can really help him in his career.”
Rodgers said he respects Flacco but said his friendship with Wilson adds a different wrinkle to the quarterback room.
“Being around me and our friendship that goes back a couple years now will be really special to see him grow,” Rodgers said, “and become the player I believe, he should believe, and the team believes he can be.”