Retirement was floated as an option for much of the 2025 offseason in Aaron Rodgers‘ case. The future Hall of Famer will suit up for the Steelers this year, but it would come as a surprise if he did so in Pittsburgh or anywhere else after that. 
During his latest appearance on the Pat McAfee Show, Rodgers said he is “pretty sure” 2025 will be his final NFL season (video link). At the age of 41, he expectedly took a one-year pact earlier this month to take over starting duties with the Steelers. Today’s remarks all-but confirm the third chapter of his career will be a one-and-done endeavor.
“It’s been a long run and I’ve enjoyed it,” Rodgers added. “What better place to finish than in one of the cornerstone franchises of the NFL?”
2025 will mark Rodgers’ 21st season in the NFL and his 18th as a starting quarterback. A four-time MVP during his Packers tenure, things did not go according to plan upon being traded to the Jets. Rodgers suffered an Achilles tear four snaps into his New York debut, and a comeback attempt proved unnecessary with the team out of postseason contention in December. 2024 brought about a full slate of games, although he struggled with a number of ailments while only managing a partial return to his previous form.
Not long after the replacements for the Robert Saleh-Joe Douglas regime arrived, the decision was made to proceed with a Rodgers release. Conversations between team and player on that front did not result in an amicable parting of ways, but if left Rodgers free to contemplate his next opportunity. The Super Bowl winner spoke with the Giants and Vikings while also giving thought to ending his career. In the end, though, connections with the Steelers resulted in a visit and a long-running expectation a deal would be worked out. Pittsburgh remained patient, waiting until after the draft concluded and OTAs took place to finalize his pact.
As a result, Rodgers will become the Steelers’ seventh different signal-caller to start a game since Ben Roethlisberger retired. The team’s efforts to find a genuine successor have not yielded much in the way of success, and the Rodgers investment is of course a short-term bid to elevate Pittsburgh’s ceiling on offense. Even if this latest move works out well, a new long-term investment will be needed at the position next spring.
The Steelers reunited with Mason Rudolph in free agency, but he was informed at the time a starting-caliber addition was still being sought out. With no agreement being reached to keep 2024 passers Justin Fields or Russell Wilson in the fold, an outside addition proved necessary. Other veterans – such as Matthew Stafford – were higher on Pittsburgh’s priority list, but as expected he worked out a new Rams arrangement. Rodgers thus represented one of the preferable options regarding a one-year experiment.
The 10-time Pro Bowler is now three years removed from his most recent MVP campaign, and mobility will be an obvious area of concern for his debut Pittsburgh season. A healthy run of games could provide the Steelers with the chance to end their drought regarding playoff wins, though. Regardless of how things play out, a retirement announcement following the 2025 season is even likelier now than it already was.
Who cares
Cared enough to comment
That’s always been a lame reply. Be better Andy.
Is it not true though?
“Be better”?
It’s a football rumors comment section. I’d reserve that for more serious matters my dude
Okay my dude, just try to be more clever is all. Commenting hate does not equal interest in the matter. I’m sure you’re a peach in real life and that’s all that matters.
Ok BlackSundayz
Thanks for the feedback
You do!! Because you commented
My god are you his PR team? No need for six stories a day on him just to get clicks. No one is reading these items so move on. Sad.
The Rodgers hate is so forced lol. Its the offseason and not much is happening. Try to at least enjoy your day man
You clicked. A-Rod is the GOAT. Nothing about this article is click bait. It literally is a report on an interview he just had about retirement. You don’t know what click bait is apparently. You’re an idiot.
Banished Words List! BANISHED WORDS LIST!
Should’ve retired a Packer
I wouldn’t be surprised if he does the 1-day contract to retire as a Packer.
Should make him retire as a Jet.
Not sure you can make him do anything. But at a default, his last contract will be the the Steelers.
Steelers => Why even BOTHER with this guy ??
They know more about football than you or I do?
Do they? Most everyone thought Kenny Pickett was not a 1st round talent. Seems everyone was right but the Steelers
I agree with Deerhunter on this one. You know how dominant I’ve been able to make the Raiders in Madden over the years with MY transactions?? HOF status.
The Madden joke is lame. Be better.
Rodgers was just using the NFL as a launch pad for a career in flag football anyway 🙂
I’m sure he’ll announce it quickly when the season ends
This one’s pretty good
Only Aaron and Pitt don’t realize he’s already retired.
Mason Rudolph will come across as a genius when he’s the backup quarterback for 2025, Aaron Rogers wins 8 games out of 10 before a season-ending injury and Rudolph gets to step in and take the Steelers to the playoffs. If Rudolph does well in the playoffs, he writes his own ticket.
Not sure why Rudolph is obsessed with succeeding as the Steeler’s starting QB. Maybe goes back to some harsh words with Ben Roethlisberger when Rudolph came into the league, Rudolph is just dying to prove Roethlisberger wrong. It would be a lark to see Rudolph win a Super Bowl this year.
The genius would require Mason Rudolph to be good, which he is not. I’d argue that Will Howard might get a crack at the starting job before Mason Rudolph, especially if its that far down the line
My opinion of Mason Rudolph is higher than yours. Any quarterback who would go toe-to-toe with Myles Garrett, giving the Garrett the advantage of a deadly weapon (helmet) deserves the benefit of the doubt.
Haha. He didn’t go toe to toe. Rudolph was on his back crying out for help
He has become the player he hated in Brett Favre.
Aaron Rodgers is two years removed from Achilles surgery. He has ALWAYS been the best on the field, when playing. Will he be that this year(?) … probably not BUT he will be one of the best on the field. He has high expectations and demands that from his offensive players. Those expectations will help Tomlin improve the Steelers + the Rodgers-DK Metcalf combination will be fun to watch —- could be incredible! Best of luck to the Steelers (minus one game vs Pack) and Aaron Rodgers!
The question that I really have is what happens if Manning goes back to school (which could definitely happen) and there’s no quarterback that the Steelers are confident in to select? In that case, Rodgers would have to play for another year-and play well-for this to be worth the time. Playing for one year and then forcing Pittsburgh to do this all over again for another season would not get anywhere and wasted another year of some more veterans. Watt isn’t drinking from the fountain of youth, and while Metcalf isn’t old, he isn’t getting younger. Heyward doesn’t have long left, either.
I’m for continuing the winning tradition as opposed to tanking (especially in the Steelers’ case, who have a lot of that tradition as part of their team mystique for their players), and if Rodgers plays well this year, I think that he could be valuable next year if he stays healthy-but that’s a huge, huge risk at 42. He doesn’t have Brady’s size to withstand hits, and though he’s much better than he’s been given credit for lately, he’s definitely not as mobile as he was before. Ideally, Pittsburgh selects its future quarterback in the next draft, and that quarterback is worth the wait. I’m all for being picky with your franchise starter, and the Steelers have always been about continuity, so that approach makes sense for them. However, if he’s not there and Rodgers retires, then it complicates the plan immensely.
Having a gap after Rodgers seems much more harmful than bringing him in as a continuous bridge to the new starter, whether this next year or the year after-but relying on him to stay healthy and effective for that long is a big ask. Not to mention, we’ll, we know that Rodgers likes to do things on his own schedule in the offseason (which, in my opinion, has affected his play inseason) This can’t be answered now (we’ll have to see if he can even play the whole year, first) but it’s something to bear in mind when the season ends (if if Rodgers does get hurt again).
AK85,You got a better chance in signing JESUS CHRIST, because Manning kid ain’t coming out of college, what did he do in football in Texas last year if he is so great why wasn’t he didn’t play in the playoffs. Bloodlines don’t mean nothing. Look at me I was out of a good mother ,good father and look Me im a f…up. Please AK make it short and simple on comments I’m tired of reading the encyclopedia.
Then don’t. It’s three paragraphs.
If they did sign Jesus Christ, it’d make the Hail Mary a lot easier.