Aaron Rodgers told reporters Wednesday that the upcoming NFL season will be his last. Reunited with coach Mike McCarthy after signing a one-year deal with the Steelers, Rodgers said the move back to Pittsburgh is his final ride—coming with a clear mission afte
Aaron Rodgers didn’t wait for the offseason to settle the question hovering over Steelers fandom.
In his first media session since rejoining the team for voluntary OTAs, the 42-year-old quarterback said the upcoming NFL season will be his last—an end point that turns next year’s “will he or won’t he” uncertainty into something much more final.
Rodgers re-signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers on a one-year deal, reuniting with coach Mike McCarthy. The hiring of McCarthy was a significant factor in Rodgers’ decision to return to Pittsburgh, and Rodgers framed his own timeline as a decisive “this is it” rather than an open loop.
After a few months of suspense about whether Rodgers would return for a 22nd season, the immediate impact is straightforward: Steelers Nation won’t have to relive the same annual drama after this season ends.
Financial terms and prior momentum also matter. Rodgers didn’t have to re-sign on a one-year arrangement reportedly worth $25 million. Instead, he returned for what he described as a major shift brought by the Steelers’ coaching move—McCarthy replacing Mike Tomlin.
Rodgers’ comeback path is tied closely to relationships and system familiarity. In Green Bay. McCarthy and Rodgers shared chemistry across 13 years. with the Packers winning the Super Bowl in early 2011 with Rodgers’ arm and McCarthy’s playbook—defeating the Steelers and Mike Tomlin at the time. After that. Rodgers produced one of his four NFL MVP seasons the following year. posting a 45-6 TD-INT ratio and a career-best 122.5 passer rating.
That partnership eventually soured. McCarthy was fired after 12 games during the 2018 season. But for Rodgers, that backstory appears to be outweighed by what he sees now. In explaining his decision to return to Pittsburgh. Rodgers said that when the Steelers hired McCarthy to replace Tomlin. “I started opening my mind back up to coming back.”.
Rodgers previously said he thought Tomlin’s departure would be the end of his time in Pittsburgh, too. Tomlin leaving is part of the emotional backdrop of how connected Rodgers says he became to the Steelers’ former coach—so much so that Rodgers reportedly tearfully apologized to Tomlin during a team meeting when Tomlin told players he was stepping down after 19 seasons.
Now. Rodgers is leaning on the idea that the playbook—and the learning curve—won’t be the same kind of reset. Under McCarthy, Rodgers doesn’t face an entirely new offense. There will be tweaks. and the supporting cast matters. but it is essentially the same system Rodgers ran during his heyday with the Packers.
That is especially relevant after last season’s experience. Rodgers tried to make do in the “suspect scheme” of since-departed coordinator Arthur Smith.
There’s also the Steelers’ quarterback development pipeline to consider. Rodgers said he didn’t make a final decision until after the draft. Pittsburgh drafted Penn State’s Drew Allar in the third round, adding another developmental quarterback alongside 2025 sixth-rounder Will Howard.
Before the draft, Tomlin predicted Rodgers would be back. In his new role as an analyst for NBC’s “Sunday Night Football,” Tomlin said Rodgers loved the grind of preparation and practices, and would be drawn back by that.
Rodgers arrives at this final-season declaration with one recent milestone and one recent wound. In his first year in Pittsburgh, Rodgers led the Steelers to their first AFC North crown since 2020.
But the playoff memory remains sharp. The Steelers’ season ended with a nightmarish opening loss to the Texans. In that playoff game, Rodgers didn’t lead his team to a single touchdown. His last pass was a pick-six. meaning his last touchdown throw ended up as an interception that sealed a 30-6 debacle. Rodgers passed for 3,322 yards last season (24 TDs, 7 INTs, 94.8 passer rating).
Whether that loss weighed heavily during his offseason deliberations wasn’t stated. but the Steelers’ offseason moves did appear to offer him something to build on. Pittsburgh bolstered the receiving corps by dealing for Michael Pittman, Jr. and drafting Alabama’s Germie Bernard. The team absorbed the loss of running back Kenneth Gainwell, the team’s MVP, with free agent signee Rico Dowdle. Pittsburgh also invested a first-round pick in tackle Max Iheanachor.
Rodgers and McCarthy, together, now have to turn that roster hope into late-season momentum. The Steelers aren’t presented as Super Bowl favorites, but the expectation is less about being right from the start and more about staying competitive and building momentum down the stretch.
Last season showed how quickly that can hinge on timing. The Steelers limped down the stretch and needed to survive a win-or-go-home regular-season finale against the Ravens to make the playoffs. That’s why Week 18 at Baltimore sits with extra weight in conversations about what comes next for Rodgers.
If this really is Rodgers’ final NFL ride, the season’s stakes could land in one last high-visibility spot. The article notes the possibility of flexing the Week 18 date into another “Sunday Night Football” showcase finale—though Rodgers. as he returns for what he calls his last season. isn’t coming back for a scripted farewell. He is coming back to chase the biggest stage one more time.
Aaron Rodgers Pittsburgh Steelers Mike McCarthy NFL offseason quarterback retirement Drew Allar Will Howard Michael Pittman Jr. Germie Bernard Rico Dowdle Max Iheanachor Texans playoff loss Week 18 Ravens