A Legendary Career Nears Its End
Aaron Rodgers says the upcoming NFL season will be the last of his career, bringing an end to more than two decades in professional football. The four-time Most Valuable Player confirmed Wednesday that he plans to retire after one final season with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Rodgers, 42, spent more than four months deciding whether to return for a 22nd NFL season. He ultimately signed a one-year contract Monday to return to Pittsburgh for his second season with the team.
Rodgers Confirms His Retirement Plan
Asked directly whether the upcoming season would be his last, Rodgers told reporters, “Yes, this is it.” The statement removes months of uncertainty about one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in league history.
Rodgers will close his career with a Super Bowl title and a place among the NFL’s most productive passers. He ranks tied for first all-time in passer rating, fourth in passing touchdowns and fifth in passing yards.
Pittsburgh And McCarthy Influenced His Return
One year ago, Rodgers had already suggested that the 2025 season could be his final campaign. He then helped Pittsburgh win the AFC North division title and earn a playoff berth.
Rodgers said he felt some doubt about returning this season before deciding to re-sign after the NFL draft. A key factor was Pittsburgh’s hiring of Mike McCarthy, his former coach in Green Bay, where the two spent 13 seasons together.
A Season That Reopened The Door
Rodgers said he originally believed his time in Pittsburgh was likely over. But once McCarthy was hired, he began to reconsider the possibility of coming back for one more year.
Last season, Rodgers posted his highest completion percentage and passer rating since 2021. He also threw 24 touchdowns, the lowest total of any season in which he played at least 10 games, but still showed enough efficiency to remain a competitive starter.
Elite Accuracy And Ball Security
One of Rodgers’ defining traits has been his ability to avoid turnovers. Despite attempting 8,743 passes, the sixth-most in NFL history, he threw interceptions on only 1.4% of them, tied for the best rate ever.
After throwing 13 interceptions in his first season as a starter in 2008, Rodgers reached double-digit interceptions only once over the next 13 seasons. That combination of aggressiveness, accuracy and discipline became one of the trademarks of his career.
Green Bay Made Him A Star
Rodgers is best known for his years with the Green Bay Packers, where he earned all 10 of his Pro Bowl selections. After spending three seasons behind Brett Favre, he became the Packers’ starter in 2008 and developed into one of the league’s most dominant quarterbacks.
He was named Super Bowl MVP after leading Green Bay to a championship to cap the 2011 season. That same year, he won his first NFL MVP award, later adding three more in 2014, 2020 and 2021. His four MVP awards rank second all-time behind Peyton Manning.
From Draft Slide To Hall Of Fame Career
Rodgers’ rise was far from guaranteed. After high school in Chico, California, he attended Butte College before transferring to California, where his success turned him into a first-round NFL prospect.
On draft night in 2005, Rodgers waited for hours as 22 teams passed on him before Green Bay selected him 24th overall. What began as a painful draft slide eventually became one of the most successful quarterback careers in NFL history. His final season in Pittsburgh now gives him one last chance to add another chapter before retirement.
