Aaron Rodgers plans to retire from the NFL after the 2026 season.
Aaron Rodgers is permanently putting behind his uniform. The football athlete declared that his next season as a quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers will be his final one following more than 20 years in the NFL.
In fact, the 42-year-old acknowledged that "yes, this is it" in an interview with reporters on May 20.
The announcement was made a few days after Aaron signed a $25 million, one-year contract with the Steelers. Additionally, his farewell season will bring him back together with Mike McCarthy, who coached him for 13 years while he was a member of the Green Bay Packers and took over as head coach after Mike Tomlin left.
Aaron has already hinted about his retirement plans, hinting that the 2025 Pittsburgh season will mark the conclusion of his career.
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“I'm pretty sure this is it," in June, Aaron stated on the Pat McAfee Show. "That's why we just did a one-year deal. Steelers didn't need to put any extra years on that or anything, so this was really about finishing with a lot of love and fun and peace for the career that I've had.”
As he remarked at the moment, "I played 20 fricking years. It's been a long run. I've enjoyed it, and no better place to finish than in one of the cornerstone franchises of the NFL.”
However, the quarterback, who discreetly wed wife Brittani in June 2025, reevaluated his NFL career after the Steelers' 2025–2026 season ended without a fresh ring on his finger.
"I'm not going to make any emotional decisions," following his last playoff game, he informed media. "I'm disappointed. Obviously, it was such a fun year. A lot of adversity but a lot of fun. Been a great year, overall in my life, the last year, and this is a really good part of that, coming here and being part of this team, so it's disappointing to be sitting here with the season over."
Aaron was therefore drawn to the chance to get back in touch with his previous coach. In his words, “There is a full aspect circle that piqued my interest of coming back.”
Aaron's Pittsburgh colleagues, however, are thrilled to have him back on the pitch.
“Even in the first day, he made a couple of great throws,” Michael Pittman Jr., a wide receiver, told ESPN about working out with Aaron. “And I was like, ‘Wow, I'm really playing with Aaron.’ It's great. I mean, I get to play with another Hall of Fame quarterback.”
Chris Boswell, a kicker, added that with Aaron's comeback, the team's spirit was improving.
“For him to come back early right now,” he revealed, “and be around the guys, obviously one of his previous coaches, I mean, it's only positive.”
