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After 21 seasons, Aaron Rodgers might suit up for his final NFL game Sunday ... or maybe not. Rodgers, who can lead the Pittsburgh Steelers to the playoffs with a win in Week 18, was non-committal about his 2026 plans once his 2025 season is over.
The 42-year-old Rodgers, who signed a one-year deal with the Steelers in June, has put up solid numbers this season. Through 15 games, Rodgers has 23 touchdowns against seven interceptions. Those numbers represent a decline compared to Rodgers' peak seasons, but he's played well enough to still win games.
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While Rodgers expects he'll draw interest from "one or two" teams in the offseason, he said he wasn't sure whether he wanted to continue his career in 2026.
Notably, Rodgers said, "If I decide I still want to play" while answering the question.
That shouldn't come as a major surprise for Rodgers, who has been non-committal about his NFL future since at least 2023, when Rodgers infamously went on darkness retreat to reflect on his career.
He ultimately decided to keep playing, and was traded to the New York Jets, where he sustained a torn Achilles just a few snaps into his first start with the team. Rodgers returned in 2024 and put up solid numbers, though the Jets went just 5-12. Following the 2024 season, the Jets announced they would part ways with Rodgers.
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After months of rumors — and speculation over whether he still wanted to play — Rodgers eventually signed with the Steelers on a one-year deal. While he's kept the team in playoff consideration throughout the season, Pittsburgh hasn't shown a ton of improvement on offense with Rodgers at the helm. After ranking 16th in points scored per game last year, the Steelers rank 15th in that category in 2025.
That performance, however, was strong enough to put the Steelers in a win-and-in situation in Week 18. If Pittsburgh can defeat the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, the Steelers would make the playoffs for the third straight season.
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If the Steelers fail to accomplish that goal, Rodgers will head back home and begin contemplating his future. At this point in his career, Rodgers has done more than enough to ensure he'll be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. With little else to prove, Rodgers will only return in 2026 if he still enjoys playing football.
That's the same song and dance Rodgers has performed each of the past couple offseasons, but — considering his age and potential lack of options on the free-agent market — Rodgers' flirtation with retirement feels a little more legitimate this time around.
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