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If you didn’t believe Aaron Rodgers when he first said this would be his last season, maybe now this will make you understand.
Rodgers, who re-signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason and said his 22nd NFL season would be his last, reiterated his desire to retire at training camp Monday.
“This is it,” the 42-year-old told media at a press conference.
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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers listens to head coach Mike McCarthy during NFL practice in Pittsburgh on May 20, 2026. (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
The idea of retirement has been hovering around Rodgers for some time now, including this offseason, when the Steelers, and the rest of the NFL, for that matter, were patiently waiting to see if this was indeed the end of his career.
The Steelers, meanwhile, hired Mike McCarthy as their next head coach after parting ways with longtime leader Mike Tomlin. McCarthy and Rodgers have the obvious rapport of winning together as Green Bay Packers. They spent 15 seasons at Lambeau Field.
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Rodgers admitted that hiring McCarthy was a key part of his desire to ride out one more season into the sunset.
“I thought last year might be it, and then Mike got hired, and then he talked to his wife and she said, ‘You can do one more year. See if it works.’ And then it all kind of fell into place,” he said.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers listens to a question during a news conference after an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, December 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
When a reporter brought up the fact that Rodgers’ top receiver, DK Metcalf, said players often pretend it’s their last season before coming back, Rodgers doubled down.
“No, zero debate,” he replied.
Rodgers said as much in May during a news conference after signing his one-year pact with the Steelers, whom he joined after a modest tenure with the New York Jets.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers looks on after being sacked during the first half of the NFL Wild Card game against the Houston Texans at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on January 12, 2026. (Michael Longo/For USA Today Network-PA / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
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In his first season with the Steelers in 2025, Rodgers went 10-6, totaling 3,322 yards with a 65.7% completion rate and 24 touchdowns with seven interceptions.
The Steelers also strengthened their offense this season, adding veteran wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. in a trade with the Indianapolis Colts. They also signed Rico Dowdle to work with Jaylen Warren in the backfield after Kenneth Gainwell, who Rodgers loved to throw the ball to, landed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this offseason.
