Aaron Rodgers' 21st NFL season ended with a thud - not with the storybook playoff run some hoped for, but with a 30-6 loss to the Houston Texans in the AFC Wild Card round. It was a rough night for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and perhaps an even tougher one for their 42-year-old quarterback, who spent much of the game under siege from a relentless Texans pass rush. Rodgers’ final pass of the season - and possibly his career - was a pick-six.
As the clock wound down in the fourth quarter, Rodgers sat on the bench, helmet off, staring into the distance. It was hard not to wonder: was that the last time we’ll see No. 12 on an NFL field?
“Every game could be my final game,” Rodgers said in his postgame press conference, his tone subdued but reflective.
One-Year Deal, Uncertain Future
Rodgers signed a one-year deal with Pittsburgh back in June - a $13.65 million contract that included a $10 million signing bonus and a $3.65 million base salary. There were performance incentives, including a $500,000 bonus tied to a playoff berth, which he earned by leading the Steelers to the postseason. But from the start, Rodgers made it clear this was likely a one-and-done situation.
“I’m pretty sure this is it,” he said on The Pat McAfee Show over the summer. “That’s why we just did a one-year deal.”
With his contract now expired, Rodgers is set to become an unrestricted free agent when the new league year begins in March. He could sign elsewhere, but whether he wants to is another story.
A Classic Rodgers Exit - If It Was One
Rodgers didn’t announce any retirement plans after the game. But if this was his final postgame press conference, it was quintessential Rodgers - thoughtful, candid, and tinged with emotion.
He spoke at length about his appreciation for the coaches who’ve shaped his career, including recently-departed Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and Packers head coach Matt LaFleur. Rodgers played under LaFleur for the final four seasons of his 18-year run in Green Bay, winning two MVPs in that stretch.
“I was fortunate to play in an incredible football city for 18 years and I never took it for granted,” Rodgers said. “Enjoyed that time there and this has been just a beautiful backend to the first 18.
To be here for a year, special place, tradition, got excellence, all-time greats. There’s only a few really special places in the league that have the tradition and the town and the organization, and I’m thankful to play for two of them.”
When asked again about Tomlin - a coach he’s spoken highly of all season - Rodgers didn’t hold back his emotions.
“I’ve talked extensively about how I feel about Mike and I just did in that [expletive] answer,” he said before standing up and walking off the podium.
Tomlin Steps Down, and Rodgers' Future Gets Murkier
The day after the playoff loss, Mike Tomlin officially stepped down after 19 seasons as the Steelers' head coach. That decision could have a major impact on Rodgers’ next move - or lack thereof.
“Look, Aaron came here to play for Mike,” Steelers president Art Rooney II said. “So I think it would most likely affect his decision.”
With the Steelers now launching a search for their next head coach, quarterback will be a key part of that conversation.
“I’m sure the quarterback position will be an important part of this discussion with the candidates,” Rooney said. “We’ll have to develop a plan for going forward.”
Rodgers Isn’t Rushing the Call
Rodgers made it clear that the playoff loss itself won’t be the deciding factor in whether he retires. He’s been through too much and seen too much to make a decision based solely on one game.
“I’m not going to make any emotional decisions,” he said. “Disappointed, you know, obviously.
Such a fun year, a lot of adversity, but a lot of fun. Been a great year overall in my life in the last year and this is a really good part of that - coming here and being part of this team.
So, it’s disappointing sitting here with the season over.”
When asked if he’d want to return to Pittsburgh if he does decide to play again, Rodgers declined to answer.
“I’m not going to talk about that,” he said.
Retirement Talk Isn’t New - But Still No Official Word
Rodgers has flirted with the idea of retirement for years. After his time with the Packers ended, he took a darkness retreat to help clarify his future - a move that ultimately led to a trade to the Jets. That stint in New York didn’t go as planned, and after two injury-plagued seasons, he didn't sign with the Steelers until June.
Back in April, before joining Pittsburgh, Rodgers was open about the personal challenges he was facing and how they were pulling him away from football.
“I’m in a different phase of my life. I’m 41 years old.
I’m in a serious relationship,” he said at the time. “I have a couple people in my inner, inner circle who are really battling some difficult stuff.
So I have a lot of things that are taking my attention and have been since January - away from football. That’s been where I’ve been focusing my attention on.
To make a commitment to a team is a big thing.”
Despite those challenges, Rodgers did make that commitment. He signed on with a new team, learned a new system, and led the Steelers to a division title and their first playoff appearance in four years. It wasn’t a Hollywood ending, but it was a meaningful chapter in a Hall of Fame career.
Now, the decision is his - and his alone.
“Just get away and have the right conversations,” Rodgers said when asked what comes next.
Whether that leads to another season or a final farewell, one thing’s for sure: the NFL will be watching.