Aaron Rodgers is already treating 2026 like a farewell tour, and he’s bringing some Steelers teammates along for the ride.
On July 12, Rodgers posted a set of Instagram photos that showed him spending time with DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr., Pat Freiermuth, Roman Wilson, Mason Rudolph, and Ben Skowronek. The message was short and unmistakable: “Last Rodeo.”
The pictures didn’t reveal where the group was, but the ranch-style clothing and the hashtag “#bondingweek” made the vibe pretty clear. This wasn’t football, and that was the point. Rodgers and a handful of Pittsburgh players are taking a break before training camp starts and the real work begins.
The Steelers’ first open practice for the public is set for Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Players are due to report the day before, on Tuesday, July 28.
For Rodgers, the timing fits the moment. He has already said the 2026 season will be his last, and back in May he signed a one-year deal to return to Pittsburgh that can be worth up to $25 million. The contract is expected to include a base salary between $22 and $23 million, plus possible incentives.
When he first met with reporters after the deal, Rodgers made the retirement part plain. Asked whether this could be his last year, he answered, “Yes.” When pressed again, he said, “This is it, yep”
That final season now comes with a familiar face on the sideline. Pittsburgh hired Mike McCarthy, Rodgers’ head coach with the Green Bay Packers from 2006 to 2018. The two won a championship together after beating the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV in 2011.
Rodgers enters his final NFL season with a resume that already belongs in the top shelf of league history: four NFL MVP awards, 10 Pro Bowl selections, and a Super Bowl ring. At 42, he gets one more shot to chase a second Lombardi Trophy, this time with the Steelers after helping lead them to the AFC North title in 2025.
His career numbers tell the story of how long he’s been doing this and how well he’s done it. Across 264 games, Rodgers has thrown for 66,274 yards, 527 touchdowns, and 123 interceptions, with a 65.1% completion rate.
Now the clock is ticking toward one last summer camp, one last season, and, as Rodgers put it, one last rodeo.
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