Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has signaled that the upcoming 2025 NFL season will likely be his final one in the league. Speaking candidly on “The Pat McAfee Show,” the 41-year-old veteran quarterback stated, “Yeah, I’m pretty sure this is it,” regarding his playing future.
This declaration comes as Rodgers prepares for his first season with the Steelers after signing a one-year contract earlier in June 2025. He explained that the nature of the one-year deal reflects his intention, noting that the Steelers didn’t need to push for additional years.
Finishing with “Love, Fun, and Peace”
Rodgers, who will be entering his 21st NFL season, articulated his motivation for playing in 2025 as a desire to conclude his extensive career on his own terms. He aims to finish “with a lot of love and fun and peace for the career that I’ve had,” reflecting on his long run in the NFL, which spans “20 freaking years.”
Choosing the Pittsburgh Steelers as the place to potentially end his tenure was a deliberate decision. Rodgers lauded the franchise as one of the “cornerstone” organizations in the NFL, highlighting the opportunity to play under head coach Mike Tomlin and alongside a “great group of leadership, and great guys,” in a city known for its high expectations for winning.
He praised Tomlin specifically for his patience during the offseason, allowing Rodgers to sign after the team’s Organized Team Activities (OTAs) when he felt truly “all in” and ready after attending to personal matters. Rodgers described the move to Pittsburgh as a decision that felt “best for my soul,” drawing a contrast with choices driven solely by ego.
A Storied Career Nearing Its End
Rodgers was initially drafted 24th overall by the Green Bay Packers in the 2005 NFL Draft. He spent his first three seasons backing up Brett Favre before becoming the full-time starter in 2008. Over 18 years with the Packers, he established himself as one of the game’s greats, earning four MVP awards and leading the team to a Super Bowl victory following the 2010 season (a game incidentally won against the Steelers).
In 2023, Rodgers was traded to the New York Jets, but his debut season ended tragically just four snaps in with a torn Achilles tendon. He returned in 2024 at age 40, playing all 17 games for the Jets amidst a tumultuous 5-12 season marked by coaching and front office changes. In 2024, he completed 63% of his passes for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, recording a passer rating of 90.5 – his lowest in any season where he started at least seven games.
The Farewell Tour Schedule
If 2025 is indeed Rodgers’ final season, it sets the stage for a league-wide farewell tour. The Steelers’ road schedule includes visits to the Jets, Patriots, Bengals, Chargers, Bears, Ravens, Lions, and Browns, offering fans in those cities a potential last glimpse of the future Hall of Famer.
A particularly poignant matchup is scheduled for Week 8 on Sunday Night Football when the Steelers host the Green Bay Packers. This game will see Rodgers face the team he spent the vast majority of his career with, promising an emotional reunion in Pittsburgh. Steelers fans may also see Rodgers in preseason action, as the team typically plays their starters, with August road games slated against the Jaguars and Panthers.
Rodgers joins a Steelers team that finished the 2024 season 10-7, securing second place in the AFC North before falling to the Baltimore Ravens in the Wild Card round. With Rodgers at quarterback, the Steelers are viewed by many as a “formidable outfit,” sharing a strong ambition for a Super Bowl title, a goal that has eluded Pittsburgh since their last championship in 2009. While the decision to sign Rodgers involved speculation and commentary, including reported skepticism from Steelers legends like Terry Bradshaw, the focus now shifts to what is likely Rodgers’ final chapter in the NFL.
