The Pittsburgh Steelers have one last chance to make the playoffs. A win against the Baltimore Ravens will give them a home game in January, but a loss will end their season early. The common belief around league circles is that quarterback Aaron Rodgers will retire after this season, like he said he likely would before it started. If that's the case, Week 18 could be his last game in the NFL, or at the very least, his last game while wearing black and gold. It is still to be determined if he will hang up the cleats or not.
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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) prior to a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA.
During an interview after practice, Rodgers was asked about his future plans after the 2025 season. He at first said that he hadn't thought about it, but he quickly changed his tune after the fact.
"I'm 42, and I'm on a one-year deal," Rodgers said. "You know what the situation is. Whenever the season ends, I'll be a free agent. That’ll give me a lot of options if I still want to play — Not a lot of options, but I would think maybe one or two if I decide I still want to play."
Rodgers has not yet decided if he will keep playing after the 2025 season, but from what he said, it seems like he is already weighing his options for 2026 and beyond. The big thing for him is that he said he still has options, like he believes that there will be teams out there that will give him a call if he wants to play again and go on one last run before riding off into the sunset.
NFL Network
Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers stands with his hands on his hips during the tush push in Dublin.
Of course, the primary option would be a return to Pittsburgh. Head Coach Mike Tomlin was banging the table for him in the offseason, and he has always had a preference of veterans as opposed to younger guys. If Rodgers told him that he wanted to play for Pittsburgh one more year, it would likely happen.
The question here is what other options would be available for him? At 42 years old, he most likely would not want to sign a contract for a rebuilding team, so many quarterback-needy teams are eliminated there. The Minnesota Vikings have seen some progression from JJ McCarthy, and with the draft capital they paid to get him, they will likely give him at least one more chance to develop into a starter. Pittsburgh may be his only option.
Would Steelers Really Want Rodgers Back For 2026 Season?
On one hand, Rodgers has been a great mentor by nearly every report from within the locker room. If the Steelers decide to draft a young guy or stick with what they currently have in the locker room, he would work great as a pseudo-quarterback coach while still throwing the ball around. Will Howard would most likely appreciate him coming back and continuing to help him grow as a quarterback.
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Steelers QB Will Howard gets ready to take a snap during 2025 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
On the other hand, Rodgers seems to have lost his ability to stretch the field vertically. Outside of the occasional go-ball to DK Metcalf, he is almost exclusively a quick-pass quarterback. He can extend plays if he wants to, but there are some games where he is definitely hurting more than others, and those result in quick pre-determined throws that don't do much for the offense at times.
At 42 years old, Rodgers is not getting stronger or more elusive. He may be one of the smartest quarterbacks in the league, but he does not have the ability to carry a team like he once did. His big question is if he thinks he can still contribute to a winning team, whether that's Pittsburgh or another team. Depending on how Week 18 goes, that question might be pondered more in the next week.
What do you think about Rodgers weighing his 2026 options? Let us know in the comments or on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
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