Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) is launched earlier than an AFC Wild Card Spherical matchup in opposition to the Houston Texans at Acrisure Stadium on Jan. 12, 2026, in Pittsburgh. Rodgers emerged from the tunnel throughout pregame introductions because the Steelers ready for postseason motion beneath the lights in entrance of a packed residence crowd throughout the AFC playoffs. Necessary Credit score: Barry Reeger-Imagn Photographs.
Rodgers is again with Pittsburgh, and Minnesota’s previous rival lastly has a retirement timeline.
Rodgers saved the Steelers in limbo for 4 months about his return or retirement this offseason, however he’s again, and it’s the final time.
A Ultimate Chapter Begins for Rodgers in Pittsburgh
The top of the street. Lastly.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers warms up earlier than a house matchup in opposition to the Seattle Seahawks on Sep. 14, 2025, at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Rodgers joined the Steelers throughout the 2025 offseason after his Jets tenure and instantly grew to become one of many NFL’s most scrutinized veteran quarterbacks coming into one other playoff push. Necessary Credit score: Barry Reeger-Imagn Photographs
Rodgers: I’m Finished after 2026
A reporter requested Rodgers this week if 2026 can be his last marketing campaign, and he replied, “Yes, this is it.”
“I thought that was probably it for me in Pittsburgh. But when the decision was made to hire Mike, I started opening my mind back up to coming back,” he added.
“He finished the season with his highest completion percentage and passer rating since 2021 and 24 touchdowns, his fewest in a season in which he played at least 10 games.”
The Outlook in 2026 with Mike McCarthy
Hiring one in every of Rodgers’s previous confidants evidently did the trick for the longer term Corridor of Famer, who was on the fence. Pittsburgh stated goodbye to Mike Tomlin this offseason, and it’s The McCarthy Present indefinitely.
Rodgers will return alongside a good protection that ranked nineteenth leaguewide in 2025 per EPA/Play. Led by him, the Steelers’ offense checked in at No. 18 per the identical metric. The workforce doesn’t have excessive firepower on both aspect of the ball, however that appears to be how the Steelers prefer it. Throughout first rate all the pieces. Nothing nice, all the pieces satisfactory.
For weaponry, Rodgers will distribute to rock amongst these playmakers
DK Metcalf (WR)
Michael Pittman (WR)
Germie Bernard (WR)
Kaden Wetjen (WR)
Jaylen Warren (RB)
Rico Dowdle (RB)
Kaleb Johnson (RB)
Darnell Washington (TE)
Pat Freiermuth (TE)
Fox Sports activities‘ Ralph Vacchiano noted on the Steelers’ supporting forged this week, “No one can say the Steelers aren’t doing everything they can to help 42-year-old QB Aaron Rodgers have one last shot at glory. They brought in WR DK Metcalf for him last season, then traded for the underrated (and big) Michael Pittman this offseason.”
“They used a second-round pick on WR Germie Bernard, who’ll be a good No. 3 receiver. They protected Rodgers well last season with a young offensive line, and they just added right tackle Max Iheanachor in the first round. And they brought in RB Rico Dowdle, who should give a jolt to what was a bad rushing attack in 2025.”
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers solutions questions after a street victory over the New York Jets on Sep. 7, 2025, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Rodgers confronted his former workforce in Week 1 after signing with Pittsburgh throughout the offseason, creating one of many NFL’s greatest storylines coming into the 2025 marketing campaign. Necessary Credit score: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Photographs
Pittsburgh’s offensive line ranked eighth within the NFL per Professional Soccer Focus a season in the past.
Efficiency in 2025
Rodgers began 16 of 17 video games in 2025, delivering a 65.7% completion charge, 3,332 passing yards, 25 complete touchdowns, and seven interceptions. His Steelers completed 10-7 and acquired crushed by the Houston Texans in Spherical 1 of the playoffs.
By way of EPA+CPOE, Rodgers ranked twenty second within the enterprise amongst his quarterback friends, sandwiched between Michael Penix Jr. and Tyler Shough for effectivity. Nowadays, he’s mainly a middle-of-the-road quarterback, at finest.
After all, with McCarthy within the loop, Steelers followers will hope Rodgers can flip again the clock one last time.
CBS Sports activities‘ Garrett Podell famous on Rodgers Wednesday, “It makes sense that Rodgers is choosing to walk away after the coming year. He simply doesn’t have the same magic that made him one of the league’s best to ever do it.”
“One in all his high strengths all through his future Corridor of Fame profession is his skill to scramble and dance round in and outdoors of the pocket to create throwing lanes and large performs. Nonetheless with restricted mobility in his 40s, the magic is slipping away. On third downs in 2025, Rodgers surrendered a sack charge of 10.7%, the Tenth-highest in the whole NFL. “
A Viking Killer Via and Via
Greater than any quarterback in NFL historical past, Rodgers persistently terrorized the Vikings. Whereas it was by no means automated that his Packers would beat the Vikings on any given Sunday from 2008 to 2022, he personally hardly struggled in opposition to the purple workforce.
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers appears downfield throughout first-half motion in opposition to the Buffalo Payments on Oct. 14, 2024, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Rodgers returned to full-time beginning duties for the Jets in 2024 after lacking practically the entire prior season due to a torn Achilles tendon. Necessary Credit score: Ed Mulholland-Imagn Photographs
Rodgers has began 31 profession video games in opposition to Minnesota, together with his groups banking an 18-12-1 file. His numbers?
245.2 Cross Yds/Recreation
60 Passing TDs
11 INTs
67.5 Comp %
Scaled to a 17-game season, Rodgers’s stats would appear like this if he performed the Vikings each weekend for a season:
4,168 Passing Yards
33 Passing TDs
6 INTs
67.5 Comp %
Rodgers will flip 43 in early December.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker
