Goodbye to Aaron Rodgers? Star QB “pretty sure” he’ll retire after 2025 season
The 41-year-old quarterback told the Pat McAfee Show exactly when he plans to retire.
Aaron Rodgers has decided to play one final season in the NFL, suiting up for the Pittsburgh Steelers after two underwhelming years with the New York Jets that didn’t live up to the four-time league MVP’s expectations.
Now 41, the veteran quarterback has made it clear that the 2025 season will be his last. Rodgers, a University of California graduate, appeared on The Pat McAfee Show and explained that this was the reason behind signing a one-year deal with the AFC North franchise.
“I’m pretty confident it will be [my final season], which is why I chose a one-year deal and didn’t tack on any extra years,” Rodgers said when asked if 2025 would mark the end of his career. “I’ve played 20 years — it’s been a long road, and I’ve enjoyed it. There’s no better place to finish my career than with one of the best franchises in the NFL, alongside Mike Tomlin and in a great city that expects to win.”
“I’m pretty sure this is my last season and that’s why we did the one year deal..
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 24, 2025
I’ve played twenty years and I’ve enjoyed it..
There’s no better way to finish it than with Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers” @AaronRodgers12 #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/hWN5veErEH
Rodgers has appeared in 248 regular-season games since being selected 24th overall in the 2005 NFL Draft. Over that time, he’s thrown for 62,952 yards, 503 touchdowns, and just 116 interceptions — the lowest interception percentage in NFL history among active quarterbacks.
Though his résumé includes numerous individual accolades, his most significant achievement came at the Steelers’ expense: a victory in Super Bowl XLV, where he earned MVP honors. A native of Chico, California, Rodgers was part of the 2010 Hall of Fame team and has been named a First-Team All-Pro four times (2011, 2014, 2020, and 2021).
The Steelers knew they were getting a short-term solution by signing Rodgers — a veteran with a sharp arm and an ability to minimise mistakes. That’s why Pittsburgh also looked to the future, drafting rookie quarterback Will Howard to develop under Rodgers’ guidance.
Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers told the @PatMcAfeeShow that he’s “pretty sure this is it”, the last season of his NFL career. Rodgers said it is why he signed a one-year deal in Pittsburgh. pic.twitter.com/MVRVcQhd6E
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 24, 2025
Looking ahead to 2026, the Steelers have both Howard and Mason Rudolph under contract on team-friendly deals. Howard will earn $1.6 million, while the 30-year-old Rudolph is set to make a base salary of $4.5 million. With those pieces in place, it seems Pittsburgh already has a “Plan B” for life after A-Rod.
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