Aaron Rodgers stated during the Pittsburgh Steelers’ organized team activities that the 2026 campaign will mark the end of his professional football career. When asked directly about his future beyond that year, he replied: “Yes. This is it,” confirming he intends to retire once the season concludes.
The upcoming year will therefore serve as his final run in the league, closing a career that has stretched over two decades.
Decorated career and record achievements
Rodgers is expected to finish his career as one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in NFL history. He owns the all-time record for touchdown-to-interception ratio at 4.3, with 527 touchdowns to 123 interceptions, and also holds the highest passer rating in league history at 102.2.
He enters the 2026 season ranked fourth all-time in passing touchdowns with 527. His résumé includes four MVP awards, placing him second only to Peyton Manning, who has five. Rodgers also won a Super Bowl and earned Super Bowl MVP honors when he led the Green Bay Packers to victory in Super Bowl XLV against the Steelers.
Late-career decline and 2025 struggles
The article notes that Rodgers has not maintained the same level of dominance that defined his peak years, with reduced mobility cited as a key factor as he moved into his 40s. In 2025, he posted a third-down sack rate of 10.7%, which ranked among the highest in the league.
His most recent playoff appearance, a 30–6 AFC wild card defeat to the Houston Texans, highlighted those difficulties. In that game, he was sacked four times, threw one interception, and lost two fumbles, one of which resulted in a turnover.
By December 2 of the upcoming season, he will become only the sixth quarterback in league history to start a game at age 43 or older.
Final season motivation and coaching reunion
Rodgers chose to extend his career for one more year after initially believing his time in Pittsburgh had ended. He explained that the hiring of Mike McCarthy as head coach—his former coach during 13 seasons with the Green Bay Packers—played a major role in his decision to return.
He described the reunion as a “full circle” moment that renewed his interest in playing again. The quarterback and coach previously achieved a Super Bowl win together and will now reunite in Pittsburgh for what will be their final shared season in professional football.