Aaron Rodgers, 42, to retire after 'full circle' last NFL season with Steelers under McCarthy
&imwidth=600&imheight=450&format=webp&quality=medium "Aaron Rodgers, 42, to retire after 'full circle' last NFL season with Steelers under McCarthy")
Rodgers, 42, to retire after 'full circle' last NFL season with Steelers Photograph: (AFP)
Rodgers, 42, will be retiring after the upcoming NFL season 2026 which he'll play for the Pittsburgh Steelers under his long-time Packers coach Mike McCarthy, who replaced Mike Tomlin earlier this off season.
Veteran NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers has announced that the upcoming 2026 season will be his last. Rodgers will turn up for the Pittsburgh Steelers in NFL 2026 - the 22nd season for the 42-year-old. Rodgers, who had played for the Steelers in NFL 2025 and had said that it could be his last season in the league, changed is decision post hiring of Mike McCarthy as head coach to replace Mike Tomlin, who resigned this offseason. Notably, Rodgers and McCarthy were together 13 years at the Green Bay Packers and the duo had won the Super Bowl 2010 by defeating Tomlin's Steelers. Rodgers had won two of his four MVP trophies under McCarthy only.
Why Rodgers is staying on another season in NFL?
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday (May 20) in Pittsburgh, Rodgers said that he was contemplating quitting NFL after last season where he guided the Steelers to AFC North Division title. Tomlin's resignation also pushed his thoughts towards quitting but the WB revealed that hiring of McCarthy changed his mind.
"When [Tomlin] said he was stepping away, that was an emotional moment just because we all love him so much and care about him, and I thought that was probably it for me in Pittsburgh," Rodgers said. "But when the decision was made to hire [McCarthy], I started opening my mind back up to coming back."
Rodgers bowing out with full cricle
Trending Stories
)
)
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
)
)
)
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
)
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
)
)
The QB had spent first 18 years of his career at the Packers before moving to the New York Jets for 2023 and 2024 season. In 2025, he joined the Steelers on a one-year deal and managed throwing for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Rejoining with McCarthy in his last season is a full circle moment Rodgers and he acknowledged the same, saying: "There was some doubt for sure, but I had good conversations with Mike going back to when he was hired. It’s nice to come back. It felt different than last year, cause I knew some of the guys and the people that work here. So it felt good coming in."
