What Aaron Rodgers said about his future as retirement decision looms

Aaron Rodgers was “pretty sure” back in June that he was going to retire after one year with the Steelers.

Now, he’s leaving the door open for a 22nd NFL season.

The 42-year-old was noncommittal on his future after the Steelers were eliminated at home by the Texans Monday night in the wild-card round, 30-6.

“I’m not going to make any emotional decisions,” Rodgers said. “At this point, obviously such a fun year. A lot of adversity, but a lot of fun. Been a great year overall in my life in the last year, and this is a really good part of that, coming here and being part of this team. So, it’s disappointing to be sitting here with the season over.”

Asked about how he’ll go about deciding whether to return or retire, Rodgers said, “just get away and then have the right conversations.”

Rodgers ended his press conference by storming out after getting a repeated question about Steelers coach Mike Tomlin’s future.

If this is the end for Rodgers, his final pass goes down as a pick-six, a 50-yard touchdown by the Texans’ Calen Bullock with 2:39 left in the game.

Rodgers went 17-for-33 with 146 yards, no touchdowns, one interception and a lost fumble.

During a June 24 appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Rodgers indicated he was going to walk away after the 2025 campaign.

“I’m pretty sure this is it, you know, that’s why we just did a one-year deal. Steelers didn’t need to put any extra years on that or anything,” the four-time MVP said.

“This was really about finishing with a lot of love and fun and peace for the career that I’ve had. I played 20 freaking years, it’s been a long run and I’ve enjoyed it. What better place to finish than in one of the cornerstone franchises in the NFL.”

Rodgers, who revealed in June he had been married for “a couple of months” to a woman who has yet to be seen publicly, signed with the Steelers on June 6, four months after the Jets announced they were parting ways with the longtime Packers QB following two seasons.

He played in just one game in 2023 after tearing his Achilles in the season opener and went 5-12 with Gang Green in 2024.

Rodgers railed against head coach Aaron Glenn for asking him to fly from California for a meeting at the Jets’ Florham Park facility just for them to tell him they wanted to move on from him.

According to Rodgers, the meeting lasted 15 minutes.

“I think we are going to have this long conversation. I’ve flown across the country, and 20 seconds in [Glenn] goes and he leans to the edge of his seat and says, ‘So, you want to play football?’ And I’m like, ‘Yeah, I’m interested.’ And he was like, ‘We’re going in a different direction at quarterback,’ ” Rodgers told McAfee on April 17.

“I was kind of shocked. Not shocked because I didn’t think it was a possibility, but shocked because I just flew across the country and you could’ve told me this over the phone.”