PITTSBURGH, PA — January 3, 2026

What was supposed to be Aaron Rodgers’ final ride might have at least one more chapter.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have made it clear they would welcome the four-time MVP back for a 22nd NFL season, with reports suggesting both the organization and Rodgers himself are leaving the door open for a 2026 return despite the 42-year-old quarterback’s repeated assertions throughout the summer that this year would be his last.

Speaking Wednesday ahead of Sunday night’s winner-take-all showdown with the Baltimore Ravens for the AFC North title, Rodgers acknowledged he’s thought about continuing his career beyond this season. “Whenever the season ends, I’ll be a free agent,” Rodgers said. “So that’ll give me a lot of options if I still want to play. Not a lot of options, but there’ll be options, I would think. Maybe one or two.”

The shift in tone is remarkable. In June on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Rodgers said he was “pretty sure” 2025 would be his final season. Now, with a playoff berth on the line and a season that’s exceeded expectations, retirement suddenly doesn’t seem so certain.

A Mutual Admiration Society

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Sunday that the Steelers “have really, really enjoyed the Aaron Rodgers experience” and wouldn’t be surprised if Pittsburgh wants him back for another year despite signing him to just a one-year deal worth $13.65 million with up to $19.5 million in incentives.

“He played pretty well and seems to have found a home,” Rapoport said. “And it’s a mutual admiration society here.”

The veteran quarterback has developed strong relationships within the locker room and bonded with several young players, while coaches and executives have been impressed with what he’s brought both on and off the field.

Through 15 games this season, Rodgers has passed for 3,028 yards with 23 touchdowns against just seven interceptions—his best touchdown-to-interception ratio since his 2021 MVP season in Green Bay. His 68.6 completion percentage, 105.0 passer rating, and 211.7 passing yards per game represent his most efficient numbers in years.

More importantly, he’s helped Pittsburgh to a 9-7 record entering Week 18, putting the Steelers on the brink of their first AFC North title in five years.

The Challenge Ahead

Sunday night’s clash with Baltimore will determine everything. Win, and the Steelers are AFC North champions heading to the playoffs. Lose, and they’re eliminated from postseason contention entirely—a devastating end to what’s been a roller-coaster season of extreme highs and very low lows.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler noted Friday that if Pittsburgh fails to make the playoffs, Rodgers might decide to walk away. “This game could determine a lot,” Fowler said. “We’re not gonna get clarity right after the game on what Aaron Rodgers is gonna do. It’s gonna be months, probably.”

The uncertainty mirrors past offseasons when Rodgers kept the league waiting on his decision, though this time for different reasons. Rather than drama surrounding his relationship with an organization, it’s simply a matter of whether a 42-year-old quarterback still has the desire to grind through another season.

Rodgers declined to reveal much about his decision-making process, saying only that he’ll talk with his wife and come to some resolution “down the line”.

Why Pittsburgh Makes Sense

For the Steelers, bringing Rodgers back would represent continuity in a quarterback position that’s been unstable since Ben Roethlisberger retired following the 2021 season. Pittsburgh cycled through Kenny Pickett, Mitchell Trubisky, Mason Rudolph, Russell Wilson, and Justin Fields before finally finding success with Rodgers.

The problem? The Steelers don’t have a long-term plan behind him at the moment, with only perennial backups Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson and sixth-round rookie Will Howard waiting in the wings.

The 2026 NFL Draft—which will be held in Pittsburgh—was long viewed as the Steelers’ opportunity to land a franchise quarterback. But the incoming quarterback class that looked stacked in August doesn’t look so stacked heading into January. While Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza figures to go early in the first round, other top prospects like Texas’ Arch Manning and South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers have chosen to stay in school.

That reality makes keeping Rodgers for one more year increasingly attractive.

“We’ve done the best we could with our conversations and our meeting time,” Rodgers said. “But obviously, the more years you get in the system with the same guys, the more continuity you have, the better you feel like you can play.”

Teammate Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who played alongside Rodgers in Green Bay from 2018-21 before reuniting this season in Pittsburgh, has no doubt his friend can keep playing. “He can play football until he’s 50. He’s almost there,” Valdes-Scantling said with a grin. “But he can for sure play until he is 50 years old.”

What’s Driving the Decision

The chemistry Rodgers has developed with Mike Tomlin and the Steelers’ young offensive weapons—particularly DK Metcalf, Pat Freiermuth, and Jonnu Smith—has rekindled something many thought was gone forever.

“I’ve enjoyed this experience, and everybody in Pittsburgh has been fantastic to me on and off the field,” Rodgers said via ESPN. “It’s really what I was hoping for this experience was, it’s been even better than I was hoping.”

But enjoyment alone won’t drive the decision. At 42 years old with nothing left to prove—a Super Bowl ring, four MVPs, and a guaranteed first-ballot Hall of Fame induction—Rodgers will only return if the fire still burns.

His performance has been directly tied to team success this season. In Pittsburgh’s nine wins, he’s completed 71.6 percent of his passes with a 15-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio and a 110.6 passer rating. In six losses, those numbers crater to 57.7 percent completion, an 8-6 TD-INT ratio, and a 75.0 passer rating.

The inconsistency reflects a quarterback still capable of brilliance but perhaps showing his age in certain moments—particularly when the Steelers’ supporting cast falters.

Sunday Night Will Tell Us Everything

As Rodgers prepares for what could be his final NFL game, the weight of the moment isn’t lost on him. Win, and the Steelers are playoff-bound with at least one more week of football guaranteed. Lose, and decisions must be made immediately about the future—both his and Mike Tomlin’s.

Rapoport indicated that Rodgers has made “meaningful, strong relationships” in the Pittsburgh locker room, finding genuine friendships that matter beyond football. Those connections, combined with an organization that values his leadership and an offense that’s starting to click, could be enough to lure him back for one more year.

But first, he has to beat Lamar Jackson and the Ravens in a game that will define both his season and potentially his legacy in Pittsburgh.

“I’m thinking about this week,” Rodgers said, refusing to look beyond Sunday. But the fact that he’s even entertaining the possibility of 2026 speaks volumes about how much this experience has meant to him.

For a quarterback who seemed ready to ride off into the sunset just seven months ago, Aaron Rodgers is suddenly talking like someone who might not be done yet.

And in Pittsburgh, they’re hoping he’s not.

Aaron Rodgers 2025 Stats (Through 15 Games):

• Passing Yards: 3,028
• Touchdowns: 23
• Interceptions: 7
• Completion %: 68.6%
• Passer Rating: 105.0
• Record as Starter: 9-6

Sunday Night Football: Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) at Baltimore Ravens (10-6), 8:20 PM ET on NBC — Winner takes AFC North, loser goes home