Lead: Ian Rapoport reports that veteran QB Aaron Rodgers is not expected to return to the Pittsburgh Steelers next season after the team’s decision to fire head coach Mike Tomlin. The 42-year-old finished the 2025 campaign with 3,322 passing yards and a postseason career-low 146 yards in the Wild Card loss to the Houston Texans. It remains unclear whether Rodgers has played his final NFL game; potential opportunities if he chooses to continue are still uncertain. The Steelers have said they would welcome him back, but public signals from multiple parties suggest his playing future is in doubt.
Key Takeaways
- Ian Rapoport reports Rodgers is currently not expected to return to the Steelers next season following Mike Tomlin’s dismissal.
- Rodgers, age 42, completed 65.7% of his passes in 2025, throwing for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions across 16 regular-season games.
- He recorded a postseason career-low 146 passing yards in Pittsburgh’s Wild Card loss to the Houston Texans.
- Rodgers told reporters he will avoid making an emotional decision about his future and called the 2025 season “a lot of fun.”
- ESPN sideline reporter Lisa Salters said Rodgers told production staff in Week 15 that he was “probably retiring,” a remark that has not been formally confirmed by the player.
- Contract and career context: Rodgers signed multiple large extensions in his career (a 2018 four-year, $134 million deal and a later three-year, $150 million extension) and was traded from Green Bay to the Jets before joining the Steelers.
- Steelers executives have indicated they would welcome Rodgers back if he elects to play, but organizational turnover complicates a straightforward return.
Background
Aaron Rodgers entered the NFL as the Green Bay Packers’ first-round pick in 2005 and became one of the league’s most decorated quarterbacks over nearly two decades. He signed a four-year, $134 million extension in 2018 with more than $100 million guaranteed, and later agreed to a three-year, $150 million extension that included $101 million guaranteed before being traded to the New York Jets. Rodgers suffered a torn Achilles in Week 1 of 2023 and played just four snaps that season, then returned to start for the Jets in 2024.
After New York released him with a June 1 designation following the 2024 season, Rodgers signed a one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the 2025 campaign. His arrival in Pittsburgh was framed as a short-term, high-impact move to push the team deeper into playoff contention. The Steelers reached the postseason but were eliminated in the Wild Card round by the Houston Texans, a result that has prompted organizational changes including the firing of long-time head coach Mike Tomlin.
Main Event
Rapoport’s reporting centers on the team’s decision tree after Tomlin’s firing: franchise leadership is reshaping the roster and coaching structure, and that recalibration has left Rodgers’ status uncertain. Sources cited by Rapoport indicate the club does not currently expect Rodgers to be on the 2026 Pittsburgh roster, though discussions about his potential return would be contingent on both the player’s choice and the incoming coach’s vision.
Rodgers himself addressed his future after the playoff loss, emphasizing he would not let one result dictate a career decision. He described the 2025 season in Pittsburgh as highly enjoyable despite the disappointing finish, and stressed he would weigh his options deliberately rather than react emotionally to the elimination.
Complicating the picture, ESPN sideline reporter Lisa Salters relayed that Rodgers told production staff in Week 15 that he expected to retire, a remark that was picked up by broadcast personnel and has circulated as a possible indicator of his intent. The remark has not been confirmed by Rodgers in a formal retirement announcement.
Analysis & Implications
On-field performance suggests Rodgers remains capable: a 65.7 completion rate, 3,322 passing yards and 24 touchdowns in 2025 indicate he provided above-average production for a 42-year-old starter. Yet age and recent injury history — including the 2023 Achilles tear — mean teams will weigh physical durability alongside leadership value. Any franchise considering Rodgers for 2026 must balance short-term upside with long-term roster construction and salary-cap implications.
For the Steelers, moving on from a veteran quarterback like Rodgers would signal a rebuild or retool under new coaching leadership. Returning Rodgers would offer continuity and veteran leadership, but the new head coach may prefer to install a younger quarterback or pursue a different offensive philosophy. Financially, a one-year deal or incentive-heavy contract could make a reunion feasible, but that depends on Rodgers’ priorities and market demand.
Leaguewide, Rodgers’ decision will influence offseason narratives: if he retires, teams that need a stopgap veteran passer will look elsewhere, and younger quarterbacks may see more early-career starts. If he opts to keep playing, there could be late-market suitors seeking a proven veteran on a short-term deal — in some scenarios Rodgers could pivot to a team with quarterbacking needs and a clear path to contender status.
Comparison & Data
| Season | Team | Games | Comp % | Yards | TD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Steelers | 16 | 65.7 | 3,322 | 24 | 7 |
| 2024 | Jets | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2023 | Jets | 1 | — | — | — | — |
The 2025 totals show Rodgers produced starter-level output over a full season. The 2023 Achilles injury sharply limited appearances that year; 2024 served as a comeback season prior to his release and subsequent signing with Pittsburgh. Any evaluation of Rodgers’ future must weigh the 2025 production against age-related decline risks and the prior major lower-body injury.
Reactions & Quotes
“I’m not going to make any emotional decisions,” Rodgers said after the playoff loss, stressing he would consider more than the final result when deciding whether to play again.
Aaron Rodgers (via Grant Gordon, NFL.com)
“He’s probably retiring,” said sideline reporter Lisa Salters, recounting Rodgers’ comment to production staff in Week 15 — a remark that has not been formalized into an official retirement announcement.
Lisa Salters (ESPN sideline report)
“At this stage the team does not expect Rodgers to be back next season,” Rapoport reported, underscoring how coaching turnover and roster planning are shaping the club’s short-term direction.
Ian Rapoport (NFL reporting)
Unconfirmed
- Whether Rodgers has definitively decided to retire; no formal retirement announcement has been issued.
- Specific teams that might offer Rodgers a roster spot if he opts to continue playing; no clubs have publicly confirmed interest beyond Pittsburgh’s stated openness.
- How incoming Steelers leadership would prioritize a veteran quarterback in roster construction; internal planning has not been publicly released.
Bottom Line
The immediate outlook is that Aaron Rodgers is unlikely to be part of the Steelers’ 2026 roster, driven largely by Pittsburgh’s coaching change and front-office recalibration. Rodgers produced solid numbers in 2025, but age, injury history and organizational turnover have combined to make his short-term future unclear.
Fans and teams should expect a period of waiting: Rodgers may announce retirement, re-sign with Pittsburgh, or explore limited opportunities elsewhere. Any definitive answer will hinge on the player’s own decision and the approach of prospective coaching staffs; the coming weeks of the offseason should clarify the situation.
Sources
- NFL Trade Rumors — independent NFL media report (Ian Rapoport coverage)
- NFL.com — league reporting (Grant Gordon cited for postgame quotes)
- ESPN — sports media (Lisa Salters sideline reporting)