Aaron Rodgers, the veteran quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, recently expressed a complex mix of emotions regarding his future in the NFL. Rodgers, at 42 years old, is on the final year of the one-year, $13.65 million contract that he signed in June. As he prepares for perhaps the most important game of his NFL career against the Baltimore Ravens this Sunday, he’s weighing both of those options. The outcome of this game could determine the Steelers’ postseason aspirations, adding urgency to his reflections on retirement and continued play.
During a recent, wide-ranging conversation on the Pat McAfee Show, Rodgers offered an illuminating analogy. He compared what’s going on with him now to Benjamin Button, the fictional character that ages in reverse. This metaphor highlights his feelings about aging and performance as he navigates the challenges of being a seasoned player in a demanding league. Notably, he stated that he wants the decision on his retirement to be based on his love of the game. He doesn’t want the reason to be physical constraints.
Rodgers is in line for another MVP quality season, having passed for 3,028 yards, with 23 touchdowns vs. seven picks. His average completion rate is a stunning 65.6%. Since joining the Steelers, he has helped lead the team to a 9-7 record, showcasing both his skill and experience on the field. He admitted that there were times when he fell short of his own principles.
“I don’t have a lot of stinkers back-to-back over the years,” – Aaron Rodgers
Rodgers is not one to get too high or low heading into any given game. He stated, “So it’s the same mindset every week, same approach. Just expect greatness. And when it doesn’t happen, you don’t shift up the plan. You just keep on going and trust the process.”
Moving forward, Rodgers knows that there’s always going to be some risk with the current state of his contract. He dropped this little nugget during the presser, announcing that he has not considered going back to Pittsburgh after this season. Picture this His gaze is firmly fixed on today.
“I’m thinking about this week, but obviously I’m 42 years old, and I’m on a one-year deal,” – Aaron Rodgers
With free agency coming up, he is playing with pressure on him. He’s weighing his options on how to move forward with his career after the end of this season.
“So you know what the situation is. Whenever the season ends, I’ll be a free agent. So that’ll give me a lot of options if I still want to play,” – Aaron Rodgers
Rodgers made clear that he hopes to finish this season free of physical realities that would impact his decision-making on retirement.
“I hope I can get through this stretch and feel good physically so that’s not in the conversation,” – Aaron Rodgers
Back in June, shortly after signing with the Pirates, he said he was looking forward to a promising future. He added that he’s “pretty sure this is it” for his playing career. As he prepares for what could be a career-defining game against the Ravens, he speaks with a much different tone about his future. His feelings on the upcoming slate tell a different story, though.
Rodgers reflects positively on his time with the Steelers. In particular, he appreciates the relationships he built, from his tenure in Pittsburgh. What he didn’t expect was how selecting this path would help him meet so many teammates who became best friends. Yet he had invaluable experiences working under hallowed names such as Mike Tomlin.
“But if I hadn’t taken this path, I never would have met so many guys in the locker room who I now call close friends,” – Aaron Rodgers
As the Steelers prepare for their own win-or-go-home season finale against Baltimore, all eyes will be on Rodgers. His performance will have an outsized impact on the team’s short-term trajectory. It could influence his short-term choices around retirement and possible long-term moves once he leaves his storied career.
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