Steelers' Aaron Rodgers Delivers A Tease To Fans As 2025 Might Not Be His Only Season In Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Steelers are entering the 2025 season with four-time league MVP Aaron Rodgers lining up under center. There has been some skepticism surrounding Rodgers and what he is able to do, as he is 41-years old and retirement was certainly on the table for the quarterback while he was making a decision during the 2025 offseason. Rodgers' play got better as the 2024 season went on with the New York Jets, but it still wasn't what fans expected to see from the future Hall of Famer. He is hoping to end his career on a high note with Pittsburgh, whether that be in 2025, or later.

Rodgers made a public appearance on The Pat McAfee Show earlier in the 2025 offseason, and the quarterback shared that the 2025 season would probably be his last, which is why he only signed a one-year deal in Pittsburgh. That would be completely understandable as the quarterback will turn 42 years old during the 2025 season. However, he spoke with the media after practice on Thursday, and he was asked about his past comments. Rodgers shared that retirement is not a guarantee.

"Yeah, I might, go into the season like that," Rodgers said. "I might not."

This was the veteran's response when he was asked about whether or not he is approaching the 2025 season like it will be his last. This leaves the door open for him to play once again in 2026, but that will obviously depend on the quarterback situations around the league. He isn't likely going to be on a roster in 2026 just to be a backup. If he is on a team, he will likely want to be the starter.

Rodgers is only under contract in Pittsburgh through the 2025 season, but that doesn't mean he can't return in 2026. If he plays well and the team sees a decent amount of success, which will likely mean advancing in the postseason past the first round, he could return. It is hard to imagine he would return if he didn't think he had a decent shot at winning the Super Bowl, so he would likely look to land on a contender, which could be Pittsburgh.

The Steelers are worried about winning now, but the organization is also focused on sustainable success. This means setting the roster up to exceed expectations in the near future, and a key part of that is the quarterback position. The Steelers are expected to have 12 selections in the 2026 NFL Draft, which puts the franchise in prime position to land a potential franchise player at the position at the high end of the draft.

Rodgers could be a mentor to a draft pick if the team wishes to have him back in 2026, or the team could forego selecting a quarterback all together. Highly picked quarterbacks are no guarantee, and just because the 2026 quarterback class looks good now, doesn't mean it will as the college season moves along.

Steelers Could Stick With Quarterback Pairing In 2026

Will Howard is another intriguing player on the roster in Pittsburgh. He was a sixth-round quarterback in 2025, so the expectations for him are fairly low. However, he has the physical attributes to be efficient in the league, and he comes from a winning pedigree. If Pittsburgh sees decent development from Howard throughout the 2025 season, the organization could decide to have him sit behind Rodgers again in 2026 and learn more from the veteran.

There is also a world where Rodgers could end up on another team all together. There are always questionable quarterback situations in the NFL, and he could find a starting role elsewhere.

What do you think about Rodgers' remarks? Would you want him back in 2026? Let us know in the comments below!

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