Aaron Rodgers’ Final Season with the Steelers
If you had any doubts about Aaron Rodgers’ intentions for this season, he seems to be all in on retiring after this year. Rodgers, who rejoined the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason, confirmed again that his 22nd season in the NFL will indeed be his last, speaking on this during training camp.
“This is everything,” the 42-year-old quarterback shared at a press conference, reinforcing his commitment to this final chapter.
There’s been a buzz around Rodgers and retirement for some time, especially during the offseason when both the Steelers and other NFL teams contemplated what his future would hold. This uncertainty lingered until he made his intentions clear.
The Steelers also made headlines by parting ways with long-time head coach Mike Tomlin, bringing in Mike McCarthy, who has a history of trust with Rodgers from their time together at the Green Bay Packers. They had spent 15 seasons building a relationship on the field there, so the pairing feels significant.
Rodgers expressed that McCarthy’s hiring played a crucial role in his decision to play one more season. “I thought it might have been last year, but then Mike got hired, and after discussing it with my wife, she encouraged me to give it another go. So, here we are,” he explained.
Interestingly, when a reporter pointed out that players often claim they’re retiring, Rodgers was quick to dismiss any skepticism surrounding his word. “No, there’s no argument,” he asserted, firmly doubling down on his stance.
Earlier in the offseason, when he signed a one-year deal with the Steelers after a less-than-stellar stint with the New York Jets, he emphasized his seriousness about this being his last season.
Last year, on his first venture with the Steelers, Rodgers had a solid performance, leading the team to a 10-6 record, throwing for 3,322 yards, completing 65.7% of his passes, with 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions. The Steelers bolstered their offense this season by trading for veteran wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. and signing Rico Doodle to support Jalen Warren in the backfield, especially after losing Kenneth Gainwell to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
