During his initial press conference, Aaron Rodgers revealed that it was either joining the Steelers or hanging up his cleats for good.
Some, like Steelers icon Ben Roethlisberger, speculate that retirement may be on the horizon within a year.
On his podcast “Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger,” the two-time Super Bowl champ suggested that the 2025 season could mark the end for Rodgers. “I don’t think he’s got much beyond this year,” Roethlisberger commented. “This could really be it for him. You might wonder how I know that, and honestly, I’m not sure. Sometimes, you don’t realize how close you are to the end until it’s right there.”
He added, “Sure, he’ll feel better, but that doesn’t mean he’s going to have a couple of extra years left in him.”
Rodgers recently signed a one-year contract worth $13.65 million with the Steelers on June 7.
Arriving in New York in 2023, Rodgers was seen as the catalyst that would turn the Jets into Super Bowl contenders. Sadly, his season took a nosedive when he suffered a torn Achilles after just four plays in the opening week, completely derailing the team’s prospects.
The following year didn’t show much progress, as the Jets ended with a 5-12 record, missing the playoffs once more. This disappointing performance resulted in significant changes, including the firing of head coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas, alongside Rodgers’ departure from the team.
The 41-year-old had decent numbers, throwing for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions over 17 games.
Roethlisberger’s remarks were influenced by his own experience recuperating from an elbow injury at the end of the 2019 season. While Rodgers may feel better physically compared to 2024, that doesn’t automatically imply he’ll extend his playing career significantly.
Roethlisberger himself played two more seasons after his injury before retiring in 2022.
