The Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2025 season hinges on one final game. They will take on their rival, the Baltimore Ravens, on “Sunday Night Football” in the final game of the 2025 regular season. If the Steelers win, they will advance to the playoffs as the No. 4 seed. If they lose, they will be eliminated.
This could end up being the final game for future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers. He signed a one-year deal with Pittsburgh ahead of the 2025 season and said at the time it would be for one year and that he would be done after it. Now, 17 weeks later, the veteran quarterback has played in 15 games and has thrown for 3,028 yards with 23 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
His play on the field has been uneven in a struggling Pittsburgh offense, but his numbers look relatively similar to his one full season with the New York Jets and his final year with the Green Bay Packers. While Rodgers’ intention may have been to retire after the 2025 season, will he?
Here is more on what Rodgers has said about his NFL future after the 2025 season.
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Is Aaron Rodgers retiring?
There hasn't been any indication one way or the other about Rodgers' future. Given how he has made decisions in the past, it wouldn't be surprising if he retired the day after the Steelers' season ends or at any time over the next nine months ahead of the 2026 season. From what we have seen from Rodgers, though, the decision will be made and announced on his own terms.
When asked about his future in his most recent media appearance, Rodgers said he has a lot to think about in the offseason but believes if he did decide to keep playing that there would be one or two options.
Aaron Rodgers: “I'm 42, and I'm on a 1-year deal. You know what the situation is. Whenever the season ends, I'll be a free agent. That’ll give me a lot of options if I still want to play — Not a lot of options, but … I would think maybe 1 or 2 if I decide I still want to play.” Pic.twitter.com/mwlFS3qsH8
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) December 31, 2025
Among those Rodgers said will be included in his decision is his wife who the public still does not know much about.
Asked what factors will go into the decision whether to retire or keep playing, Aaron Rodgers said, "I don't really want to get too deep into it. Obviously, I'll talk to my wife. Hopefully, that's a decision down the line. I'm not really going to talk about it right now."
— Mike DeFabo (@MikeDeFabo) December 31, 2025
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What's next for Aaron Rodgers?
The only person who knows what is next for Rodgers is himself. When he has been asked about it either on the Pat McAfee Show or ahead of a Week 7 "Thursday Night Football" game, the QB maintained that he has "lived in the spotlight long enough. I'm going into the shadows." He has consistently said that the public will not see him, which has been hard to believe.
Rodgers is expected to keep to himself if you believe him, which would go against many people's belief that he has a future in either podcasting or broadcasting if he wanted it.
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How old is Aaron Rodgers?
Rodgers was born on December 2, 1983. He is 42 years old, and was the oldest player in the 2025 season until the Indianapolis Colts lured Philip Rivers out of retirement for a few starts.
When did Aaron Rodgers make his NFL debut?
Rodgers was drafted with the 24th pick in the 2005 NFL Draft. He joined a quarterback room headed by Hall of Famer Brett Favre and didn't start at the beginning of his career. Rodgers only played in three games as a rookie.
The quarterback's debut came on October 9, 2005. The Packers were playing the New Orleans Saints. Rodgers got into the game in garbage time of the 52-3 Green Bay win. The backup QB completed his lone pass, but it went for no yards. He finished 1-1 with 0 yards in his debut.
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