Aaron Rodgers has said the 2026 season will be his last in the NFL. The 42-year-old Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback announced the decision in May 2026, calling it his final year in the league. Coverage from USA Today and BBC Sport identifies the current campaign as his 22nd in professional football.
Rodgers entered the league in 2005 and spent 18 seasons with the Green Bay Packers before moving to the New York Jets and, later, Pittsburgh. Questions about his contract, his health and his plans beyond football have followed him into the farewell season.
When Will Aaron Rodgers Retire?
Rodgers has already answered that question directly. NFL.com reported that he announced in May 2026 he would retire after the 2026 season. In later remarks, he said there was “zero debate” about 2026 being his final season.
Reports describe the campaign as a farewell tour of sorts. CBS Sports and Sky Sports both noted that the season represents his 22nd in the NFL.
Retirement decisions in the league have shifted before, even when quarterbacks announced a final year. The situation is not unique to football: Luka Modrić – Retirement on Hold With New Milan Deal shows how a late-career decision can take a different turn.
Aaron Rodgers at a glance
- Team: Pittsburgh Steelers — quarterback; 2026 is his 22nd NFL season
- Rodgers announced in May 2026 that the 2026 season would be his final NFL campaign.
- He signed a one-year contract with Pittsburgh worth up to $25 million, per ESPN.
- The Steelers deal reunited him with Mike McCarthy, his former Packers head coach.
- Rodgers has said he wants to step away from public life, heal his body and start a family.
Key facts about Aaron Rodgers
| Full name | Aaron Charles Rodgers |
| Position | Quarterback |
| Team | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| NFL seasons | 2026 is his 22nd |
| Highlights | 4× NFL MVP, Super Bowl XLV champion and MVP, 10 Pro Bowls |
Rodgers signed a one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers in May 2026. ESPN reported the deal could be worth up to $25 million, and The Guardian described the value in similar terms.
The contract also reunited Rodgers with Mike McCarthy, his head coach during his Green Bay years. Coverage of the signing emphasized that connection as a central storyline of the season.
Contract reporting varies: The value of the deal has been described as “up to $25 million” by ESPN and “as much as $25 million” by The Guardian. The available coverage does not specify guaranteed money, cap structure or performance incentives.
The available coverage does not include a reliable net worth figure for Rodgers. The financial side of retirement is a topic many athletes confront, as in David Bentley – Net Worth, Retirement & Financial Life After Football.
What Injuries Has Aaron Rodgers Sustained?
The most significant injury of Rodgers’ later career happened in 2023, shortly after the Jets acquired him. NBC New York reported that the injury ended his season and caused him to miss the entire year.
The injury occurred in September 2023 and was widely described as a torn right Achilles.
A full medical timeline has not been published in the available coverage. Earlier injuries from his career are also not detailed in the reporting cited here.
Rodgers returned to play in 2024 and later moved on to the Steelers. The comeback from the 2023 injury became part of the narrative around his final season.
Injury record is incomplete: The available coverage identifies the 2023 Achilles injury as the major health event in Rodgers’ recent career. It does not provide a complete history of earlier injuries or a detailed medical timeline for the 2026 season.
What Has Rodgers Said About His Final Season?
Rodgers has spoken publicly about the decision in personal terms.
“I plan on this being my last ride.”
Aaron Rodgers, when announcing his final season (via NFL.com)
Recent reporting has focused on Rodgers’ family plans rather than his dating history. He has said he wants retirement to give him time to step away from public life, heal his body and start a family. People also reported that he has discussed fatherhood as part of his post-football plans. Earlier entertainment coverage often linked Rodgers to actress Shailene Woodley.
What Rodgers says comes next: In comments carried by Yahoo Sports, Rodgers described his post-retirement priorities as stepping back from public life, recovering physically and building a family. Those priorities appear consistently in recent coverage of his final season.
How Certain Is Rodgers’ Retirement Plan?
Rodgers has been direct about his intentions, but some elements of the story remain open.
- Rodgers has publicly stated that 2026 is his final season.
- He signed a one-year contract with the Steelers in May 2026.
- He turned 42 in December 2025.
- Whether the plan could change before the season ends remains an open question.
- His health status for the rest of 2026 will only be known as the season progresses.
What Is Aaron Rodgers’ Legacy Among NFL Quarterbacks?
Rodgers is widely regarded as one of the most gifted quarterbacks of his generation. His career passer rating of 103.6 is the highest among quarterbacks with at least 4,000 pass attempts. His four MVP awards are tied for the second-most in league history, and Pro Football Reference has recorded the lowest career interception percentage in NFL history among qualified players.
His only Super Bowl win came in the 2010 season. The injury comeback adds another layer. The Times of India described the sequence as one of the most emotionally charged farewell setups in recent professional football history.
Rodgers spent 18 seasons in Green Bay before his time with the Jets and his current stop in Pittsburgh. His career starter record stands at 165-94-1, and he has been selected to 10 Pro Bowls. Born on December 2, 1983, in Chico, California, Rodgers is 42 years old, according to Wikipedia and Biography.com.
Rodgers entered the league in 2005, and reports describe 2026 as his 22nd NFL season. ESPN is tracking the records and milestones attached to his career.
- 2008: Became the Packers’ starting quarterback.
- 2026: Signed a one-year Steelers contract and announced his final season (per NFL.com).
What Should Fans Expect From Aaron Rodgers’ Final Season?
Rodgers will play the 2026 season with the Pittsburgh Steelers and has said he intends to make it his last.
What Else Do Fans Ask About Aaron Rodgers?
Is Aaron Rodgers still with the Packers?
No. His first 18 NFL seasons were spent in Green Bay. Rodgers was traded to the New York Jets in 2023 and later signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers in May 2026.
How many Super Bowls has Aaron Rodgers won?
One. He won Super Bowl XLV with the Packers in the 2010 season.
Does Aaron Rodgers have any children?
There are no reports of Rodgers having children. He has said he hopes to start a family after his playing career ends.
Did Aaron Rodgers tear his Achilles?
Rodgers suffered a season-ending injury with the Jets in September 2023, widely reported as a torn right Achilles.
What is Aaron Rodgers’ height and weight?
Rodgers is listed at 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) and 223 lb (101 kg).
Where did Aaron Rodgers go to college?
He attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he played college football before entering the 2005 NFL draft.
Why did Aaron Rodgers leave the Packers?
He was traded to the New York Jets in 2023 after contractual disagreements and a desire for a new challenge, according to coverage of the deal.
Rebecca Marsh is Managing Editor at BritView.uk, running the daily news list and publishing schedule.