Aaron Rodgers Confirms Retirement After 2026 Season

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has reaffirmed his intention to retire following the 2026 NFL season, stating that even a successful year with the Pittsburgh Steelers will not alter his decision. The 42-year-old veteran made the declaration over the weekend, adding that the hiring of his former Green Bay Packers coach, Mike McCarthy, was the pivotal factor that drew him back for this final campaign.

Rodgers said he had been close to retiring this offseason before the Steelers hired McCarthy to replace Mike Tomlin. He revealed he had recommended McCarthy to general manager Omar Khan before officially re-signing with the team. After McCarthy’s hiring, Rodgers took several months to agree to a new, more expensive contract. He emphasized the finality of his current stance, explicitly ruling out a potential 22nd season in 2027.

As Rodgers prepares for his second season in Pittsburgh and a reunion with McCarthy, his preseason participation has become a topic of discussion. According to reports, McCarthy has expressed a desire for Rodgers to play in the team’s first two preseason games, which are scheduled against Rodgers’s former teams, the Green Bay Packers on August 13 and the New York...