Rodgers says he played through illness in playoff loss

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, preparing for what he says will be his final NFL season, revealed he played through a significant illness during last season's playoff loss and used a prominent media platform this week to launch wide-ranging critiques of public figures and media coverage. The 42-year-old's comments, made during an appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show" on Monday, August 3, 2026, and in a separate interview, have dominated the NFL's offseason conversation.

Rodgers disclosed that he battled severe flu-like symptoms, including fever and vomiting, in the days leading up to the Steelers' AFC Wild Card game against the Houston Texans on January 10, 2026. He said team personnel sent him home from the team hotel the day before the game because he appeared pale and unwell. Though Rodgers maintained he felt recovered by kickoff, former Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith stated the quarterback was downplaying his condition, recalling that Rodgers "looked terrible before the game."

In the 30-6 loss, Rodgers struggled, completing 17 of 33 passes for 146 yards with two turnovers as the Steelers' offense managed only 175 total yards. The performance was a...