With Steelers, Aaron Rodgers Joins List of NFL Vets Who Might Go Out on Top in 2025

On Friday, Aaron Rodgers finally signed a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers. According to senior director of communications Burt Lauten, the 41-year-old will address the media as a Steeler for the first time on Tuesday, following Pittsburgh's first practice of mandatory minicamp.

We can expect the veteran quarterback to be asked about the timing of his deal and his reasons for picking Pittsburgh.

We may never know precisely why Rodgers waited until June, but his reasons for joining the Steelers should be obvious. There's virtually no way the image-conscious QB wants to be remembered for his disappointing stint with the New York Jets. Pittsburgh, perennially in the playoff picture, can provide him with a chance to end his career on a high note.

If all goes perfectly for Rodgers and the Steelers, he might even have a chance to add another Super Bowl to his Hall of Fame resume.

NFL players rarely get to go out on their terms, but we've seen a few stars call it a career after winning the Super Bowl—something Philadelphia Eagles pass-rusher Brandon Graham did in March.

Here, we'll examine some of the league's older stars who might have the chance to do it in 2025—a list that finally, officially, includes Rodgers.

Cameron Heyward, DT, Pittsburgh Steelers

AP Photo/Terrance Williams

Age When 2025 Playoffs End: 36

Rodgers isn't the only member of the Steelers could consider walking away if Pittsburgh hoists the Lombardi Trophy on February 8. It would be a fitting way for defensive tackle Cameron Heyward to call it a career.

The 36-year-old continues to be an All-Pro player at this stage of his career, and he just signed a new three-year extension last September. However, he made it clear then that he doesn't plan to suit up for a different franchise.

"There's certain guys that are one-helmet guys, and I want to be one of those one-helmet guys," Heyward said, per ESPN's Brooke Pryor.

Heyward could easily be a 2026 cap casualty, as his contract will have no dead money remaining after this season—Pittsburgh will owe a $13 million roster bonus on the second day of the league year and could save $19.2 million by releasing him before then.

There's a non-zero chance the Steelers will consider cutting Heyward or asking him to take a pay cut next offseason.

We're not likely to see the seven-time Pro Bowler play elsewhere, and he may not be interested in coming back on a reduced salary after winning the Super Bowl. He may also be willing to turn down that $19.2 million if he ends this season in the Super Bowl or even with a deep playoff run.

While Heyward's career has included 718 tackles, 88.5 sacks, four first-team All-Pro nods and eight playoff starts, he's only been part of one postseason victory. He could decide that a little playoff success is the perfect way to cap his career.

Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs

AP Photo/David Dermer

Age When 2025 Playoffs End: 36

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is already a first-ballot Hall of Famer and might have retired in February had he won his fourth Super Bowl. He already has three rings to go with 12,151 regular-season receiving yards, 2,078 postseason receiving yards and 10 Pro Bowls.

However, a win over the Eagles in Super Bowl LIX would have made Kansas City the first NFL team to win three consecutive Super Bowls. That didn't happen, of course, and we may never know how seriously, if at all, the 35-year-old pondered retirement.

Now, Kelce is back at work and preparing himself for his 13th NFL season.

"The way he's talking about football. The way he's talking about working and trying to be even better this year than he was last year. He doesn't seem like a guy like it's his last ride, like he's tired of the job," Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes told reporters during organized team activities (OTAs).

While Kelce may be preparing like he always has, it's fair to wonder if he can still play like it, too. He's seen a dip in statistical production in each of the past two years and caught just three touchdowns in 2024—his lowest total since becoming a starter in his second season.

Now entering the final year of his contract, the 10-time Pro Bowler may indeed make 2025 his last run, especially if the Chiefs again manage to win the Lombardi Trophy.

If there's a franchise practically guaranteed to be in the championship mix in any given year, it's Kansas City.

Khalil Mack, Edge, Los Angeles Chargers

AP Foto/Maria Lysaker

Age When 2025 Playoffs End: 34

Los Angeles Chargers pass-rusher Khalil Mack is more than a half-decade younger than Rodgers and wouldn't even be considered particularly old if he was a quarterback.

However, the 34-year-old is an edge-defender who saw decreased production in 2024 and contemplated retirement after the season.

"I can't really speak on a definitive decision in terms of what I'm going to do because I don't know if I'm going to play football moving forward," Mack said in January, per ESPN's Kris Rhim.

Ultimately, the nine-time Pro Bowler agreed to return to Los Angeles for his 12th season on a one-year, $18 million deal.

Given the fact that Mack considered retirement this offseason, he might decide this is his last year regardless of how the Chargers fare in 2025. He saw his sack production drop from 17 in 2023 to six in 2024, and another dip could leave him looking at a rather unappealing free-agent market.

He has earned $169.5 million in his career and may not want to suit up again for a team-friendly salary. With 107.5 career sacks, three first-team All-Pro nods, nine Pro Bowls and one Defensive Player of the Year award on his resume, he's already a likely Hall of Famer. The only thing missing is a Super Bowl.

Fortunately, there are reasons to believe the Chargers can help Mack reach the NFL's zenith this season. L.A. was a playoff team last year but suffered from an underwhelming receiving corps and a defense that collapsed down the stretch. It added pieces to address both issues this offseason and is entering Year 2 under head coach Jim Harbaugh.

The last time Harbaugh coached in the NFL, with the San Francisco 49ers, his squad made the playoffs in Year 1 and reached the Super Bowl in Year 2. Several obstacles could prevent history from repeating itself—like the fact that the AFC West has recently been owned by Kansas City—but it's not unreasonable for Chargers fans to dream.

If L.A. can put Mack in the Super Bowl, or at least give him his first career playoff victory, he may choose to walk happily into the sunset.

Matthew Stafford, QB, Los Angeles Rams

AP Photo/Terrance Williams

Age When 2025 Playoffs End: 38

Rodgers isn't the only quarterback of his era who could walk away after the 2025 season. Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford will also be a retirement candidate in 2026, especially if he wins the Super Bowl the day after his 38th birthday.

Now, Stafford is still playing some of the best football of his career. He battled injuries in 2022 but has taken L.A. back to the playoffs in each of the past two seasons. He was also granted permission this offseason to speak with other teams in order to gauge his market value on a new contract. This suggests he doesn't view 2025 as a potential farewell campaign.

However, things move rapidly in the NFL, and little is guaranteed about Stafford's future in L.A. beyond this season. He agreed to a revised contract that is essentially a one-year pact.

While the two-time Pro Bowler is set to carry a cap hit of $48.3 million in 2026, $40 million of that will become fully guaranteed on the fifth day of the new league year. This will give both the Rams and Stafford some time after the season ends to determine the path forward. Either side could afford to walk away before those guarantees hit.

If Stafford plays well and stays healthy in 2025, he could have a hard time passing on $48 million for another season. If his next birthday present is a second Super Bowl ring, though, that could change his thinking.

Though he's been a true franchise quarterback for both the Rams and the Detroit Lions, he's only made two Pro Bowls in his career and might need a second championship to cement first-ballot Hall of Fame status.

The Rams just might be able to provide that in 2025. They reached the divisional round last season and came closer than any other team to knocking off Philadelphia in the postseason.

It isn't a stretch to envision L.A. taking another step and making an appearance in Super Bowl LX.

Aaron Rodgers, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers

AP Photo/Seth Wenig

Age When 2025 Playoffs End: 42

Is the addition of Rodgers enough to make the Steelers a Super Bowl contender? That's the question veterans like Heyward, T.J. Watt, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Alex Highsmith—not to mention head coach Mike Tomlin—will be asking.

Pittsburgh hasn't even won a playoff game since the 2016 season. Rodgers, meanwhile, hasn't been to a Pro Bowl since the 2021 season. While the Steelers have some talented offensive pieces, like Jaylen Warren, Pat Freiermuth and recent addition DK Metcalf, they can't offer the quarterback a truly elite supporting cast.

What Pittsburgh can offer Rodgers, though, is a stable organization, a detail-oriented roster and a team that simply hasn't played losing football under Tomlin.

For the Steelers, it's worth noting Rodgers missed essentially all of 2023 with a torn Achilles and spent much of last season getting back to 100 percent. On top of that, he battled organizational dysfunction throughout his New York tenure. In Pittsburgh, he could again be a QB capable of leading a team into and winning in the postseason.

And if the Steelers can get into the postseason, they'll at least have a chance—something Rodgers and the Jets could never say.

Should Pittsburgh manage to reach Super Bowl LX, it's hard to imagine him finding reasons to return for his age-42 season, with the Steelers or elsewhere.

With 10 Pro Bowls, four MVPs and one Super Bowl on his resume, Rodgers already has little to prove. Showing he can still play well at the end of his career will likely be enough.

Bobby Wagner, LB, Washington Commanders

AP Photo/Jerome Miron

Age When 2025 Playoffs End: 35

The Washington Commanders could be in store for a regression in 2025. While they did reach the NFC title game last year, they also found a knack for winning one-score games late. That's a trend that doesn't tend to hold in the NFL.

Yet, the Commanders did reach the NFC Championship, and there's a chance that phenom quarterback Jayden Daniels will be even better in his second pro season. Putting players such as Laremy Tunsil and Deebo Samuel around him certainly won't hurt.

If the Commanders do reach the Super Bowl just two years after a four-win campaign, they could give linebacker Bobby Wagner the perfect chance to go out on top.

Wagner, who will turn 35 later this month, is still a Pro Bowl defender. According to Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press, he didn't consider retirement before re-signing with Washington on a one-year, $9 million deal this offseason, either. But a second Super Bowl ring could make him think a bit more about what comes next.

The 10-time Pro Bowler has pretty much done it all in the NFL. He has racked up 1,838 career tackles, 35 sacks, 13 interceptions and six first-team All-Pro nods. He won his first Super Bowl as a member of the Seattle Seahawks in 2013, his second season. His Hall of Fame bid is already secure.

However, winning a second Super Bowl with Commanders coach—and former Seahawks defensive coordinator—Dan Quinn could be the perfect way for Wagner to bookend his career.

Trent Williams, OT, San Francisco 49ers

AP Photo/Jeff Chiu

Age When 2025 Playoffs End: 37

Offensive tackle Trent Williams is a bit of an outlier on this list because every other player mentioned is now with a team that made the postseason in 2024. The San Francisco 49ers did not.

Injuries derailed their season early and often last year. They were without Christian McCaffrey for most of the year, lost Brandon Aiyuk to a significant knee injury and lost Williams for the final seven games due to an ankle issue.

On a positive note, Williams appears to be on the mend and was present during OTAs, according to Vic Tafur of The Athletic.

No one should doubt the 36-year-old will play at a high level if healthy. The 11-time Pro Bowler can still get it done and was graded as the sixth-best offensive tackle overall last season by Pro Football Focus.

The real question is whether the 49ers can bounce back after last year's six-win campaign and after parting with contributors like Deebo Samuel, Dre Greenlaw, Javon Hargrave, Charvarius Ward and Talanoa Hufanga in the offseason.

History suggests Kyle Shanahan can coax a bounce-back season out of his squad. The 49ers lost the Super Bowl in 2019, battled injuries during a six-win 2020 campaign and were back in the NFC title game by 2021. If players like Williams and McCaffrey can stay healthy—and the defense gets a boost from returning coordinator Robert Saleh—San Francisco could be poised for another deep playoff run.

It's hard to think Williams wouldn't call it a career if he finally lifts the Lombardi Trophy. He signed through 2026 but could also be a cap casualty—the 49ers will owe him a $10 million roster bonus on April 1 and could save $25.6 million in cap space by releasing him with a post-June 1 designation.

Rather than facing any contract drama, Williams might be content to simply take his trophy and begin his five-year wait for the Hall of Fame.

*Contract information via Spotrac.