Aaron Rodgers Says He's 'Pretty Sure' He'll Retire After 2025 NFL Season with Steelers

Without completely closing the door on returning in 2026, Aaron Rodgers is preparing for the upcoming NFL season like it will be his last.

Appearing on Tuesday's episode of The Pat McAfee Show, Rodgers said he's "pretty sure" he will retire following this season after signing a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Rodgers has talked about retiring several times in recent years. The four-time NFL MVP said after the 2022 season he was 90 percent sure he was going to call it a career before a darkness retreat convinced him to keep playing.

Coming out of the 2024 season and being released by the New York Jets in March, Rodgers was debating whether he wanted to return for a 21st season.

"I'm open to anything and attached to nothing," Rodgers told McAfee on April 17. "Retirement could still be a possibility, but right now my focus has been—and will continue to be—on my personal life. And that's what I've told the coaches. There's still conversations that are being had. It's all been very honest lines of communication."

Rodgers signed a one-year, $13.7 million deal with the Steelers on June 7. He is expected to be their starting quarterback going into the regular season.

Other than a desire to compete for another Super Bowl, Rodgers has nothing left to prove on the field. The 41-year-old ranks first all-time in quarterback rating (102.6) and touchdown-to-interception ratio (4.34), fifth in passing touchdowns (503) and seventh in passing yards (62,952).

Heading into this season, expectations are tempered for the quarterback. Rodgers' regular-season passing yards total over/under is set at 3,250.5 yards at DraftKings Sportsbook, with the over at -105 and the under at -115. In his final season in New York, Rodgers finished with 3,897 yards.

The Steelers are also +100 to finish with over nine wins, a season removed from a 10-7 campaign.

Peyton Manning is the only quarterback in the Super Bowl era with more All-Pro first-team selections than Rodgers' four. His four MVP awards also rank second to Manning (five).

Rodgers led the Green Bay Packers to their most recent Super Bowl title during the 2010 season. His teams have made the playoffs 11 times in 17 seasons since he became a full-time starter in 2008.

If this does end up being Rodgers' last season in the NFL, his final regular-season game will be against the Baltimore Ravens on Jan. 3 or 4. The Steelers will open the year against his most recent team, the New York Jets, at MetLife Stadium on Sept. 7.

The Steelers will also play the Packers in Pittsburgh on Oct. 26.