Aaron Rodgers has announced that the upcoming 2026 season will be his last, drawing parallels to Derek Jeter's farewell tour. This decision, unusual for franchise quarterbacks, could become a distraction for Rodgers and the Steelers, potentially influencing late-season NFL scheduling
Former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Isaiahh Loudermilk is signing with the Minnesota Vikings , per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. He joins former Steelers teammate James Pierre , who also signed with Minnesota this offseason. Loudermilk was drafted by the Steelers in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft out of Wisconsin. In four seasons with the Steelers, he totaled 63 tackles in 58 games. The Steelers added to their defensive line depth this offseason by signing former Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day . Additionally, they drafted Gabriel Rubio out of Notre Dame in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Let us know what you think in the comments . Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more! Former Steelers OC Todd Haley weighs in on Will Howard, Mason Rudolph QB battle Mike McCarthy reveals reason for Troy Fautanu, Mason McCormick position changes Aaron Rodgers to retire after 2026 season Aaron Rodgers embracing mentorship role with Drew Allar, Will Howard NFL insider predicts Steelers will cut Will Howard
As veteran QB Aaron Rodgers announces his final season, the Steelers, under new coach Mike McCarthy, are evaluating their quarterback options for 2027. They currently have established backup Mason Rudolph, developmental options Will Howard and rookie Drew Allar, but may explore other solutions
If Aaron Rodgers makes $25 million in 2026, it’ll be the best $25 million the Steelers ever spent. PFT has confirmed that Rodgers’s new contract with the Steelers hits the maximum value of $25 million if the Steelers win the Super Bowl. (The incentive package was first reported by Jordan Schultz.) Rodgers earns $625,000 for each postseason win. The package maxes out at $2.5 million. Each payment is premised on Rodgers participating in 75 percent of the team’s regular-season snaps. If he falls short of that threshold, he’s not eligible for any of the incentive payments. Of Rodgers’s base deal of $22.5 million, $22 million is fully guaranteed. (The other $500,000 is guaranteed as a practical matter, since they’re most likely not going to cut him. If they do after Week 1, any remaining non-guarantee payments become fully guaranteed under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, as termination pay.) Last year, Rodgers’s $13.65 million base salary included $5.85 million in available incentives. He earned $500,000 for taking at least 70 percent of the regular-season snaps and making the playoffs. The rest of the incentives, which were not earned, included $600,000 for a wild-card win, $750,000 for a win in the divisional round, $1 million for a win in the AFC Championship, $1.5 million for a Super Bowl win, and $1.5 million for winning the NFL MVP award. (He did not finish among the top five vote-getters; the AP did not release the full voting totals.) Even if the Steelers don’t make the playoffs, it’s a good deal for the Steelers. Especially since they didn’t have a clear-cut, high-end starter on the roster. With Rodgers back, they now do
Should we take Aaron Rodgers ’ retirement announcement at face value after the veteran QB spoke about his plans to hang it up after the 2026 season? Yahoo Sports’ Jason Fitz, Charles Robinson and Ben Fawkes share their thoughts on Rodgers’ final season and the fate of the Pittsburgh Steelers . They move on to break down all of the implications surrounding Rashee Rice being ordered to spend 90 days in jail after a parole violation. What does this mean for the Kansas City Chiefs ’ offense? Plus, NFL legends Emmitt Smith and Marshawn Lynch sat down with Andrew Siciliano. Hear about that and more on today’s episode! (00:45) - Will 2026 be Aaron Rodgers’ last season? (13:50) - Rashee Rice to serve 30 days in jail (24:10) - Emmitt Smith joins Inside Coverage (38:00) - Favorite win totals post-schedule release (56:05) - Marshawn Lynch on Fernando Mendoza (57:30) - One More Thing 🖥️ Watch this full episode on YouTube Check out all episodes of Inside Coverage and the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at Yahoo Sports Podcasts
Steelers coach Mike McCarthy expressed a desire to keep all four quarterbacks (Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, Will Howard, and Drew Allar) on the regular-season roster, citing their collective talent and potential for development. While acknowledging the likelihood of Howard and Allar competing for a 53-man spot with a plan for the loser to potentially join the practice squad, McCarthy indicated that keeping all four is a possibility
The Steelers currently have four quarterbacks: Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, Will Howard and Drew Allar. Steelers coach Mike McCarthy hopes they still have four quarterbacks when the regular season starts. McCarthy said today that he’d like to see Steelers General Manager Omar Khan find a way to keep all of them into the regular season: Rodgers to start, Rudolph to back him up, and both Howard and Allar as developmental prospects. “We’ve definitely got four that we love, I can say that,” McCarthy said. “You always have to develop the room. That’s always been the approach. We’re hoping that Omar can get the roster expanded to 55 and we can keep four. It’s a really good room. This is a good place to be, having four guys that can play.” McCarthy said the rotation behind Rodgers right now is based on the experience of the three backup quarterbacks but that he wants to give all of them plenty of opportunities this offseason while giving Rodgers the right amount of work to keep him fresh and have him ready to start Week One. “Mason has a lot of experience,” McCarthy said. “We’re trying to develop Will and Drew as well as we can. Will is ahead of Drew, just based on the fact that he’s been here.” The most likely scenario is that Howard and Allar will compete for a spot on the 53-man roster, and that the Steelers hope the loser of that competition clears waivers and can be brought back to the practice squad. But McCarthy isn’t ruling out all four of them making the regular-season roster
Aaron Rodgers once called his football future "a beautiful mystery." Now, one of the game's all-time greats seems to have solved it. The four-time NFL MVP plans to retire after his 22nd professional season this fall , he announced on Wednesday, May 20. The decision comes just four days after Rodgers agreed to re-sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers on a one-year contract . Rodgers, 42, will step away from the game as one of the most decorated and accomplished passers in league history. Only Peyton Manning has won more MVP awards with five. He ranks fourth all-time in touchdown passes (527) and fifth in passing yards (66,274). He also led the Green Bay Packers to the franchise's fourth Super Bowl title in the 2011 season, earning Super Bowl 45 MVP honors for his performance. His place as one of the game's most prolific and efficient signal-callers is firmly entrenched. He is tied with the Baltimore Ravens ' Lamar Jackson for the highest career passer rating (102.6) as well as the two highest single-season marks (122.5 in 2011 and 121.5 in 2020) in that category. He managed to play aggressively in stretches while seldom putting the ball in harm's way, with his 4.28 touchdown-to-interception ratio easily the best in league history for quarterbacks with at least 1,500 passing attempts. Rodgers also staked his claim as one of the league's best deep-ball throwers in his prime. Along with his quick release, his knack for drawing defenders offside and then attacking with a downfield strike became one of his calling cards. Rodgers also set himself apart from even the most prominent peers of his generation by completing several signature Hail Mary heaves. Yet his career was also marked by personal grievances and controversies, particularly in his latter years, as he repeatedly clashed with Packers leadership and became an outspoken critic of the COVID-19 vaccination efforts after misleading the media about his own vaccination status in 2021. In 2023, he went on a four-day darkness retreat in southern Oregon, later saying he was initially 90% certain he would retire as a Packer but that afterward he felt something had changed with the team's stance toward him. He then openly stated his intention to play for the New York Jets , and a trade followed 40 days later. Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers fumbles as he is hit by the Houston Texans' Will Anderson Jr. The Texans' Sheldon Rankins (90) returned the fumble for a touchdown as Houston went on to a 30-6 wild-card playoff win at Acrisure Stadium on Jan. 12, 2026. Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers fumbles as he is hit by the Houston Texans' Will Anderson Jr. The Texans' Sheldon Rankins (90) returned the fumble for a touchdown as Houston went on to a 30-6 wild-card playoff win at Acrisure Stadium on Jan. 12, 2026. His two seasons in New York were defined by profound disappointment, as he tore his Achilles just four plays into his debut campaign. His follow-up also proved to be a substantial letdown, as the Jets went 5-12, extending the league's longest active playoff drought to 14 seasons at the time. After signing with the Steelers, however, Rodgers set himself up for a more even-keeled finish to a career that is bound to earn him a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Here's a look back at the highs and lows of Rodgers' storied professional run: Rodgers' NFL career arc was dramatic from the very beginning. The Cal standout endured one of the more famous draft-day waits in 2005, when he lasted all the way to the No. 24 selection despite being projected to be one of the class' top picks. His first three seasons in Green Bay were spent as a backup to Hall of Famer Brett Favre. In March 2008, Favre retired, clearing the way for Rodgers to take over as starter - though the rifle-armed veteran attempted to return to the Packers months later but was rebuffed by the team, leading to his eventual trade to the Jets. Rodgers discovered success early once he took t
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Aaron Rodgers, 42, has indicated that the upcoming 2026 season will be his last in the NFL. This comes after he signed a one-year deal to return to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a second season. Rodgers previously suggested the 2025 season might be his last, but decided to return after his former coach, Mike McCarthy, was hired to lead the Steelers
Aaron Rodgers announced his 2026 season will be his last in the NFL, signing a one-year deal to reunite with head coach Mike McCarthy in Pittsburgh. Rodgers indicated he is back with the Steelers solely because McCarthy is the coach, having encouraged General Manager Omar Khan to interview him after Mike Tomlin's departure
Aaron Rodgers has said that the 2026 season will be the final of his NFL career. “Yes. This is it,” the Steelers quarterback told reporters in Pittsburgh on Wednesday when asked if the upcoming campaign would be his last. Related: Aaron Rodgers reportedly set for Steelers return on one-year deal worth up to $25m The four-time MVP agreed last weekend to return to the Steelers on a one-year deal reportedly worth up to $25m. The 42-year-old, who is entering his 22nd NFL season, led the Steelers to the AFC North division title last season. The Steelers hired Mike McCarthy, Rodgers’s coach for 13 seasons with the Green Bay Packers , after Mike Tomlin stepped down this offseason. McCarthy and Rodgers defeated Tomlin’s Steelers to win the Super Bowl during the 2010 season in Green Bay , and the quarterback earned two of his four MVPs playing under McCarthy. After signing a one-year deal with the Steelers last June, he told the Pat McAfee Show that the 2025 season would probably be his final in the NFL. He then guided the Steelers to the division title and a playoff appearance, throwing for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Rodgers said Wednesday that he contemplated retirement after Tomlin resigned following the Steelers’ playoff loss to the Houston Texans in January, but the hiring of McCarthy changed his mind. “When [Tomlin] said he was stepping away, that was an emotional moment just because we all love him so much and care about him, and I thought that was probably it for me in Pittsburgh,” Rodgers said. “But when the decision was made to hire [McCarthy], I started opening my mind back up to coming back.” After 18 seasons with the Packers, Rodgers played for the New York Jets from 2023 to 2024. He told reporters that playing under McCarthy again would be a “full circle” moment. “There was some doubt for sure, but I had good conversations with Mike going back to when he was hired. It’s nice to come back. It felt different than last year, cause I knew some of the guys and the people that work here,” Rodgers said. “So it felt good coming in.”
Aaron Rodgers announced that the 2026 season will be his last in the NFL. He stated this decision was influenced by his reunion with former Packers coach Mike McCarthy. Rodgers had a strong performance in 2025, going 10-6 with 24 touchdowns
The 2026 NFL offseason will be the last one that will require an " Aaron Rodgers watch." Rodgers announced on Wednesday at the Pittsburgh Steelers ' organized team activities (OTAs) that the 2026 season will be his last in the NFL, making the coming year his retirement tour. "Yes. This is it," Rodgers said, via ESPN , when asked if 2026 would be his last NFL season. Rodgers will go down as one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history after his retirement at the conclusion of the 2026 NFL season. He is the sport's all-time leader in touchdown-to-interception ratio (4.3, 527-123) and passer rating (102.2) while entering 2026 as fourth all time in passing touchdowns with 527. Rodgers' four NFL MVPs are the second-most in league history behind only Peyton Manning's five, and he earned both a Super Bowl ring and Super Bowl MVP by winning Super XLV for the Green Bay Packers in a triumphant effort against the Steelers. It makes sense that Rodgers is choosing to walk away after the coming year. He simply doesn't have the same magic that made him one of the league's best to ever do it. One of his top strengths throughout his future Hall of Fame career is his ability to scramble and dance around in and outside of the pocket to create throwing lanes and big plays. However with limited mobility in his 40s, the magic is slipping away. On third downs in 2025, Rodgers surrendered a sack rate of 10.7%, the 10th-highest in the entire NFL. In no game was that more apparent than his last played in the 2025 AFC wild card round. In a 30-6 home loss against the Houston Texans , who have the best pass-rush duo in football in Will Anderson Jr . and Danielle Hunter , he took four sacks, tossed an interception and fumbled twice, one of which resulted in a turnover. When he turns 43 years old on Dec. 2, he'll become the sixth quarterback in NFL history to start a game at the age of 43 or older. Rodgers chose to come back to both football and the Steelers in 2026 to finish out his career with new Pittsburgh head coach Mike McCarthy, his head coach of 13 seasons with the Green Bay Packers (2006-2018). Their reunion will make them the first quarterback-head coach duo to win a Super Bowl together before joining forces again on a new team. "I thought that was probably it for me in Pittsburgh. But when the decision was made to hire Mike, I started opening my mind back up to coming back," Rodgers said, via ESPN . ... "There is a full aspect circle that piqued my interest of coming back."
Aaron Rodgers said Wednesday that this will be his final NFL season. It’s OK to be skeptical. Rodgers has teased retirement before. Even last year he said he was “pretty sure” 2025 would be his last season, he had a solid season for the Pittsburgh Steelers and decided (eventually) to come back for another season. But now he insists this will be his last season. “Yes. This is it,” Rodgers told the Pittsburgh media . Plenty of NFL fans grown weary of Rodgers, his seemingly endless dance with retirement, and other views that have rubbed people the wrong way. But Wednesday’s proclamation, which didn’t leave any ambiguity, allows everyone to take a step back from the sideshows and give Rodgers his retirement tour. He has undoubtedly earned it. We’ll have to see if NFL fans agree. No matter what anyone wants to say about Rodgers, he is one of the best players in NFL history. It’s even OK to argue he’s No. 1 on that list. Rodgers is tied with Lamar Jackson for the best career passer rating in NFL history among qualified quarterbacks. He has four NFL MVPs, and only Peyton Manning has more. He won a Super Bowl at the end of the 2010 season and his 2011 season, with 45 touchdowns and six interceptions, might be the best season a quarterback has ever had. But it was more than just the numbers. Rodgers made throws that no other quarterback has made before or since . He was the perfect package of unique arm talent, knowledge of the game and athleticism, at least in his prime. The stats are unbelievable. Actually watching Rodgers compile them was even more impressive. Tom Brady won more rings, Manning won more MVPs, Patrick Mahomes has done some of both at a young age, but the most physically gifted quarterback ever might be Rodgers. But when it comes to how Rodgers is perceived, it’s complicated. It has been for a while. Rodgers and LeBron James have plenty in common. Neither one is considered the consensus GOAT in their sport, though each has a great argument for it. They’ve been performing at a prime level far longer than almost everyone else who has ever played their sport. And by 2026, plenty of fans are ready for them go. Any athlete that sticks around and wins a lot will eventually wear out their welcome, especially in the social media era. It’s hard to have a perfect approval rating. Like James, Rodgers hasn’t been shy about his political views. People have gotten angry at news outside of the games, whether it was James orchestrating his son being drafted by the Lakers or Rodgers’ “immunized” comment in 2021 or salacious stories about Rodgers’ rifts with his family. It’s almost inevitable that great athletes will collect critics when they’ve been in an extreme spotlight as long as Rodgers and James have. The late Ted Thompson, who drafted Rodgers when he was Green Bay Packers GM, famously said that Rodgers was a “complicated fella.” It’s a quote that sums up Rodgers and his legacy. The “will he or won’t he” drama the past few years regarding retirement hasn’t helped (much like “The Decision” forever turned people off to James). This time around, Rodgers said “there was some doubt for sure” over whether he’d return, but after conversations with his wife and new Steelers coach Mike McCarthy, he came around to coming back for this season. One final season. So he says now. Week 16 will be Rodgers’ final home game, though Steelers fans don’t have the long-term connection with him like Packers fans do. Week 18 at Baltimore will be Rodgers’ final regular-season game. We’ll see if Pittsburgh makes it back to the playoffs to extend Rodgers’ career beyond that. Based on Rodgers’ career, which will span 23 seasons, it should be a celebration each week as one of the truly great players in NFL history nears the finish line. If only it were that simple
The Pittsburgh Steelers came to terms with Aaron Rodgers on a one-year, $22 million deal earlier this week. Leading up to the agreement, NFL fans were unsure whether Rodgers would return or retire. However, he has made it known that this will be the last year of his storied career. “This is it,” Rodgers told the media on Wednesday . After coming to Pittsburgh to play for Mike Tomlin a season ago, Rodgers will end his career in a full-circle manner, now getting to play for former head coach Mike McCarthy one last time. Together in Green Bay , McCarthy helped Rodgers develop into the player he is today, leading the Packers to a Super Bowl title along the way. Let us know what you think in the comments . Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more! Aaron Rodgers embracing mentorship role with Drew Allar, Will Howard NFL insider predicts Steelers will cut Will Howard Michael Pittman Jr recruiting JuJu Smith-Schuster back to Steelers Steelers to try OT Max Iheanachor at multiple positions Antonio Brown goes off on JuJu Smith-Schuster in social media rant
Veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, entering his 22nd season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, is embracing a mentorship role with younger QBs Drew Allar and Will Howard as he prepares for his final campaign
Aaron Rodgers is back with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the 2026 season. And “yes,” this will be his final NFL year. Speaking with the media during OTAs on Wednesday, the veteran quarterback said that “[y]es. This is it” when asked if 2026 will be his final season in the NFL: Rodgers also talked about having some “doubt” whether he would be back for 2026, and that he had several conversations with head coach Mike McCarthy, general manager Omar Khan, and his wife about whether he would be back: If this feels familiar, it should. It is worth noting, after all, that when he announced his return to the NFL last summer, Rodgers said that he was “pretty sure” the 2025 campaign would be his final year in the league. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure this is it,” said Rodgers on The Pat McAfee Show in June of 2025 . “That’s why we just did a one-year deal. Steelers didn’t need to put any extra years on that or anything, so this was really about finishing with a lot of love and fun and peace for the career that I’ve had. “I played 20 fricking years. It’s been a long run. I’ve enjoyed it, and no better place to finish than in one of the cornerstone franchises of the NFL with Mike Tomlin and a great group of leadership and great guys in the city that expects you to win.” However, Rodgers was moved by the hiring of McCarthy, as he noted on Wednesday: Although interestingly enough, Rodgers indicated he suggested his former coach as a candidate to Steelers GM Khan: So there you have it
Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers says his 22nd NFL season will be his last. Rodgers spoke with the media today for the first time since re-signing with the Steelers, and he assumed that the one-year deal he reached will be the last NFL contract he signs. "This is it," Rodgers said. Rodgers will turn 43 in December and is the oldest player in the NFL. So it's not exactly a shock that he doesn't see himself playing beyond this season. But today's statement was his most definitive yet that he will retire after one more year in Pittsburgh . Rodgers spent 18 years with the Packers and two with the Jets and is now beginning his second year with the Steelers
Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers says his 22nd NFL season will be his last. Rodgers spoke with the media today for the first time since re-signing with the Steelers, and he assumed that the one-year deal he reached will be the last NFL contract he signs. “This is it,” Rodgers said. Rodgers will turn 43 in December and is the oldest player in the NFL. So it’s not exactly a shock that he doesn’t see himself playing beyond this season. But today’s statement was his most definitive yet that he will retire after one more year in Pittsburgh. Rodgers spent 18 years with the Packers and two with the Jets and is now beginning his second year with the Steelers
Aaron Rodgers will play his final season in the NFL in 2026. The veteran Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback spoke to the media for the first time since putting pen to paper on his newest one-year deal and made the announcement that his 22nd NFL season would also be his last. Rodgers, 42, also spoke about his offseason experience and how he arrived at his decision ahead of re-signing with the Steelers on May 18. "There was some doubt, for sure," Rodgers said. "But I had some good conversations with (new Steelers head coach) Mike (McCarthy) back when he was hired. It's nice to come back. It felt different than last year. I knew some of the guys and some of the people who work here, so it felt good coming in." Rodgers said conversations he had with McCarthy, Steelers general manager Omar Khan and his wife were a significant part of his decision. He told reporters that he made his final conclusion about playing in 2026 after this year's draft, which took place in Pittsburgh. The 42-year-old veteran also called his initial meetings with the Steelers' new head coach "surreal." Rodgers' decision to return to Pittsburgh meant reuniting with McCarthy, who served as Rodgers' head coach with the Packers from 2006 to 2018. If it weren't for the Steelers hiring McCarthy, Rodgers says, he would have left after the 2025 season. "I love Mike [Tomlin], man," Rodgers said. "I really appreciated the opportunity to come in last year and loved my experience with him. I thought, when he said he was stepping away ... that was probably it for me in Pittsburgh. But when the decision came in to hire [McCarthy], I started opening my mind back up to coming back." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Aaron Rodgers announces planned retirement after 2026 season
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