Sep 7, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Ben Skowronek (15) celebrates a touchdown with quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) during the first quarter against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Former New York Jets quarterback and four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers announced Wednesday that he will retire after the 2026 season.
The 42-year-old agreed to a one-year, $25 million deal to secure a second season with the Pittsburgh Steelers over the weekend, which will be his 22nd and final year in the league.
Rodgers completed 65.7% of his passes for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns, and seven interceptions during his first season in Pittsburgh, helping the AFC North squad make the playoffs. It followed up a failed two-year stint with the Jets in which he played all of four snaps in 2023 before tearing his ACL, and then winning just five games in 2024.
Despite passing for 3,897 yards with 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions that season, the new regime of general manager Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn quickly moved on from Rodgers. Their first plan with Justin Fields failed spectacularly last season, and a 3-14 record was only good enough to get them the No. 2 overall pick, meaning they lost out on Indiana Heisman Trophy winner and national champion Fernando Mendoza to the Las Vegas Raiders. Mougey and Glenn pivoted to re-acquire veteran passer Geno Smith, an original Jets draft pick who failed to secure starting duties last decade.
Rodgers now has the opportunity to put the finishing touches on a Hall of Fame career. He needs just 13 more passing touchdowns to move into third place on the NFL’s all-time list with 540. He already ranks fifth all-time with 66,275 passing yards, and his 1.4% interception rate is the best in NFL history.
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