Aaron Rodgers makes big admission about supposed retirement plans

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers recently suggested that he "maybe" could continue playing beyond the upcoming campaign after he previously said he was "pretty sure" he would retire next offseason. 

During a Monday appearance on SiriusXM's Mad Dog Sports Radio, Rodgers indicated he hasn't yet made a decision about his playing future. 

"I don't know," Rodgers said about a potential retirement decision, as shared by Joe Clark of Steelers Depot. "I mean, I'll reassess all that in the end. But, you know, I signed a one-year contract, so there was nothing in there about playing longer than one year. But we'll see how it goes. And, you know, obviously, you'd love to have success and be healthy, and we can start there with health and have some success and enjoy it. You know, make a run. That'd be really special, and then we'll figure that out come next February."

An inability to stay healthy has been a big problem for Rodgers since he earned MVP honors for the 2021 season. While with the Green Bay Packers in the fall of 2022, he dealt with a broken thumb on his throwing hand before he went down with a rib injury in November. He then famously suffered a torn Achilles four offensive snaps into his official New York Jets debut in September 2023. 

Most recently, a hamstring issue, a hip problem, injuries to both his knees and a low ankle sprain slowed Rodgers last season as the Jets went 5-12. A new Jets regime then parted ways with the future Hall of Famer earlier this year. 

Barring a trade for a younger project, the Steelers likely won't land a long-term replacement for Rodgers before the 2026 NFL Draft. Currently, 2025 sixth-round choice Will Howard is learning about life in the NFL while sharing the Pittsburgh quarterback room with Rodgers. 

Keeping Rodgers to have him serve as a mentor for a young quarterback or two through 2026 could ultimately benefit the Steelers if he shows over the next handful of months that he still has plenty in the tank and can stay available for 17 games. If, however, the 41-year-old looks like a shell of his former great self from September through January, he likely will go down as a one-and-done experiment for Pittsburgh.