Why Kyle Van Noy thinks Aaron Rodgers should retire amid Steelers, Cardinals rumors

Per numerous reports, Aaron Rodgers will either re-sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers to serve as their starting quarterback for the 2026 season or retire. 

Meanwhile, linebacker Kyle Van Noy featured for the Baltimore Ravens during the 2025 campaign and, thus, saw what Rodgers is and isn't at this stage of his Hall of Fame career. During a Tuesday appearance on the FanDuel TV "Up & Adams" program, Van Noy offered Rodgers some advice regarding the signal-caller's future. 

Kyle Van Noy questions if Aaron Rodgers "has the same kind of love for the game" 

"I think he should just ride off into the sunset," Van Noy said about Rodgers, per Brendan Howe of Steelers Now. "He’s such a successful player, and he has nothing left to prove. I know he loves (competing), he’s a competitor, and probably wants to win a Super Bowl. When you win it, it’s like a drug, right? You wanna get back so bad, it’s an unbelievable feeling. So I know that motivates him, but over the years, you could just tell. I don’t know him personally, so I can’t say — and I’ve competed with him — I don’t know if he has the same kind of love for the game, to be honest."

While some have curiously tried to link Rodgers with the Arizona Cardinals, there's no indication the two sides have any real interest in a union this spring. Meanwhile, Steelers players are reportedly "counting on" Rodgers to re-sign with the club, perhaps in time for him to report for OTAs on May 18.

Why Kyle Van Noy thinks Aaron Rodgers may be done playing

Interestingly, a previous report claimed that Rodgers said this past December that he "probably" would retire during the ongoing offseason. Van Noy suggested that Rodgers acted as if he knew the 2025 campaign would be his last as an active player. 

"I think he talks to more guys on defense," Van Noy added about Rodgers. "It looks like he’s having fun. It’s just that, when you used to play him, he had this 'F you' mentality. … He’s just smiling at guys a little bit more."

Only time will tell if opposing players will see Rodgers smiling on football fields again this coming fall.