Days after signing his one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Aaron Rodgers made a major announcement about his future in the league. While speaking with reporters on May 20, the Super Bowl champion answered a question that seemed to be on everyone’s mind.
Aaron Rodgers Makes Major Career Announcement Days After Signing A $20M Contract
The moment has been shared across social media, sparking quite a reaction. Speaking with SportsCenter repped in Steelers gear, Rodgers told the media that he would retire from the league after the 2026-27 season.
“Yes, this is it,” he said.
As The Blast reported, Rodgers recently signed a whopping $20 million deal with the Steelers just days ago after leaving everyone wondering whether he would return or not.
Before the start of the 2025 season, Rodgers said he was “pretty sure” he would hang up his cleats for good.
“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,” he said.
Aaron Rodgers Kept The Details About His Return Under Wraps
Before Rodgers officially says goodbye to the league, he has another season to play, and it’s got his teammates pumped about what could be.
Steelers offensive player Michael Pittman Jr. commented on the news while speaking to the media, admitting that Rodgers kept him in the dark about his return. “I learned from Twitter before he told me,” Pittman Jr. said.
He joked, “Aaron is going to do what Aaron wants to do.”
Offensive lineman Troy Fautanu shared a similar statement, revealing he learned by seeing a post from sports commentator Pat McAfee.
Alex Highsmith said the 21-year veteran has a “mysterious” vibe about him before calling him “one heck of a teammate.”
He added, “It’s just who he is. He is a great dude.”
Aaron Rodgers Gifted His Offensive Line Something Special During The Holiday Season
The praise Rodgers received from his teammates comes as no surprise, considering he presented his offensive line with flashy gifts during the 2025 holiday season.
“Christmas gifts for the big guys done right,” Rodgers captioned an Instagram post of his lineman seeing their off-road UTV vehicles for the first time, according to The Blast.
The nearly $20,000 gift not only impressed his teammates but also his fans, as one called the athlete the “greatest quarterback of all time.”
Another Football Legend Had A Complicated Retirement Story
NFL fans will have to wait and see whether Rodgers follows through on his plan to retire at the end of this season. If he doesn’t, though, he wouldn’t be the first to go back on his word.
Tom Brady retired from the league in February 2020 in an emotional social media video, saying, “I’ve done a lot of reflecting the past week and have asked myself difficult questions.”
He continued, “And I am so proud of what we have achieved. My teammates, coaches, fellow competitors, and fans deserve 100% of me, but right now, it’s best I leave the field of play to the next generation of dedicated and committed athletes.”
That retirement lasted 40 days, as the Super Bowl champion posted about his return in March 2022, saying, “These past few months, I’ve realized my place is still on the field and not in the stands. That time will come. But it’s not now. I love my teammates, and I love my supportive family. They make it all possible. I’m coming back for my 23rd season in Tampa. Unfinished business, LFG.”
Brady Explains What Drove Him To Come Back To The League
In an interview after announcing his comeback, Brady said he wasn’t sure when he would hang up his cleats, but he said he wanted to do it on his own terms.
“I want to do it my way. I want to give it everything I got and see where I’m at. My body feels really good. I’ve had a lot of traumatic injuries over the years, but if things go really smoothly and we win, that’d be great,” he said.
Brady announced his retirement for a second time in 2023. Since then, he’s been commentating on games with Fox during the NFL season.