Aaron Rodgers Announces He Plans to Retire From the NFL After 2026 Season

Aaron Rodgers is preparing to walk away from professional football for good.

The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, 42, announced on Wednesday, May 20, that the upcoming NFL season will officially be his last after more than two decades in the league.

“Yes, this is it,” Rodgers said, per People, during a press conference at the Steelers’ practice facility when asked whether the 2026 season would be his final one.

The four-time NFL MVP recently signed a one-year deal with Pittsburgh reportedly worth up to $25 million, according to ESPN.

Rodgers revealed that he nearly decided against returning to the NFL before having a few key conversations with Steelers coach Mike McCarthy, general manager Omar Khan and his wife — whose identity has not been shared publicly — ultimately changed his mind.

“After the draft [I] came to the conclusion that I wanted to play,” he explained.

The veteran quarterback previously spent 17 seasons with the Green Bay Packers before a rocky stint with the New York Jets.

Rodgers also admitted reuniting with McCarthy — who coached him for more than a decade in Green Bay — helped convince him to come back for one final run.

Forebodingly, the football star has hinted for months that retirement was near, telling Pat McAfee during a June 2025 chat on his podcast, per ESPN, that he wanted to finish his career with “love and fun and peace.”