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Brooke Pryor
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is “fairly certain” the 2025 season can be his remaining NFL season.
In an interview with “The Pat McAfee Present” on Tuesday, Rodgers stated he is probably concluding a profession that spanned greater than twenty years with a remaining 12 months in Pittsburgh.
“Yeah, I am fairly certain that is it,” stated Rodgers, who spent the primary 18 years of his profession in Inexperienced Bay, the place he was a four-time NFL MVP. “That is why we simply did a one-year deal. Steelers did not have to put any further years on that or something, so this was actually about ending with quite a lot of love and enjoyable and peace for the profession that I’ve had.
“I performed 20 frickin’ years. It has been the long term. I’ve loved it, and no higher place to complete than in one of many cornerstone franchises of the NFL with Mike Tomlin and a fantastic group of management and nice guys within the metropolis that expects you to win.”
Rodgers, 41, is the Packers’ franchise chief in landing passes (475), completion share (65.3) and passer score (103.6) and ranks second behind solely Brett Favre in passing yards (59,055) and completions (5,001).
After a protracted decision-making course of the place he contemplated retirement, Rodgers signed a one-year, $13.65 million deal simply earlier than reporting to obligatory minicamp this month. Rodgers elected to signal with the Steelers after being released by the New York Jets following a tumultuous two-year stint. He tore his Achilles only a handful of snaps into the 2023 season after which went 5-12 and missed the playoffs in 2024.
The Jets will host the Steelers in a Week 1 showdown Sept. 7. Rodgers will face Inexperienced Bay for the primary time this season in Week 8 on “Sunday Night time Soccer.”
Rodgers’ determination to play yet another 12 months, although, wasn’t dictated by a want to exit with a greater ending, he stated Tuesday.
“It is probably not ‘[I] cannot exit like this,'” he stated. “I really like the sport, and there is been a gorgeous relationship. It was my past love after I was 6 years outdated, dreaming about taking part in quarterback and being within the Tremendous Bowl and successful within the Tremendous Bowl. … I wished to be there for minicamp as soon as I made a decision I used to be going to be all-in, however I did not want this. I did not want it in any respect. I do not really feel the necessity to show something to anyone or haven’t any chip on my shoulder. I do not need the eye.
“I will give the Steelers every little thing that I acquired and empty the tank and be tremendous snug and glad with no matter occurs.”
For Rodgers, the draw of taking part in in Pittsburgh began with Tomlin. Rodgers stated the 2 talked weekly whereas he was deciding on his future, and Tomlin’s persistence and respect for Rodgers’ course of endeared him to the coach. Rodgers stated he additionally attended a cookout at Tomlin’s home the weekend after signing his contract.
“I had so many different issues happening in my life that have been taking my thoughts and my vitality elsewhere and that is why I appreciated how Mike was all the time,” Rodgers stated. “Simply with the ability to have these conversations, sincere conversations each single week was actually significant to me, and the way in which that I used to be welcomed in was actually cool.”
Rodgers stated he “felt nice” in 2024 and his left Achilles “felt unimaginable.” McAfee additionally stated Rodgers slot in Tuesday’s interview between his two day by day exercises, and Rodgers added that a few of his teammates are planning to journey to Malibu, California, for a exercise session subsequent week.
Along with speaking in regards to the upcoming season, Rodgers expressed frustration in regards to the public’s curiosity in his personal life. He revealed throughout minicamp that he was carrying a marriage ring and that he acquired married a pair months earlier. He did not disclose his spouse’s id and emphasised to McAfee he wished to maintain his personal life out of the general public eye.
“It is a sick society,” he stated. “I lived in a public eye for 20 years. I had a public relationship. How did that work out? … Now I am with someone who’s personal, who would not wish to be within the public eye, did not signal as much as be a star, would not wish to be part of it.
“My personal life is my personal life, and it should keep that approach. And I am with someone who needs to be personal and if and when she needs to be out and there is a image, she’ll select that, and she or he deserves the best to that.”