A January report indicated that quarterback Aaron Rodgers revealed the earlier month that he “in all probability” would retire following the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ 2025 season, which ended when Pittsburgh suffered a 30-6 wild-card playoff loss to the Houston Texans.
Whereas Rodgers in the end re-signed with the Steelers this previous spring, he finally confirmed he plans to trip off into the sundown of retirement in some unspecified time in the future after he performs his last recreation of the upcoming marketing campaign. Throughout a current dialog with NFL reporter Jarrett Bell of USA At the moment, Rodgers mentioned why he determined to run it again with the Steelers for a “Final Dance” season.
Aaron Rodgers had one huge purpose to return to the Steelers this yr
“Rodgers, 42, mirrored on myriad matters as he gears up for a 22nd and last NFL season,” Bell wrote. “He talked about that the possibility to reunite with coach Mike McCarthy was the rationale he returned after considering retirement and was nostalgic about their expertise of successful Tremendous Bowl XLV along with the Green Bay Packers.”
Shortly after the Steelers’ blowout loss to the Texans, Mike Tomlin stepped down as Pittsburgh’s head coach. Tomlin held that job for 19 seasons, whereas McCarthy grew up a Steelers fan within the Greenfield space of Pittsburgh. After all, McCarthy was additionally Rodgers’ head coach when the 2 had been with the Packers from 2006 by means of a lot of the 2018 season.
Aaron Rodgers chasing one final Tremendous Bowl ring
The Tremendous Bowl XLV victory stays Rodgers’ solely win to happen on the ultimate Sunday of a postseason match. The longer term Corridor of Famer appears assured he and McCarthy can return to the mountaintop with the 2026 Steelers.
“Utilizing the time period ‘chasing the ring’ is often making use of to, like, outdated guys, like LeBron (James) going to Philly and me nonetheless hanging round,” Rodgers added throughout his chat with Bell. “However for those who’re not doing that, what are you doing? I imply, I used to be chasing the ring once I was within the first yr beginning, however our staff wasn’t the staff in ’08 that was in all probability championship-caliber. I believe you already know expectations are excessive right here, which they all the time had been in Inexperienced Bay. I believe we’ve received the staff that may do it.”
Noteworthy members of the soccer neighborhood do not share Rodgers’ optimism. As of Thursday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Steelers as +5000 betting underdogs to win Tremendous Bowl LXI this coming February. To match, the Los Angeles Rams topped the listing as the general betting favorites at +550 odds, adopted by the Buffalo Bills and the Baltimore Ravens at +1000 odds.
