Aaron Rodgers is not done. Not even close.
The 42-year-old quarterback is returning to the Pittsburgh Steelers for his 22nd NFL season on a one-year deal worth up to $25 million, with $22 million guaranteed. The deal was reported this week, and Rodgers is expected to be at OTAs starting May 18.
Last summer, Rodgers hinted that 2025 might be his final season. He’d just come off a brutal stretch with the Jets, going 5-12 in 2024 before finding new life in Pittsburgh. In his first year with the Steelers, Rodgers led them to the AFC North division title and a playoff berth. They lost 30-6 in the postseason, but just getting the Steelers back to the playoffs after their recent struggles was notable in itself.
Now he’s back with Mike McCarthy, which adds a layer of reunion nostalgia to the whole thing. McCarthy coached Rodgers for 13 seasons in Green Bay. They didn’t always get along perfectly, but they built a dynasty together and both men know it. McCarthy taking the Pittsburgh head coaching job has clearly given Rodgers a comfort level that’s keeping him in the league past the point where most quarterbacks retire.
At 42, Rodgers isn’t the MVP-caliber passer he was in his prime. But he’s still smart, still accurate in the pocket, and still capable of carrying a team through a regular season. The Steelers have enough supporting pieces around him that they don’t need Rodgers to be superhuman. They need him to be steady and smart, and that’s exactly what he was for most of 2025.
The $22 million guaranteed is a real commitment from Pittsburgh’s front office. They believe in him enough to pay that kind of money to a 42-year-old. That says something about how he held up last season and how they see him fitting into their offensive system.
The bigger question around Year 22 is health. At his age, the margin for error on big hits and late-season fatigue gets smaller every year. Rodgers has shown he can manage around that, but the Steelers need him to stay upright for a full 17-game schedule.
If he can, Pittsburgh has a real shot at the AFC North again. If he can’t, they’ll be scrambling at the trade deadline like everyone expected.
Rodgers keeps defying retirement. At this point, you stop betting against the guy.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
