Aaron Rodgers Says 2026 Will Be His Final NFL Season: ‘This Is It’

Aaron Rodgers confirmed Wednesday that the 2026 season will be the final of his NFL career, telling reporters the upcoming campaign marks his farewell to professional football.

“Yes. This is it,” the four-time MVP said in Pittsburgh when asked directly if the 2026 season would be his last.

Rodgers, 42, agreed last weekend to rejoin the Pittsburgh Steelers on a one-year contract reportedly worth up to $25 million. He is entering his 22nd NFL season after leading the Steelers to an AFC North division title in 2025.

The Steelers hired Mike McCarthy as head coach after Mike Tomlin stepped down this offseason. McCarthy coached Rodgers for 13 seasons with the Green Bay Packers, during which they won Super Bowl XLV against Tomlin’s Steelers. Rodgers won two of his four MVP awards under McCarthy’s guidance.

After initially signing a one-year deal with the Steelers last June, Rodgers told the Pat McAfee Show that the 2025 season would likely be his last. Instead, he went on to throw 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions while leading Pittsburgh to the division crown and a playoff berth.

Rodgers described reuniting with McCarthy as a “full circle” moment for his career.

“There was some doubt for sure, but I had good conversations with Mike going back to when he was hired. It’s nice to come back. It felt different than last year, cause I knew some of the guys and the people that work here,” Rodgers said. “So it felt good coming in.”