Aaron Rodgers retirement intrigue begins following playoff loss

Aaron Rodgers precise good whitethorn person played his last NFL crippled connected Monday night, and it came astatine a crushing nonaccomplishment successful the Wild Card Round against the Houston Texans.

Rodgers had a pugnacious nighttime that included a fumble nonaccomplishment that resulted successful a touchdown and a prime six that piled onto the already seemingly insurmountable score. But portion it appeared helium could inactive marque astonishing throws all-season long, NFL broadcaster Troy Aikman brought up a sobering reminder that Rodgers could precise good bent up the cleats aft the game.

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Houston Texans caput manager DeMeco Ryans greets Pittsburgh Steelers backmost Aaron Rodgers (8) aft an NFL wild-card playoff shot game, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, successful Pittsburgh.  (AP Photo/Justin Berl)

"I deliberation we are watching Aaron Rodgers’ past crippled and what we saw of Philip Rivers this twelvemonth erstwhile helium came retired and decided to travel retired of status and play for the Colts, who knows what adjacent twelvemonth mightiness bring," Aikman said. "He mightiness beryllium consenting to travel successful astatine immoderate constituent if a squad needs a quarterback. I uncertainty that volition happen.

"I don’t ideate he’s gonna accidental helium wants to travel backmost and motion with the Steelers again oregon with different team."

Rodgers shook hands with Texans opponents arsenic helium walked disconnected the field. He was 17-of-33 for 146 yards. He was sacked 4 times.

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Pittsburgh Steelers backmost Aaron Rodgers warms up earlier an NFL wild-card playoff shot crippled against the Houston Texans, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, successful Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

The timepiece started connected his determination whether helium would instrumentality to the NFL for the 2026 season. He was asked astir instantly astir his aboriginal arsenic helium joined reporters for the postgame property conference.

"I’m not going to marque immoderate affectional decisions," Rodgers said. "I’m disappointed. It was specified a amusive year. Obviously, a batch of adversity, but a batch of fun."

The NFL Network reported past week the Steelers would beryllium "more than open" to bringing Rodgers backmost for adjacent play if helium decides against retirement.

If this is it for Rodgers, helium volition spell down arsenic 1 of the game’s champion quarterbacks.

He was a 10-time Pro Bowler, four-time MVP and one-time Super Bowl champion. He played for the Steelers, Green Bay Packers and New York Jets.

Pittsburgh Steelers backmost Aaron Rodgers speaks during a property league aft an NFL wild-card playoff shot crippled against the Houston Texans, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, successful Pittsburgh.  (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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Rodgers racked up 66,274 passing yards and 527 passing touchdowns successful 264 games. He amassed 163 regular-season wins successful 257 starts arsenic a quarterback.

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