Aaron Rodgers has been thinking about retirement from the NFL. But the Steelers hired Mike McCarthy as their head coach, and it has left Rodgers’ retirement questions in limbo. The four-time NFL MVP joined the Steelers for the 2025-2026 season, but he may end up staying with Pittsburgh for another year in the league.
As reported by Newsweek, the reason behind his stay is related to his prior experience with Mike. Aaron Rodgers played under McCarthy for 13 years as quarterback for the Packers. On the Pat McAfee Show, Mike McCarthy shed light on his recent conversations with Rodgers.
“Yes, I’ve definitely spoken to Aaron a number of times,” McCarthy said. “But I think like anybody who’s played the game for a long time, particularly at this point in their career, it’s important to get away. That’s a normal process. It’s important for all these players to decompress and step away from the season. That’s really the mindset he’s in, and that’s really as far as our conversations have gone about whether he’s coming back or not.”
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But McCarthy Is Already Ready To Move On From His Star Mentee
Rodgers made it clear that he was going to retire after the 2025-2026 season and only signed a one-year deal with the Steelers. But his performance during the championship proved that Rodgers is still playing at a high level–even though he may not be in his prime anymore. The AFC North victory and a chance to work with McCarthy is an offer that he may want to take up soon.
The Steelers are not exactly dependent on Aaron Rodgers. In case he decides to leave the team and retire after the 2025 season, they already have probable options in their arsenal–Mason Rudolph and Will Howard. McCarthy revealed, “I’m really excited about Will Howard. He’s someone I thought really came on strong at Ohio State. I’m anxious to work with him.” Aaron Rodgers’ decision will be completely independent of the team and of his own accord.
Regarded as one of the greatest quarterbacks in the NFL, Aaron Rodgers completed his 20th season with the league in 2025. Two out of his four NFL MVPs came under head coach Mike McCarthy. He also won his first and only Super Bowl with him playing for the Packers in 2010. He holds the record of best touchdown-to-interception ratio in NFL history at 4.34 during the Regular Season. He also has the NFL’s second-lowest career interception percentage at 1.4 percent and the highest single-season passer rating record of 122.5.
Published: Jan 30, 2026 06:10 pm