Aaron Rodgers saw his inaugural season with the Pittsburgh Steelers end in disappointment after a 30-6 loss to the Houston Texans in the AFC Wild Card round. The game took place at Acrisure Stadium on Monday night, where the Steelers” offense struggled significantly against a tough Texans defense, managing only two field goals in the first half.
In what could possibly be his last NFL appearance, the 42-year-old, four-time MVP quarterback completed 17 of 33 passes for 146 yards and threw one interception. After the game, Rodgers discussed his future in the league, emphasizing the importance of making a well-considered decision rather than an emotional one. “I”m not going to make any emotional decisions,” he stated. “Disappointed. Such a fun year. A lot of adversity, a lot of fun. Been a great year. Overall in my life in the last year, this has been a really good part of that, coming here and being a part of this team.”
Rodgers had contemplated retirement during the previous offseason following two challenging seasons with the New York Jets, which followed an illustrious 18-year career with the Green Bay Packers. He signed a one-year deal with the Steelers in June 2025.
When asked if he would prefer to continue playing with the Steelers if he decides to return, Rodgers chose not to provide a definitive answer. Instead, he reflected on his experiences in both Green Bay and Pittsburgh, describing them as incredible football cities. “I was fortunate to play in an incredible football city for 18 years. I never took it for granted and enjoyed that time there. This has been a really beautiful back end to that first 18, to be able to be here for a year,” he shared.
Rodgers continued to praise the Steelers” rich tradition and the passion of their fan base. “This is a special place. You”ve got tradition, you”ve got excellence, all-time greats. You just look around the stadium tonight just to see the fans. There wasn”t a big splattering of Texans fans, and there”s a lot to be said about that. There”s a few really special places in the league that have the tradition and the town and the organization, and I”m thankful I played for two of them.”
As the fifth all-time leader in career passing yards and fourth in career touchdowns in the NFL, Rodgers has achieved significant accolades, including being a four-time All-Pro and a ten-time Pro Bowler. His future remains uncertain as he weighs his options following the disappointing playoff exit.
