Steelers' Aaron Rodgers keeps retirement options open ahead of must-win Ravens game

Aaron Rodgers spent the offseason sounding similar a backmost nearing the end. But arsenic the Pittsburgh Steelers hole for a win-or-go-home Week 18 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, the four-time MVP abruptly appears unfastened to returning for different season.

Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Rodgers didn’t unopen the doorway connected the anticipation of returning for a 22nd season. 

Pittsburgh Steelers backmost Aaron Rodgers walks disconnected the tract aft an NFL shot crippled against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, successful Cleveland.  (AP Photo/David Richard)

"I'm reasoning astir this week, but evidently I'm 42 years aged and I'm connected a one-year deal," helium said, via ESPN. 

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"So you cognize what the concern is. Whenever the play ends, I'll beryllium a escaped agent. So that'll springiness maine a batch of options if I inactive privation to play. I mean, not a batch of options, but there'll beryllium options, I would think, possibly 1 oregon two, if I determine I inactive privation to play."

Rodgers' evident alteration of bosom comes months aft helium explained wherefore the 2025 play would apt beryllium his last. 

"I’ve played 20 frickin' years, it’s been a agelong run, and I’ve enjoyed it and what amended spot to decorativeness than 1 of the cornerstone franchises successful the NFL with [Steelers caput coach] Mike Tomlin and a large radical of enactment and guys successful a metropolis that expects you to win," helium said during an quality connected "The Pat McAfee Show" successful June. 

Pittsburgh Steelers’ Aaron Rodgers reacts aft a touchdown during the 2nd fractional of an NFL shot crippled against the Detroit Lions successful Detroit, Michigan, connected Dec. 21, 2025. (Rey Del Rio/AP Photo)

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Rodgers has thrown for 3,028 yards with 23 touchdowns and 7 interceptions and has a existent changeable of making a playoff quality with a triumph implicit Lamar Jackson and the Ravens connected Sunday. 

"I anticipation I tin get done this agelong and consciousness bully physically truthful that's not successful the conversation," helium added.

The adjacent hurdle is simply a must-win crippled against Baltimore. The AFC North rubric is connected the line, arsenic is simply a spot successful the playoffs.

Pittsburgh Steelers backmost Aaron Rodgers runs disconnected the tract during the archetypal fractional of an NFL shot crippled against the Cleveland Browns successful Cleveland, Ohio, connected Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/David Richard)

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The Steelers big the Ravens Sunday nighttime astatine 8:20 p.m. ET.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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