NFL
Aaron Rodgers says he will retire after the 2026 NFL season: ‘This is it’

Entering his 22nd and final season, the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback ranks fourth all-time in passing touchdowns and fifth in passing yards.


-------- Aaron Rodgers of the Pittsburgh Steelers takes the field prior to a game at Acrisure Stadium Pittsburgh in 2025.Justin Berl / Getty Images

May 20, 2026, 2:58 PM EDT / Updated May 20, 2026, 5:30 PM EDT
By Andrew Greif

Four-time NFL Most Valuable Player Aaron Rodgers says he will retire after the upcoming season, ending a career that saw him become a fixture in the league for more than two decades.

Rodgers, 42, spent more than four months deciding whether to return for a 22nd NFL season before signing a one-year contract Monday to return to Pittsburgh for his second season with the Steelers.

Asked Wednesday whether the upcoming season would be the last of his career, Rodgers told reporters, “Yes, this is it.”

He will end his career with a Super Bowl title and ranked among the most prolific quarterbacks in the history of pro football. Rodgers ranks tied for first all-time in passer rating, fourth in passing touchdowns and fifth in passing yards.

{snip}