Aaron Rodgers has kept the Pittsburgh Steelers waiting throughout the offseason, uncertain about his plans for the 2026 season. However, he resolved the uncertainty on Wednesday by declaring the 2026 campaign as his last in the NFL.
When asked by a reporter if he thought this year might be his last, Rodgers replied affirmatively. There is no ambiguity remaining; this is it for his illustrious NFL career.
Rodgers’ Legacy
Rodgers is set to retire as one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. His career accomplishments are unmatched: 10 Pro Bowl appearances, five All-Pro selections, four MVP awards, a Super Bowl win, and a Super Bowl MVP honor. He has also led the league in passer rating four times and in touchdown passes twice, securing a spot on the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team.
He holds numerous NFL records, such as the highest career passer rating at 102.2, the best career touchdown-to-interception ratio at 4.3-1, the lowest career interception percentage at 1.4%, the highest single-season passer rating at 122.5, and the most consecutive pass attempts without an interception totaling 402. Additionally, he stands fifth in all-time passing yards with 66,274 and fourth in touchdown passes with 527, likely to surpass Peyton Manning’s 539 by next season’s end.
Off-Field Controversies
Despite his on-field achievements, many fans may recall Rodgers’ off-field controversies. He participated in ayahuasca retreats, openly challenged the COVID vaccine, leading to criticism after contracting the virus despite claiming immunization. He faced an NFL fine for attending a Halloween event while unvaccinated and was involved in legal threats over remarks about Jimmy Kimmel’s alleged association with Epstein files.
Furthermore, Rodgers claimed to be Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s running mate during the 2024 presidential election, and his ex-partners Danica Patrick and Shailene Woodley made negative public statements about him. He also encountered family estrangement, displayed for the public on the series “The Bachelorette.” Such controversies often overshadowed his football performance in recent years, likely influencing how his legacy is perceived.