It took a relatively long time this offsesson for Aaron Rodgers to agree to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
It took the new starting quarterback relatively no time to essentially announce his impending retirement.
The ink is barely dry on veteran quarterback Rodgers’ one-year, $13.65 million deal, which done recently ended up vaulting him to the top of the depth chart and boosting Pittsburgh’s playoff odds.
On Tuesday, though he put a frame around his timetable - and that "one-year deal'' says it all.
Rodgers told The Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday that he is "pretty sure" 2025 will be the final season of his iconic NFL career.
"That's why we just did a one-year deal -- Steelers didn't need to put any extra years on that or anything," Rodgers said. "This was really about finishing with a lot of love and fun and peace for the career that I've had. I mean, I've played freaking 20 years, you know? It's been a long run, and I've enjoyed it.''
Rodgers, at 41 a four-time NFL MVP from his Green Bay Packers days, added, "What better to place to finish than in one of the cornerstone franchises of the NFL with Mike Tomlin and a great group of leadership and great guys and a city that expects you to win?''
What better place indeed.
His signing gives the Pittsburgh faithful much of everything they had been waiting for. Over the course of the process he was vague about his decision-making status, revealed that he was married, and generated some excitement about the team’s chances.
Perhaps the most interesting tidbit of Rodgers’ comments after signing was his introspection. Rodgers said his soul led him to sign with the Steelers, rather than his ego.
“A lot of decisions that I’ve made over my career and in life from strictly the ego, even if they turn out well, are always unfulfilling. But the decisions made from the soul are usually pretty fulfilling. This is a decision that was best for my soul,” Rodgers said then. “I just want to have fun here. I want to enjoy the game. The game has given me a ton. It’s hard to think of anything in my life that’s positive that wasn’t impacted by, directly or indirectly, my playing this game.”
It has long been the expectation that Rodgers would come to an agreement with Pittsburgh. Still, it’s a relief for fans who had been uneasy about the situation under center. It seems that offensive coordinator Arthur Smith had known this was coming, building his offense around the Canton-bound passer earlier in the offseason.
Rodgers is obviously an upgrade and helps the Steelers in the immediate future. His impact could very well linger well past his farewell tour.
“I just want to give back to the game, enjoy it, pass on my knowledge to my teammates, and try to find ways to help lead the team,” Rodgers said.
And he'll do that now. In Pittsburgh. One last time.