On brand with ESPN's "Pat McAfee Show," it was a long-winded, butt-kissing question from some yahoo in a trucker hat and cliche mustache.
But the answer from Pittsburgh Steelers' quarterback and regular show guest Aaron Rodgers was stunning. Allow us to paraphrase.
Question: Is this your last year playing in the NFL?
Answer: Yes.
Clean-shaven and seemingly clear-headed, Rodgers left no doubts that 2025 will be final season playing professional football. At the end of his 21st season he'll be 42 years old and, apparently, done.
As if the Steelers-Rodgers experiment wasn't already filled with pressure, now the one-and-done season is undeniably do-or-die.
"I’m pretty sure this is it," Rodgers said Tuesday morning. "That’s why we just did a one-year deal. The Steelers didn’t need to put any extra years."
Rodgers clearly would like to end on a high to bolster his legendary legacy. He has won a Super Bowl and four MVPs, but hasn't played at an elite standard since 2021 and in two failed seasons with the New York Jets suffered a season-ending injury and led a team that got its head coach and general manager fired after one month.
"This is really about finishing with a lot of fun and love and peace," he said. "I've played 20 freakin' years. It's been a long run and I've enjoyed it. No better way to finish than with one of the cornerstone franchises of the NFL, with Mike Tomlin and the Steelers and a city that expects you to win."