The wait is over, and Aaron Rodgers has officially joined the Pittsburgh Steelers for a second season. While it seemed like Rodgers would only be with the team for a single season, he clearly enjoyed his time in Pittsburgh enough to run it back. This feels like it will be the veteran quarterback’s final season, but nothing is guaranteed. James Harrison sees one scenario where he thinks it would be difficult from Rodgers to walk away from the game after 2026.
“If Aaron Rodgers is able to get out there and catch that lightning in a bottle and win a Super Bowl championship, in what is more likely than not his last year in the NFL, that’s storybook,” Harrison said Monday on his Deebo and Joe podcast. “That’s what you’re looking for.
“He’s looking for the storybook. But I will say this. If it happens and Aaron does win another championship, I think it’s gonna be difficult, if not damn near impossible, for him to retire.”
Rodgers has yet to speak on why he returned for the 2026 season, but winning a championship has to be near the top of his list. He has a Super Bowl victory to his name, defeating the Steelers to win Super Bowl XLV, but he could join rare company with a second championship. Only 13 quarterbacks have managed that feat. Also, only two have done it with two different franchises.
Bringing a seventh Lombardi Trophy to Pittsburgh might be enough for Rodgers to feel satisfied with his career. He’s accomplished basically everything that an NFL quarterback can do and will be a first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer one day.
Not many quarterbacks get to leave the game on top, either. While he wasn’t the same player at that point, Peyton Manning won his second Super Bowl in his final season. Rodgers could follow in his footsteps and hang it up if he captures another championship.
It might be tough for Rodgers to retire if he feels like the Steelers are still a championship-level team. However, he’s flirted with retirement for the last few years. He wasn’t even sure if he was going to join the Steelers last year.
Not that Rodgers and the Steelers should be thinking about next year. The four-time NFL MVP just re-signed with the team. He and the Steelers have a long way to go if they want to win a Super Bowl this year.
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