Aaron Rodgers Steelers Mike Tomlin Heyward
Aaron Rodgers Steelers Mike Tomlin Heyward
Aaron Rodgers is one of the most successful players in NFL history, being a Super Bowl champion and a four-time MVP. However, he’s made it clear that he’s calling retiring after this season. There’s had been speculation about Rodgers walking away from the NFL for the past few years.
And it might have happened if not for Mike Tomlin.
“There’s been times in the last three offseasons where I felt like maybe it is time,” Rodgers said Saturday on Sirius XM’s Movin’ The Chains with Pat Kirwan and Jacob Hester. “But doors open, and I just tried to listen to the signs. I might have been listening to the wrong signs by going to New York. But it was a good learning experience. I learned a lot during that process. I am thankful for that time there.
“I’m thankful for last year with Coach Tomlin because he helped me get that deep love back for the game. Tearing my Achilles and going through a year of rehab and never feeling like myself, it beats you up a little bit. I didn’t want that to be my ending in the game that I love so much. Mike and being around the guys [last season] got me that love back.”
Rodgers spent most of his career with the Green Bay Packers. He spent his first 18 seasons there, and that’s where he had the most success. Things unraveled after he was traded to the New York Jets in 2023, though.
Rodgers famously went on a darkness retreat after the 2022 season in order to contemplate his future. It seemed like he was already thinking about retirement, but something called him to the Jets. However, he didn’t have a great experience there, tearing his Achilles to start the 2023 season and then dealing with a lot of turmoil in 2024.
Many Steelers fans remember how long it took before Rodgers signed with Pittsburgh last year. He made it clear that retirement was on the table and he had a lot to think about.
While he eventually joined the Steelers, it initially seemed like 2025 was going to be Rodgers’ final NFL season. He stated that before the year began, but he walked those comments back as the regular season drew closer.
Rodgers’ first season with the Steelers seemed to be night and day compared to when he was with the Jets. He gushed about the organization, and he formed a close connection with Tomlin.
While Tomlin stepping down in January seemed to nudge Rodgers closer to retirement, the Steelers hiring Mike McCarthy opened the door for him to return.
McCarthy and Rodgers share a lot of history, which made it easy to connect the dots between them. However, without Tomlin, Rodgers might have been less willing to play in 2026. Last season didn’t end well for the Steelers, but it helped reignite the fire in Rodgers.