The Pittsburgh Steelers were eliminated yet again in the wild card round on Monday night, losing 30-6 to the Houston Texans. There was speculation entering this game that this may be Aaron Rodgers’s last game if the Steelers lost.
Lisa Salters Reveals Aaron Rodgers Told ESPN He’s ‘Probably’ Retiring
As the game was nearing it’s ned, ESPN sideline reporter Lisa Salters shed some light on the situation. Salters said, ” When you look at Aaron Rodgers over here on the sidelines, you can’t help but wonder what he’s thinking. We asked him a few weeks ago when we were here in week 15 is this it. He said, “Probably that’s what I’ve been saying all year. The team has been great. He doesn’t know what the Steelers’ plans are for the future, but said for him it feels like this is the end.”
Lisa Salters said that Aaron Rodgers told the ESPN crew in production meetings that he’s “probably” retiring when they spoke to him in Week 15. 🏈🎙️ #NFL https://t.co/mS9CHLfxsw pic.twitter.com/xeh7Nc5O40
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 13, 2026
Although this shouldn’t be surprising, hearing Rodgers actually admit this may be the end is shocking. At this point, many thought that Rodgers might not announce his retirement and simply do it quietly.
At 42 years old, Rodgers has not been the same player since tearing his Achilles at the start of the 2023 season. Although he managed to return in 2024, the version of Rodgers that once dominated defenses with ease was no longer there. Even so, he showed stretches of effectiveness, particularly in 2025, where he was more consistent week to week despite a clear drop-off in production.
According to PFSN’s QB impact metric, Rodgers recorded a 71.4 grade in 2025. This is only.1 worse than his 2024 score, even though he threw for 575 fewer yards and four fewer touchdowns. While the raw numbers declined, his ability to manage games and operate within the offense remained intact.
Rodgers entered this late stage of his career hoping to follow in the footsteps of Tom Brady and Peyton Manning by winning a Super Bowl with a second franchise. That goal ultimately went unrealized. Instead, his final season ended in another one-sided playoff loss and lingering questions about what comes next.
Even so, Rodgers’ legacy is already secure. Whenever he chooses to make it official, he will be a first-ballot Hall of Famer five years after retirement. Based on what he told Salters, that announcement may be coming sooner rather than later.
