Aaron Rodgers’ offseason quest continues. Many assumed that after his 2025 stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers on a $13.65 million deal, Rodgers would step away from the game entirely. He even sold that narrative to the world.
“When this is all done, it’s Keyser Söze. You won’t see me,” Rodgers said, referring to the elusive villain in the film ‘The Usual Suspects’. “I won’t be in the public. I don’t want to live a public life… I’m not going to be in the public eye. When this is done, I’m done, and you won’t see me. And I’m looking forward to that.”
But the 42-year-old appears to believe he still has one more season left in him. However, two-time Super Bowl champion linebacker Kyle Van Noy believes Rodgers should hang up his cleats and let fans appreciate his legacy, rather than chase a perfect exit.
Kyle Van Noy’s Honest Thoughts on the Whole Aaron Rodgers Offseason Situation
On a recent appearance on the “Up & Adams Show,” Kay Adams asked Van Noy to share his thoughts on the Aaron Rodgers situation.
Van Noy didn’t appear fazed, as if he was expecting a question along those lines.
“I think he should just ride off into the sunset,” he said. “He’s such a successful player and has nothing left to prove. I know he’s a competitor and probably wants to win a Super Bowl. When you win it, it’s like a drug. You want to get back so bad. It’s an unbelievable feeling. So, I know that motivates him.”
Few can explain that feeling better than Van Noy himself. He’s won on the biggest stage twice, one more than Rodgers. And having watched Rodgers for over two decades, the league can understand how difficult it is for him to swallow this fact.
Some might call it ego, but it’s indeed a shame to see Rodgers have only one ring despite having the tools, weapons, and offenses over the years.
But Van Noy believes Rodgers should let it go and take pride in the career he’s already had. The entertainment value he brought to fans, along with his unofficial title as the ‘most hated man in Chicago’ during his time with the Packers, backed by a 24-5 record against them, is a résumé worth celebrating.
Van Noy added, “I don’t know him personally, so I can’t say for sure. I’ve competed against him, but I don’t know if he has the same kind of love for the game, to be honest. He still looks like he has it, but comparing what he was like with the Packers versus now, there’s a little difference. I don’t know what it is.
“It looks like he’s having fun. He talks to more guys on defense, smiling a little more. When he used to play, he had that edge, that mentality. Now it just seems like he’s enjoying it more. He’s got nothing to prove. I respect that. Maybe it’s time to ride off.”
That’s the tricky part about any sport: knowing when to walk away. It’s not to say Rodgers is unaware of what he wants. Like Van Noy said, only he truly knows the “what,” “when,” and “why.”
What we can evaluate is: what we see (production) and what we hear (about his future).
Last season with the Steelers, Rodgers posted a 94.8 passer rating with 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions across 16 games. Pittsburgh finished 10-7, while PFSN’s NFL Quarterback Impact metrics ranked Rodgers No. 29 overall with a 71.4 impact score (Grade: C-).
It wasn’t a poor individual season by any means. But to put things into perspective, it marked the third time in 3 seasons since he left the Packers that he failed to reach 4,000 passing yards — one of them being his injury-shortened debut season with the Jets.
Is that a benchmark for greatness? Certainly not. But Rodgers has set the bar that high for himself.
BE AN NFL GM: PFSN’s Ultimate GM Simulator
Now, the latest chatter around the league points to the Arizona Cardinals showing interest in the veteran. It’s not a bad fit. It is just unnecessary. The Cardinals already have Gardner Minshew and Jacoby Brissett in the room, alongside the rookie Carson Beck waiting in line to show his game.
It’s established that neither Minshew nor Brissett carries Rodgers’ pedigree, but adding another veteran, especially one with his traits, complicates matters more than it solves them.
Ultimately, only Rodgers knows what he’s plotting for his ‘Last Dance’. Time isn’t slowing down. So, when does the Keyser Söze exit actually arrive?
