In a bold and unexpected moment, Hall of Fame pass rusher DeMarcus Ware delivered a message that could shake up the NFL — he thinks Aaron Rodgers should call it a career. Appearing on “Up & Adams” with Kay Adams, the former Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos edge rusher shared his thoughts on what Rodgers should do next, and his answer was a stunner.
Instead of predicting Rodgers’ next team or hyping up a comeback, Ware urged the four-time MVP to hang up his cleats, put on a suit, and embrace retirement. He pointed to his own experience and long-term health concerns as the reason why.
DeMarcus Ware Says Aaron Rodgers Should Retire
The clip begins with Adams asking the Hall of Famer, “Where do you think Aaron [Rodgers] should go? What do you think happens?”
Ware pauses for a moment, then says, “That’s hard. I don’t know. I mean, right now, where I think Aaron Rodgers should go — I think he should hang the cleats up.”
"I think he should hang the cleats up."
DeMarcus Ware believes now is the time for Aaron Rodgers to walk away from the NFL. 😳@heykayadams | @DeMarcusWare pic.twitter.com/uUqyj4qZaZ
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) May 7, 2025
This comes as most signs have pointed to Rodgers landing with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who just traded away wide receiver George Pickens to the Cowboys — the team that drafted Ware.
“That’s where I think Aaron Rodgers should go. Um, and put a suit on just like me and talk about football. He’s the best of the best, right?
“I think that with me being the first guy out of our class to make the Hall of Fame, I know he’ll probably be No. 2 out of our class and I think he needs to put that jacket on and say he’s the best of the best, there’s nothing he needs to accomplish, and go from there.”
Ware could have a point. Of course, Rodgers would need to wait five years after retiring to be eligible. Other players like Frank Gore will be eligible in 2026, and Roddy White has already been nominated.
Adams noted she doesn’t expect Rodgers to jump into media, then asked Ware why he thinks Rodgers should walk away from the game.
“I think he has a lot to give. I had a lot to give my last year, too. I had an opportunity to say, ‘You know what? I’m done,’ and because my body was hurting so bad. I see so many of his injuries … It’s great to come back and say, ‘I still can do it,’ but I’m thinking about the permanent damage that can be caused when you go back out there and you hurt yourself again at that age and you try to recover. I had an opportunity to say, ‘I’m done,’ and I was young at the time, and now I feel great.”
Ware retired at 34 years old. He had four sacks in his final season while playing 10 games.
“Yes, I feel like I can go out and get 15.0 more sacks. I could. But what is that worth? Like, what is it worth to your family? What is it worth to just where you are in your career? And I mean, you can look at a lot of the guys — even Tom Brady. He hung it up because he wanted to, not because they pushed him out.”
The last time Ware had 15 or more sacks was in 2011 — six seasons before his retirement. He had 19.5 that year and posted two more double-digit sack seasons before calling it quits.
Albert Breer Ponders ‘Rodgers-Approved’ WR Trade
While Ware thinks Rodgers should retire, insiders like Albert Breer and analysts like Conor Orr wonder if the Steelers will pursue a wide receiver Rodgers has worked well with in the past.
Orr said, “Wondering if Pittsburgh now raids the Rodgers-approved overage of Green Bay’s receiving room after the Packers double dipped the position in the draft.”
That was then echoed by Breer, who mentioned current Packers receiver Romeo Doubs.
Doubs played with Rodgers during his rookie season in 2022 and finished with 42 catches for 425 yards and three touchdowns.