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A notable NFL expert believes there was a very specific reason Aaron Rodgers waited until this week to re-sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and it wasn’t about haggling for money.

After a few months of speculation and rumors, the inevitable happened, and NFL legend Aaron Rodgers signed a new one-year deal with the Steelers. Most of the league expected him to return to Pittsburgh for a second season. Especially when the team did not give him many options.

When the Steelers exercised the unrestricted free agent tender on the 42-year-old, it severely limited his options to sign elsewhere because Pittsburgh would receive a compensatory draft selection if he joined another team. So why did it take until May for Rodgers to finally sign a contract?

Aaron Rodgers wanted to see the Steelers’ schedule before re-signing?

Some have speculated that he is still not sure whether he will play another season. Others have suggested that he was not completely set on reuniting with his former Green Bay Packers head coach, Mike McCarthy. However, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio has a different idea: Rodgers wanted to take a look at the Steelers’ 2026 schedule first.

Florio suggests that he waited until after May 14, when the schedule was released, to anger the NFL, because if he had known he would return in 2026, he would have placed more Steelers games in primetime during the first half of the season. And the four-time NFL MVP wouldn’t be interested in helping the league. But maybe he just wanted to see how tough the road to the playoffs could be?

While next season’s schedule isn’t easy for Pittsburgh, it’s not one of the five to six worst. Knowing they don’t have a specific schedule, perhaps Rodgers has received final confirmation that he will return for another season and make a playoff run in 2026. Because in the end, he just wants another year in the league for more wins and glory.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

Aaron Rodgers has signed up to play his 22nd season in the NFL, after agreeing to return for another year with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The future Hall of Fame quarterback will be 42 years old when the season starts, and on December 2 he will turn 43.

Still, before committing to the Steelers last week, some doubt had grown about whether Rodgers would be suitable for another season. It turns out this was a much more classic discussion of an all-time great fading into the final stages of his career than his Packers predecessor Brett Favre did.

Rodgers returns to the Steelers team he helped lead to the playoffs last season. This time, now in Green Bay, he is looking to take the Steelers even further by teaming up with his old head coach Mike McCarthy and Rodgers.

But don’t expect the same kind of gimmicks next offseason. Rodgers now claims he knows when his football career will end.

Speaking on Wednesday, Rodgers acknowledged that he will retire at the end of the 2026 NFL season.

Aaron Rodgers asked if it was last year: “Yeah. That’s it.” https://t.co/VeIC3W3TUw

– Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) 20 May 2026

A four-time NFL MVP winner and former Super Bowl champion, Rodgers has already built the type of resume that will earn him a bronze medal in Canton. However he clearly has the competitive drive to see if he is able to double his Super Bowl ring total, this time, accomplishing the feat with the same head coach, but on a different team.

RELATED: 2026 NFL QB rankings after Aaron Rodgers rejoins the Steelers

Dedicated NFL copywriter/editor. My work has been found on SportsNut, Sports Illustrated, Sporting News, MSN, Yahoo, and Minnesota Sports… More about Andrew Buller-Russ

The Aaron Rodgers saga came to an end earlier this weekend with the future Hall of Fame quarterback signing a one-year deal to return to the Pittsburgh Steelers. With that matter resolved, the focus now turns to what Pittsburgh does with its two young signal-callers.

Steelers reporter Mark Kaboli Pat McAfee Show Writes that the team has “no expectation” for Will Howard or Drew Elar to play during the 2026 NFL season.

RELATED: Insiders predict who the Steelers starting QB will be in 2027

Prior to Rodgers’ signing, there were reports that the Steelers quarterback competition would be between Howard and Mason Rudolph if the 42-year-old opted to retire. Now that he’s committed to one final season, the dynamics have changed significantly.

The new situation suggests Rudolph will serve as the Steelers’ backup quarterback behind Rodgers for some time. However, training camp could position Allar or Howard for the No. 2 job.

READ MORE: 2026 NFL Power Rankings, see where the Steelers rank

The competition between the two young passers matters because of how the 53-man roster will be constructed. It’s very unlikely that Pittsburgh will keep all four quarterbacks on the roster, so either Howard or Elar will need to perform well enough to overtake Rudolph.

Considering that Allar was the 76th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, he is all set to make the roster. However, since the Steelers’ coaching staff is drafting him solely as a passer, it is extremely unlikely that he will see the field anytime soon outside of preseason action this season.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

The Pittsburgh Steelers are still awaiting quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ decision on whether he will play in the 2026 NFL season. As the process moves forward, it appears that a contingency plan is now in place.

NFL insider Jason La Canfora reports that the Steelers are not pursuing any other veteran options via NFL free agency or trade. Instead, the team will have a quarterback battle between Mason Rudolph and Will Howard this summer.

RELATED: The Aaron Rodgers saga takes another turn for the Steelers

While there is real excitement in the organization about third-round pick Drew Allar, who is being coached by Mike McCarthy, the rookie isn’t set to see the field any time soon. Rudolph will likely be the favorite to win the Steelers’ starting quarterback competition, but it will be an open battle.

The Steelers organization is reportedly “very excited” about Howard’s development entering his second season. While the Eller selection added some uncertainty to Howard’s future in Pittsburgh, he remains a signal-caller who is highly rated in the organization.

RELATED: Insiders predict who the Steelers starting QB will be in 2027

In his career as the Steelers’ starting quarterback, Allard has compiled a record of 8–5–1 in 14 starts. He also has a 21-13 TD-INT ratio with an 86.7 passer rating in 26 career appearances with Pittsburgh. Howard, a sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, never saw the field in his rookie season.

For now, there remains tentative hope that Rodgers will announce his return and be the Steelers’ starting quarterback in 2026. If he retires, the team that looked to be a playoff contender this upcoming season may instead be headed for a transition year where it will struggle to post a winning record.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been waiting for months for quarterback Aaron Rodgers to decide whether he will play in the 2026 NFL season. Just as a solution was in sight, the story has reportedly taken another turn.

K Mark Kaboli Pat McAfee Show reported that, as far as his knowledge, “no meeting is scheduled or expected” between Rodgers and the Steelers organization.

RELATED: Insiders predict who the Steelers starting QB will be in 2027

93.7 The Fan reported Thursday that Rodgers will visit Pittsburgh in the coming days and is expected to sign a contract. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said that while the visit was taking place, there was no indication of a deal being made.

Additionally, Steelers general manager Omar Khan came forward on Friday and said he was not aware of Rodgers’ whereabouts. This is consistent with Mark Caboli’s reporting that everyone he spoke to in Pittsburgh said they had not seen Rodgers and were not aware of a possible meeting.

READ MORE: 2026 NFL Power Rankings, see where the Steelers rank

Examining the Steelers’ situation with Aaron Rodgers

At the beginning of the offseason, it seemed like the Steelers organization and head coach Mike McCarthy were willing to be patient with Rodgers. The understanding was that the future Hall of Famer would take some time off this offseason and eventually return to the team.

However, there have been signs recently that Pittsburgh is losing patience with the waiting game. The team used a rare “right of first refusal tender” on Rodgers in April. That means Pittsburgh can match any offer he gets, and he can only sign with Pittsburgh when NFL training camps start this summer.

RELATED: Mike Tomlin predicts whether Aaron Rodgers will return to the Steelers

More recently, Gerry Dulac Pittsburgh Post-Gazette The Steelers’ “patience is beginning to wear thin” with Rodgers, the report said. While the club knows he is the best starting quarterback option for 2026, they want answers from the 42-year-old quarterback soon.

If Rodgers decides to retire or the team also moves on from him, it stands to reason that Mason Rudolph will be the Steelers starting quarterback in Week 1, with Drew Allar and Will Howard also taking the field in 2026.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for SportsKnow. His work including weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

Last year, the Pittsburgh Steelers were willing to be extremely patient while awaiting Aaron Rodgers’ career decision. This year, we’ve seen a similar story in Pittsburgh, but now that they have a new head coach in Mike McCarthy, even though he’s familiar from his time with Rodgers in Green Bay, is the team’s leadership nervous?

Rodgers is 42 years old. He has already played 21 seasons; There is no guarantee that he is eager to come back on the 22nd. What if Rodgers leaves the Packers wide open this time?

recently, Pittsburgh Post-GazetteSteelers insider Gerry Dulac suggested that the team’s patience “may be starting to wear thin” regarding Rodgers. Thus, if for some reason Rodgers and the Steelers do not re-align after this offseason, which quarterback could Pittsburgh turn to instead? Here are 10 potential QB options for the Steelers in 2026.

RELATED: 2026 NFL Power Rankings: Evaluating the worst, best teams after the NFL Draft

jimmy garoppolo

There have been suggestions that Jimmy Garoppolo is considering retirement at the age of 34. He has not found a new home in free agency after spending the last three seasons with the Los Angeles Rams. Still, this is a player who has played very well, playing winning football with a 43-21 regular season record and 4-2 in the playoffs. He may not have a strong arm, but the Steelers may view him as a better version of Mason Rudolph. Plus, he’ll cost less than Rodgers.

Will Lewis

Will Lewis has been largely forgotten about since the Tennessee Titans made Cam Ward the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Will Lewis was a guy who once showed a lot of promise. The 33rd overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft is still just 26 years old, and he has as dynamic an arm as any other option. He also has great size, 6-foot-4, 230 pounds. Lewis hasn’t been accurate enough, but after spending last season on injured reserve following a shoulder injury, we would expect him to be extremely eager to get back on the field and compete. Couldn’t possibly get anything more than a fifth-round pick.

Davis Mills

When CJ Stroud missed three games due to injury, he got a chance to showcase his skills, Mills led the Houston Texans to three inspiring wins. As the Texans’ franchise QB struggled, some even wondered if the 27-year-old former third-round pick should replace Stroud. Given how much he helped the Texans last season, Houston might be hesitant to part ways with him. Still, given that Mills is in the final year of his contract, a trade wouldn’t cost anything more than a third-day pick.

JJ McCarthy

The Vikings will never admit it, but they may be ready to move on from JJ McCarthy, the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Otherwise, the Vikings would not have brought in such a proven player as Kyler Murray, who could now be the team’s franchise QB. McCarthy’s NFL career got off to a rough start after missing his entire rookie season due to a knee injury, but the former first-round pick also displayed elite leadership qualities while making some clutch plays. The question is, are the Steelers willing to put their entire season on the shoulders of a 23-year-old with 10 career starts?

RELATED: 4 Minnesota Vikings WR targets after the 2026 NFL Draft

Anthony Richardson

A player who has displayed superstar potential with a rocket arm and electric athleticism, can Anthony Richardson put it all together, become consistently more accurate while staying healthy? He plays with a reckless demeanor that will cause a stir in the locker room, but it can also hurt a player who has been healthy for just 17 games over the last three seasons. Either way, the Steelers will be cognizant of the star potential of the 23-year-old former No. 4 overall pick, but they will also need a trade.

Jacoby Brissett

Did Jacoby Brissett experience a career renaissance last season at age 33? This is an interesting question. While he only led the Arizona Cardinals to a 1–11 record, Brissett completed 64.9% of his passes for a career-high 3,366 yards, 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 12 starts. Can that drama be replicated elsewhere in the new system? Brissett is at odds with the Cardinals after requesting a pay raise from his $4.8 million salary set in 2026. After Arizona signed Gardner Minshew and selected Carson Beck in the third round, Brissett could potentially be available for a third-day draft pick in 2027.

jameis winston

With Jacen Dart set to reprise his role as the primary backup QB in 2026, there is a possibility that Jameis Winston could be acquired for the right price. The former No. 1 overall pick has shown that he fits in excellently in any locker room, but he’s also quite capable. Now 32 years old, Winston has not only matured, he still has one of the strongest arms in the NFL, who will play well on the outside in Pittsburgh.

mac jones

The former first-round pick wore out his welcome early in New England, but Mac Jones has turned his career around since getting the chance to play for Kyle Shanahan and the San Francisco 49ers. He was a key component in helping the 49ers return to the playoffs, leading them to a 5–3 record, completing 69.6% of his passes for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns, and six interceptions. If the Steelers feel the 28-year-old can maintain his play soon, they could look to find their long-term starter with a Day 2 pick in 2027.

Russell Wilson

Also considering retirement so he could become the latest athlete to cash in on a lucrative career in NFL broadcasting, we’d imagine Russell Wilson will be the starting quarterback this year instead. However, the Steelers are already here with Wilson. Did they step forward only because they believed Rodgers was an innovative person? Was there a disagreement with coach Mike Tomlin, or did Wilson no longer want to be there? Still an unsigned free agent, the Steelers may not feel like they have any other options, and barring a trade, Wilson is the best player available.

derek carr

Retired, Derek Carr was reportedly interested in returning to the NFL this season if he could join a playoff contender. We’d argue the Steelers meet that criteria. However, if he did not retire, he would still be under contract with the New Orleans Saints. However, since they are moving on with Tyler Shaw, it’s possible the Saints will release Carr and allow him to play football again, or perhaps even trade him for a Day 2 or Day 3 pick.

RELATED: 4 potential Brandon Sorsby landing spots in the NFL supplemental draft

Dedicated NFL copywriter/editor. My work has been found on SportsNut, Sports Illustrated, Sporting News, MSN, Yahoo, and Minnesota Sports… More about Andrew Buller-Russ

On Friday night, the Pittsburgh Steelers provided Aaron Rodgers with an opportunity to fine-tune his legacy in his final season in the NFL.

Rodgers would go on to become one of the greatest players to ever take the field wearing a helmet in an NFL game. In his 21 legendary seasons, he went to the Pro Bowl 10 times, earned All-Pro honors on four occasions, and was the NFL MVP four times. And in 2011, he reached the top of the mountain when he led the Green Bay Packers to their last Super Bowl.

His reputation as a football player remains untouched. However, it is things off the field that have made him a divisive figure among many fans. Whether it’s his almost annual retirement threats with the Packers. Mike McCarthy was removed as head coach. His views about the world, or his interest in psychedelics.

He also had a disappointing season with the New York Jets and took several months to put pen to paper with the Pittsburgh Steelers last year. Another standout was how he handled the Packers’ preparation for his postseason when they drafted Jordan Love in Round 1 of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Although he was not outwardly unhappy about it, he did not accept the future despite receiving similar treatment from Brett Favre 15 years earlier. This was one of many instances during his career where he appeared to be emotion- and me-first rather than team-first.

Well, if he returns to the Steelers this season he has a chance to change a lot of opinions about him. On Friday night, Pittsburgh took a step toward the future when they made Penn State quarterback Drew Allar the 76th pick in this year’s draft.

Aaron Rodgers should embrace graybeard mentorship in final NFL season

The Ellers were promoted in the first round of the 2025 college football season. But a poor start for the Nittany Lions and a serious ankle injury ended his year within a few weeks. He has good size and a big arm that can make all the throws in the NFL. But it needs a lot of work and it’s a complete project. So he is not a threat to Rodgers starting in 2026.

That’s why NFL veterans should guide Elar, as NFL.com’s scouting report claims his “improvement in confidence, poise and recognition should be the foundation of any rebound.”

Barring a spectacular run to the Super Bowl, this is certainly the 42-year-old’s swan song. His place in Canton has been decided. However, changing his story a bit by playing a key role in developing his replacement and a potential long-term starter would be just as close to an illustrious career. This will prove once and for all that he is a better player and person than Brett Favre.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

What’s up with Aaron Rodgers? Does anyone ever really know?

This time, we just want to know if the 42-year-old is planning to return for a 22nd NFL season. If so, will it happen again with the Pittsburgh Steelers? This is the current expectation, but why is it taking so long?

Well, the Steelers don’t even know where the future Hall of Fame quarterback’s head is at. Still, they’ll likely want answers from the four-time NFL MVP soon.

According to team owner Art Rooney II, the Steelers are expected to hear back from Rodgers before the 2026 NFL Draft begins on April 23 as to whether he is returning, retiring or signing elsewhere.

“I’m still hoping for it,” Rooney told Gerry Dulac. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “I hope we get an answer before the draft. That’s when I talked to him and Omar.” [Khan] Talked to him, he told us he won’t take as much time off this year as he did last year [to make a decision]. I’m not 100 percent sure what that means, but I expect something before the draft.

The sooner the better for the Steelers. If Rodgers leaves them alone, they will need to make other plans at the QB position. A QB room composed of Mason Rudolph and Will Howard will not get Mike McCarthy’s Steelers into the playoffs.

Of course, the Steelers could always use the 23rd overall pick on a QB like Ty Simpson, but with only one season of starting experience, he also may not be ready to start right away. The Steelers have a total of 12 selections, and they will likely use at least one selection on a QB. Nevertheless, they still need answers from Rodgers sooner rather than later.

RELATED: 2026 NFL Mock Draft: End of March edition

Dedicated NFL copywriter/editor. My work has been found on SportsNut, Sports Illustrated, Sporting News, MSN, Yahoo, and Minnesota Sports… More about Andrew Buller-Russ

A new report suggests that Kirk Cousins ​​is going to be the Aaron Rodgers of the 2026 offseason.

After being selected in the fourth round in the 2012 NFL Draft, Cousins’ NFL career has exceeded expectations. As he enters his 15th season, he has four Pro Bowl appearances on his resume and has made a ton of money. Specifically, $321 million from the three franchises he has played for.

This offseason, he’s looking to squeeze a little more out of a QB-needy team in what could be the last or next-to-last season of his career. However, unlike when he hit the open market two years ago, Cousins’ value is as low as it’s ever been. After tearing his Achilles tendon during the 2023 NFL season with the Minnesota Vikings, he was a shell of himself during his two years with the Atlanta Falcons.

Kirk Cousins’ career earnings: $321 million

While teams across the league will be interested in his services, many will want him as a backup. But the 37-year-old wants another chance to become a starter. This is the same situation Aaron Rodgers was in after being cut by the New York Jets in 2024, minus a torn Achilles a year earlier.

The NFL veteran showed immense patience when deciding on the team he played with last year, as he pursued the best opportunity for him at that point in his career. Well, it looks like Cousins ​​will be following that blueprint in the coming months.

Kirk Cousins ​​may wait until the summer to sign with a team

“It could drag on for a few weeks, maybe into the draft, maybe to the point where he goes, ‘I’ll just sit back, wait and see if there’s an injury at some point and the team needs a quarterback,'” NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported. “Don’t expect a quick resolution on that.”

It is advisable for cousins ​​to be patient. He’ll turn 38 in August and if he can’t show he still has it this season he could be thrust into the league as a starter. So waiting until he finds a situation that can help him do so is a smart approach. It worked out for Rodgers, and he had a great year with a Pittsburgh Steelers team that reached the playoffs last season, and he wants to bring them back in 2026.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

炙手可熱的休斯頓德州人隊預計將在周一晚上的外卡比賽中統治匹茲堡鋼人隊。但在早期，鋼人隊的防守通過製造失誤來保持比分接近。

然而，德州人聯盟領先的防守最終留下了印記。隨著鋼人隊在第四節落後四分，休斯頓隊的防守接管了比賽。在球隊逼得第3和第12名後，亞倫·羅傑斯回撤傳球。他立即遭到德州人的傳球衝擊。威爾·安德森輕鬆地繞過了邊緣，解雇了這位經驗豐富的四分衛並迫使他掉球。

謝爾登·蘭金斯(Sheldon Rankins)碾壓了他的攔網球員，他機敏地撿起鬆散的球，沖向達陣區。這位大個子轟出 33 碼達陣，幫助休斯頓隊以 17-6 領先。潰敗已經開始。

可怕的德州人防守壓制了亞倫·羅傑斯和鋼人隊

週一晚上，兩隊在前三節合計得到 13 分。 CJ·斯特勞德表現很掙扎，五次掉球，兩次失手，同時還被攔截。休斯頓隊的三個失誤讓匹茲堡隊保持了進攻距離。一陣子。

但亞倫·羅傑斯和進攻組無法利用鋼人隊防守造成的失誤。匹茲堡隊的總推進碼數只有 175 碼，射門得分只有 2 個。德州人隊在第四節連得 23 分。

邁克·湯姆林在周一晚上的比賽中主場以 12-0 的完美戰績上場。更令人難以置信的是，鋼人隊週一晚上在匹茲堡取得了 23 場連勝——這一記錄可以追溯到 1992 年。

但德州人隊連贏九場比賽結束了常規賽。休斯頓隊在外卡賽中取得勝利，將連勝紀錄擴大到十連勝。蘭金斯防守達陣後，伍迪·馬克斯 (Woody Marks) 在 112 碼衝球表現基礎上，又出拳打出 13 碼得分。

然後卡倫·布洛克（Calen Bullock）以六分球結束了這場井噴，這可能是羅傑斯最後一次 NFL 傳球。這位二年級安全衛攔截了這位未來的名人堂成員，並在 50 碼處回球得分，幫助德州人隊以 30-6 領先。

亞倫·羅傑斯 (Aaron Rodgers) 在他的 NFL 職業生涯中傳球超過 8,700 次。他甚至超過了本·羅斯里斯伯格 (Ben Roethlisberger) 保持的分數。但休斯敦德州人隊的卡倫·布洛克在周一橄欖球之夜抓住了他可能的最後一擊——將其變成了對陣匹茲堡鋼人隊的第六順位。

羅傑斯擊倒了他原本打算接球的外接手。布洛克在抓起外賣時短暫跪倒。這位經驗豐富的安全衛隨後轟隆隆地沖向達陣區，羅傑斯成為最後一個擋在他面前的鋼人球員。

羅傑斯那次糟糕的傳球幾乎讓休斯頓隊以 30-6 慘敗。但也可能結束了羅傑斯的職業生涯。

羅傑斯慢慢地離開了 Acrisure 體育場。他與德州人隊成員以及他的一些鋼人隊隊友一起進行了嘗試。但隨後他沮喪地走開了，這可能是他賽后最後一次進入更衣室。

鋼人隊對陣德州人隊後亞倫·羅傑斯的未來存疑

賽前的討論變成了羅傑斯的未來，以及這是否是他最後一次參加 NFL。

NFL 季后賽快結束時，人們談論的是這是否真的是羅傑斯的終結。

隨著德州人隊轉戰新英格蘭愛國者隊，他最終在網上引發了許多理論和討論。

“保留那個球，卡倫。這可能是亞倫·羅傑斯拿走的最後一個球，”NFL Network 的邁克·加拉弗洛 (Mike Garafolo) 在 X（以前稱為 Twitter）上發帖說。

羅伯特·格里芬三世開始懷疑這是否是羅傑斯的最後一次傳球。

阿隆·羅傑斯 (Aaron Rodgers) 職業生涯的最後一次傳球是 6 號球。

它幾乎永遠不會按照你想要的方式結束。

— 羅伯特·格里芬三世 (@RGIII) 2026 年 1 月 13 日

ESPN 色彩評論員、NFL 名人堂成員特洛伊·艾克曼 (Troy Aikman) 對羅傑斯的評價更加直率。

“我想我們正在觀看亞倫·羅傑斯的最後一場比賽……如果一支球隊需要四分衛，他可能願意在某個時候加入。我懷疑這會發生。我不認為他會說他想回來再次與鋼人隊或其他球隊簽約，”艾克曼在廣播中說道。

羅傑斯33次傳球完成17次，推進僅146碼。他在比賽中沒有傳出達陣，並被擒殺四次。

現在，NFL 和整個體育界都在觀望羅傑斯何時正式製定他的 2026 年計劃。一切跡像都表明羅傑斯將為21年輝煌的職業生涯畫上句號。

匹茲堡鋼人隊賽季的最後時刻也可能是 NFL 季后賽中最令人難忘的“假設”場景之一，名人堂四分衛佩頓·曼寧的現場反應完美地捕捉到了這一點。

在匹茲堡外卡隊以 30-6 輸給休斯頓德州人隊的最後時刻，亞倫·羅傑斯在比賽還剩不到 3 分鐘時落後 18 分。接下來是一次攔截，直接傳給了德州人安全衛卡倫·布洛克，他將球回傳 50 碼，進行了六號位防守，這可能是羅傑斯傳奇職業生涯的最後一次傳球。

觀看 ESPN Manning Cast 的現場直播，佩頓·曼寧忍不住說出了許多人的想法。 “這是亞倫·羅傑斯職業生涯的最後一次傳球嗎，伊萊？”佩頓·曼寧通過體育中心說道。

沉默持續了一會兒，伊萊·曼寧問他的兄弟：“你覺得怎麼樣，他還會再回來一年嗎？”佩頓的回應很直率，強調了同樣的擔憂。 “我不知道。”

“這是亞倫·羅傑斯職業生涯的最後一次傳球嗎？”

——佩頓·曼寧 (Peyton Manning) 在卡倫·布洛克 (Calen Bullock) 的第六順位後 👀 @奧馬哈產品 pic.twitter.com/m1SLJG7Ofn

— 體育中心（@SportsCenter） 2026 年 1 月 13 日

現年 42 歲的羅傑斯當晚 33 投 17 分，推進 146 碼，其中一次被攔截，但鋼人隊未能達陣。這場失利是決定性的，但攔截返回得分讓這一刻感覺是決定性的。

如果這確實是羅傑斯的最後一次 NFL 投球，那麼對於第一輪投票的名人堂成員來說，退出將是一種痛苦的方式。羅傑斯以 527 次達陣記錄，在傳球達陣歷史上排名第四，在傳球碼數上排名第五（66,274 碼），而他的 4 次 MVP 獎項僅落後於佩頓·曼寧的 5 次。他的遺產是毋庸置疑的——即使結局令人不舒服。

這個賽季，羅傑斯有理由相信未來可能會有更多的比賽。他傳球 3,322 碼和 24 次達陣，帶領匹茲堡隊取得 10 場胜利，並在五年內首次奪得亞足聯北部冠軍。據報導，這一成功讓羅傑斯在季后賽崩潰之前重新考慮退役。

布洛克的攔截立即被載入史冊，如果這種揮之不去的“如果”成為現實的話，這場比賽現在很可能會被銘記為亞倫·羅傑斯職業生涯的最後一次達陣傳球。

不久之後，梅森·魯道夫上場結束了比賽，這一動作不僅結束了羅傑斯的夜晚，而且可能也標誌著他在匹茲堡的任期的結束。 NFL社交媒體甚至在X（以前的推特）上發布了羅傑斯的視頻，他走出球場進入球員通道，安靜的視覺感覺比言語更沉重。而後台的特洛伊·艾克曼則為觀眾總結道：“這是一個艱難的夜晚。”

傳奇 @aaronrodgers12 pic.twitter.com/CQtywiRcF5

— NFL (@NFL) 2026 年 1 月 13 日

無論羅傑斯是否會在下一個賽季回歸，結局現在都懸而未決。正如佩頓·曼寧的反應所表明的那樣，即使是比賽中最偉大的四分衛也知道什麼時候感覺不同。

匹茲堡鋼人隊最近一次季后賽出局再次拉開了人們熟悉的斷層線，亞倫·羅傑斯幾乎立刻就發現自己處於其中之一的中心。匹茲堡隊在外卡賽中以 30-6 輸給休斯敦德州人隊後，人們對這位經驗豐富的四分衛和長期擔任主教練的邁克·湯姆林的未來產生了疑問。

其中一個問題顯然觸動了神經。當再次被問及湯姆林的情況時，羅傑斯給出了直率的、不符合社會福利標準的回應。

“我已經回答過這個問題很多次了。我已經廣泛地談論了我對邁克的感受。我只是在那個該死的回答中做到了，”羅傑斯說。

挫敗感是顯而易見的，但只有在羅傑斯已經為他的主教練提供了冗長而尖銳的辯護之後，他才爆發了。在同一場新聞發布會的早些時候，羅傑斯談到了圍繞湯姆林的工作保障以及現代 NFL 話語如何演變的更廣泛的對話。

“我的意思是，在我的 21 年裡，這個聯盟發生了很大的變化。當你聽到關於世界上的邁克·湯姆林斯、世界上的馬特·拉弗勒斯的談話時——這只是我效力過的兩個人——當我第一次進入聯盟時，甚至不會有人談論這些人是否處於困境，”羅傑斯說。

這些評論是在嚴峻的背景下發表的。匹茲堡隊輸給休斯頓隊標誌著球隊連續第六次進入季后賽未嘗勝績。德州人隊的防守壓倒了鋼人隊，通過掉球回攻和六號球在防守上得分兩次，而匹茲堡隊的進攻卻從未找到動力。然而，羅傑斯繼續批評現代分析的速度和語氣，並強調結束了他的辯護。

“但是現在對聯盟的報導方式，倉促的決定，以及推特專家和電視上所有所謂的專家的有效性，這些專家看起來好像他們知道自己在說什麼——對我來說，這絕對是一個笑話，”這位經驗豐富的四分衛補充道。 “邁克·T[omlin] 在過去的 19 或 20 年裡，他比聯盟中任何人都取得了更多的成功。 ”

球迷們的挫敗感再次沸騰，“Fire Tomlin”的口號在比賽后期迴響。儘管湯姆林從未經歷過一個失敗的賽季，但自2017年以來，湯姆林就沒有贏得過一場季后賽比賽，目前已經追平了NFL主教練季后賽最長連敗紀錄。

對於羅傑斯來說，這一時刻凸顯了猜測可以多麼迅速地掩蓋背景。對於鋼人隊來說，這突顯了球隊正處於十字路口，耐心、傳統和結果正在正面碰撞。

亞倫·羅傑斯為他的名人堂簡歷增添了又一​​​​個決定性的篇章。它有黑色和金色兩種顏色。在匹茲堡隊與休斯敦德州人隊的外卡對決中，這位鋼人隊四分衛超越了球隊偶像本·羅特利斯伯格，成為 NFL 歷史上季后賽傳球碼數第三多的球員。這是在第二節還剩不到四分鐘時達到的一個里程碑。

NFL 官方渠道實時確認了這一時刻，凸顯了這一成就的重要性。羅傑斯上場比賽時距離羅特利斯伯格保持的季后賽傳球碼數 5,972 碼的長期紀錄僅差 79 碼。大本鐘在歷史榜單上僅落後於佩頓·曼寧和湯姆·布雷迪。半場結束時，大本鐘的名字正式滑落至第四位，羅傑斯在季后賽中繼續穩步攀升。隨著羅傑斯攀登另一個歷史性的階梯，一個熟悉的名字落下。

亞倫·羅傑斯 (Aaron Rodgers) 超越本·羅斯利斯伯格 (Ben Roethlisberger)，成為 NFL 歷史上第三多季后賽傳球碼數 🔥

ESPN/ABC 上的 HOUvsPIT
直播 #NFLPlus 和 ESPN 應用程序pic.twitter.com/fkWYqsyuRJ

— NFL+ (@NFLPlus) 2026 年 1 月 13 日

這一成就在匹茲堡具有額外的象徵意義。羅特里斯伯格的陰影籠罩著整個球隊。羅傑斯在一月份帶領鋼人隊的同時，在季后賽中超越了他，這進一步證明了這位經驗豐富的四分衛將自己寫進了球隊的歷史。更重要的是，這一里程碑是有節奏的，而不是絕望，因為羅傑斯冷靜地引導著為季后賽精確度而建立的進攻。

匹茲堡隊以 10 勝 7 負結束 2025 年常規賽。他們奪得了自 2020 年以來的首個亞足聯北區冠軍。在經歷了一個火爆的開局和賽季中期的失利之後，鋼人隊的表現突飛猛進。他們在第 18 週戰勝了巴爾的摩，獲得了主場外卡賽資格。隨著羅傑斯穩定進攻，Acrisure 體育場的信心又回來了。

在匹茲堡的第一年，羅傑斯表現出了效率和控制力。他傳球 3,322 碼，24 次達陣，僅 7 次被攔截。雖然不再追求華麗的數量，但他在最重要的時候表現出果斷的態度。現在，他為已經充滿了這些的職業生涯增添了另一個歷史性的季后賽基準。

早在 3 月份，绿湾包装工队就向亚伦罗杰斯做出了巨大的财务承诺，与他签下了价值 1.508 亿美元的三年合约。 但由于种种原因，这位四分卫或球队在 2022 年的表现并没有按计划进行，目前战绩为 5-8，目前无缘季后赛。

罗杰斯本人已经谈到了他的未来，表示他是否回归将是一个“共同”的决定。 GM Brian Gutekunst 还讨论了信号呼叫者在 2023 年重新运行它的可能性。通过 PFT：

“好吧，当然这是一个休赛期的决定，但可以肯定的是，我们希望我们所有的球员回来，”Gutekunst 告诉记者。 “这个休赛期我们对他做出了很大的承诺，所以这显然对我们来说非常重要。 但就像我们过去谈过的那样，这是我们将在赛季结束后与他坐下来讨论的事情，这将是我们一起做的事情，并以此方式向前迈进。”

包装工队处境艰难。 也许 Aaron Rodgers 会接受拇指手术并在明年打得更好。 或者也许他只是煮熟了。 问题是，他们不能裁掉他，因为他欠了那么多钱。 交易罗杰斯是一种选择，但感觉也不太可能。

本赛季他完成了 64.9% 的传球，有 22 次达阵和 9 次拦截。 缺少 Davante Adams 无疑对罗杰斯造成了伤害，但他开始在众多边路外线中找到一些化学反应。 现实是他所知道的只有绿湾。 当你被欠这么多钱时，坦率地说，没有理由想要退出。 但是，我们会看到明年春天会发生什么。