Aaron Rodgers insists his focus is on delivering the AFC North title to the Pittsburgh Steelers during Week 18 of the NFL season. But he realizes that whenever this run ends, the future of his storied career will face uncertainty.
Rodgers told reporters on Wednesday, December 31: “I’m thinking about it this week, but obviously I’m 42 years old and I’m on a one-year deal. So you know what the situation is. Whenever the season ends, I’m going to be a free agent. So that gives me a lot of options if I still want to play. I mean, there aren’t a lot of options, but there will be options, maybe one or two options if I decide I still want to play.
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“I enjoyed the experience and everyone in Pittsburgh was great to me on and off the field,” he added. “It was exactly what I hoped for from this experience, and it was even better than I could have hoped for.”
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Rodgers’ latest comments came ahead of the Steelers’ “Sunday Night Football” matchup with the Baltimore Ravens. The winner will be crowned AFC North champion and host an NFL playoff game on wild-card weekend. The loser will be excluded from playoff contention. The Cleveland Browns defeated Pittsburgh in Week 17 when Rodgers’ game-tying touchdown attempt failed.
Rodgers previously indicated when he signed with the Steelers in June that this could be his last season in the NFL, telling “The Pat McAfee Show” at the time, “I’m pretty sure that’s it.”
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But the 21-year-old veteran reflected positively on his time in Pittsburgh on Wednesday and didn’t rule out a return to the Steelers or another team next season.
“You’re always thinking about what-ifs and alternative timelines in life,” Rogers said. “But if I hadn’t gone down this path, I would never have met so many people in the locker room that I now call close friends, wouldn’t have had the experiences and memories on the field, and never would have been able to be in the room with (quarterbacks coach) Tom Ash and (assistant quarterbacks coach Matt Baker) again and be able to play for Arthur Smith and Mike Tomlin. I feel like without this chapter, there was a little hole missing in my life. So I’m grateful for this chapter of time.”
Rodgers told reporters he would discuss a potential retirement decision with his wife, but he would not reveal details about how it would proceed after the season.
Rodgers spent 18 seasons with the Green Bay Packers, followed by an unsuccessful and controversial two years with the New York Jets before joining the Steelers. During his time in Pittsburgh this season, he passed for 3,028 yards, completed 23 touchdowns and 7 interceptions, with a pass completion rate of 65.6%.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Aaron Rodgers to make retirement decision after Steelers season
