Aaron Rodgers Likely Would've Retired Had Steelers Not Hired Mike McCarthy

During an interview with The Athletic, Pittsburgh Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers spoke about how excited he is to play for Mike McCarthy again. 

If the Steelers didn't hire McCarthy, Rodgers likely would have retired from the NFL after the 2025 season. 

“I’d gone into the offseason thinking it was probably going to be it, and I’d be totally fine with it — I feel good about my career,” Rodgers said. “But once he got hired, then my mindset changed a little bit.”

McCarthy and Rodgers won Super Bowl XLV against the Steelers as members of the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers is glad that McCarthy will be his head coach in his final NFL season. 

“The fun thing, for me, is that this is a real full-circle moment for me and Mike — the closing of my career and the end of his career being back home in Pittsburgh,” Rodgers said. “The surreal aspect of it has kind of drifted a little bit, but it’s still really special to hear that voice in my head that I’ve heard for so many years.”

One of the top quarterbacks in NFL history, Rodgers put up 3,322 passing yards, 24 passing touchdowns and seven interceptions last season. The future Hall of Famer completed 65.7% of his passes.

The Steelers won the AFC North last season but lost to the Houston Texans at home in the wild-card round of the 2026 playoffs. McCarthy was hired after Mike Tomlin stepped down from his post. 

Rodgers has been in the NFL since 2005. He has played for the Packers, New York Jets and Steelers and has 527 career passing touchdowns and 66,274 career passing yards in the regular season.

A four-time MVP, Rodgers hasn't won a playoff game since the 2020 season, while the Steelers haven't won a postseason game since the 2016 season.

It will be intriguing to see how Rodgers and Co. perform in 2026.

“Just to be able to take this final lap with him, it’s awesome,” McCarthy said. “You always want to do a great job, but now to do it with him in his last chapter, it’s special.”