It’s the biggest question of the NFL postseason: Will we ever see Aaron Rodgers take to the football field ever again?
One things is certain, if the quarterback does return for a 22nd NFL season, it likely won’t be in Pittsburgh.
The 42-year-old’s NFL season came to an end on Monday with a crushing 30-6 defeat to the Houston Texans, which eliminated his Pittsburgh Steelers from the playoffs in the AFC Wild Card round.
And as the quarterback heads into his offseason – the first with his mystery wife in tow – he is once again left floating in NFL limbo with yet another crucial decision weighing on his mind.
The former Super Bowl winner drew out another retirement sage over four months last year before ending it with a a one-year contract with the Steelers. Just two years earlier, he sequestered himself in a darkness retreat to grapple with the same decision, before emerging with the desire to play on with the New York Jets.
NFL fans – and teams – could be in for yet another drawn-out wait as they anticipate the veteran’s next move with a source close to him revealing to the Daily Mail that Rodgers won’t be rushing into a decision any time soon.
Aaron Rodgers intends to take his time as he faces yet another retirement decision saga
Rodgers and the Steelers’ season came to an end on Monday with a 30-6 defeat to the Texans
‘Aaron is going to go on his retreats and not make a public decision on returning for one more year for a few months,’ the insider revealed. ‘He might take as much time as he did this past season when he finally signed with the Steelers.
‘He’s going to make it stretch out for a long time, because that is what Aaron does; he plays to the beat of his own drum.
‘He’s shown that over the years, and that will continue. But when he is done with football, you’re rarely ever going to see him again.’
Last year, Rodgers had been agonized over his NFL future for months after being released by the Jets in March.
His drawn-out NFL limbo was finally ended in June by his brief deal with the Steelers, who had patiently waited for his decision amid a turbulent time in Rodgers’ personal life.
Rodgers had revealed that tragedy in his personal life, with multiple members of his inner circle said to be battling cancer, had forced him to put his decision on hold.
Meanwhile, he also tied the knot with his mystery wife, reporting to Steelers’ camp with a wedding band on his finger.
Rodgers first revealed in June that he had been married for ‘a couple of months’, placing the wedding in around March or April.
The veteran agonized over his future for months last year after he was released by the Jets
Rodgers has regularly worn a ring on his wedding finger but his wife has never been seen
Rodgers’ last relationship was with actress Shailene Woodley, with the pair splitting in 2022
But he was scant on details, saying at the time that it had ‘been a couple of months’ since he tied the knot.
He declined to name who he married, although he said in a December 2024 episode of the Pat McAfee Show that he was dating someone named Brittani, who was a ‘private person,’ at the time.
Rodgers has never been seen in public with his wife, who remains one of the league’s biggest mysteries with even his teammates and their partners describing her as a ‘phantom.’
Yet, as he heads into another NFL offseason with his future in limbo, family could now play a major factor in his decision to return for a 22nd season.
‘Aaron still wants to be a dad, but still wants to play,’ the source revealed to the Daily Mail. ‘But it won’t be for the Steelers now that Mike Tomlin is gone.’
Tomlin, the longest-tenured head coach in major American professional sports, stepped down from his position as head coach of the Steelers after 19 years in charge on Tuesday.
Rodgers spoke glowingly of the coach in the immediate aftermath of their playoff exit on Monday night as he hit back at questions over Tomlin’s job security.
But with Tomlin now no longer at the helm in the Steel City, it is expected that Rodgers will sit back and watch how the coaching carousel and quarterback upheavals around the rest of the league play out.
Mike Tomlin has stepped down as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers after 19 years
Rodgers spoke glowingly of the coach in the immediate aftermath of their playoff exit
Tom Brady’s Las Vegas Raiders could be a potential landing spot for the four-time MVP
‘Aaron is going to monitor it all and if there is an option to play, he will lean toward that and give it one more chance to make the Super Bowl one last time’ the insider said. ‘But if the alternative is to become a dad, he would be OK with that.’
One option for the four-time MVP could be a cross-country move to unite with another legendary quarterback.
Tom Brady’s Las Vegas Raiders are looking at a major rebuild this summer after firing head coach Pete Carroll.
The franchise are also likely on the hunt for a new quarterback after veteran Geno Smith threw a league-high 17 interceptions.
The Raiders are expected to snatch up Indiana quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 pick in April’s Draft but could look to ease him into the league with the support of seasoned expertise, making Sin City a potential landing spot for Rodgers, according to the source.
‘The Raiders could be a landing spot for Aaron, if he would like to be a mentor for a quarterback that the team will likely draft,’ they said.
‘Arizona is also an option as they have the third pick and would also like Aaron be a mentor for whomever they draft as they are looking to move on from Kyler Murray.’
In addition to potential openings, age, health, ability and, of course, family are all factors on Rodgers’ lengthy list of considerations as he weighs up the decision.
Yet, Rodgers has seemed encouraged by his own play at times this season. Rodgers has thrown for 3,028 yards with 23 touchdowns and seven interceptions heading into an elimination game against the Ravens.
He’s also stayed largely healthy, save for fracturing the wrist on his left (non-throwing) hand, which forced him to sit out a loss to Chicago in late November.
And all are considerations that he will no doubt be taking with him as he turns to his various darkness or ayahuasca retreats once again.
