‘I Hope So’: Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers Assured in Skill to Proceed Taking part in

[ad_1] Aaron Rodgers is not speaking like somebody who's on the verge of retirement.

Possibly as a result of there's an opportunity he is not.

The Pittsburgh Steelers' quarterback, who not too long ago turned 42, did not shut the door utterly on returning in 2026 when requested about it on Wednesday.

The four-time MVP, who burdened he did not "actually wish to get too deep in" what lies past Sunday evening's showdown with the Baltimore Ravens for the AFC North title, believes there will probably be alternatives out there if he opts to present a twenty second season a shot.

"Each time the season ends, I’ll be a free agent," stated Rodgers, who signed a one-year cope with Pittsburgh in June. "In order that’ll give me plenty of choices if I nonetheless wish to play. [Maybe] not plenty of choices, however there’ll be choices, I'd suppose. Possibly one or two."

Rodgers' message heading into Week 18 is a notable shift from his stance within the early summer season, when he stated on "The Pat McAfee Present" that he was "fairly certain [2025] is it."

It nonetheless is likely to be, however Rodgers additionally appeared inspired by his personal play at instances this season. Rodgers has thrown for 3,028 yards with 23 touchdowns and 7 interceptions heading into an elimination recreation in opposition to the Ravens. He is additionally stayed largely wholesome, save for fracturing the wrist on his left (non-throwing) hand, which compelled him to take a seat out a loss to the Chicago Bears in late November.

Rodgers joked final week that, in some methods, he feels just like the fictional character Benjamin Button, who ages in reverse.

Requested if he thinks he is proven sufficient over the previous 4 months that any choice he makes about 2026 will rely solely on his want to play and never his capacity to play, he nodded.

"I imply, I hope so, yeah," Rodgers stated. "I imply, I hope I can get via this stretch and really feel good bodily in order that’s not within the dialog."

Rodgers declined to tug the curtain again too far on what's going to go into the decision-making course of, saying solely that he'll discuss along with his spouse and are available to some kind of decision "down the road."

The Steelers have lengthy pointed towards the 2026 NFL Draft — which will probably be held in Pittsburgh — as a chance to land the younger franchise quarterback they have been looking for since Ben Roethlisberger retired on the finish of the 2021 season.

But an incoming quarterback class that appeared stacked in August would not look so stacked heading into January. Whereas Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza figures to listen to his identify fairly early within the first spherical by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, a number of the different prospects regarded as out there — corresponding to Texas' Arch Manning and South Carolina's LaNorris Sellers — have chosen to remain at school as an alternative.

Whereas Rodgers made it some extent to say that the whole lot about his expertise in Pittsburgh has been nice, he additionally famous that there are all the time challenges to being in a brand new system. It is a transition he endured with the Inexperienced Bay Packers in 2019 when Matt LaFleur changed Mike McCarthy as head coach.

Although Rodgers' numbers throughout his first 12 months with LaFleur had been advantageous, it took an offseason of changes for him to really really feel snug. Rodgers responded by main the league in passer ranking in 2020 and 2021 whereas successful back-to-back MVPs.

"I used to tease LaFleur about this on a regular basis," Rodgers stated. "I used to be a recreation supervisor in 2019 and a recreation impactor in 2020 and 2021. I feel plenty of it’s simply familiarity with the offense and with the blokes."

One thing that may be the case if Rodgers returned to Pittsburgh once more subsequent season, supplied there are not any vital changes to the teaching employees.

"We’ve performed the perfect we may with our conversations and our assembly time exterior the power and our assembly within the facility," Rodgers stated. "However clearly, the extra years you get within the system with the identical guys, the extra continuity you've gotten, the higher you're feeling like you'll be able to play."

Vast receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who spent 4 years enjoying alongside Rodgers in Inexperienced Bay from 2018-21 earlier than reuniting with the quarterback this season in Pittsburgh, has little doubt his good buddy can play so long as he desires.

"He can play soccer till he’s 50. He’s virtually there," Valdes-Scantling stated with a smile. "However he can for certain play till he's 50 years previous. Throwing the soccer? He’ll have the ability to try this."

Rodgers has leaned into his time with the Steelers, significantly on an offense teeming with gamers who weren't even in elementary college when Rodgers was chosen by Inexperienced Bay within the first spherical of the 2005 draft. He referred to as the quarterback room he shares with veteran backup Mason Rudolph, rookie Will Howard, and third-year professional Skylar Thompson "the most effective I've ever been round."

It is a room that can have no less than one open seat subsequent 12 months, and possibly a man in his early 40s on the lookout for work. Both method, the person who got here to Pittsburgh as a result of he felt it was "good for my soul" seems to be on much better phrases with the sport and his place in it than he was following two drama-filled and injury-filled seasons with the New York Jets.

"If I hadn’t taken this path, I by no means would have met so many guys within the locker room who I now name shut pals and wouldn’t have the experiences and the recollections on the sector," he stated. "I really feel like there could be a bit of gap in my life, you recognize, lacking with out having this chapter. So I’m grateful for this time."

Reporting by The Related Press.

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