Aaron Rodgers’ retirement in question after Steelers’ wild-card loss to Texans

TOI GLOBAL DESK | TOI GLOBAL | Jan 13, 2026, 23:40 IST

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Aaron Rodgers’ future is uncertain after the Steelers’ wild-card loss to the Texans. The 42-year-old struggled as Houston’s defense forced turnovers and ended Pittsburgh’s season. Rodgers, on a one-year deal, admitted it feels “probably” like the end but refused to make an emotional decision. Pittsburgh may welcome him back, yet free agency looms, making retirement or one final run the looming choice. Fans now wait for clarity before season begins.

<p>Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) leaves the field after an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Houston Texans, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)</p>

Aaron Rodgers may have played his final NFL game after the Pittsburgh Steelers were knocked out of the playoffs with a wild-card loss to the Houston Texans on Monday night. The 42-year-old quarterback struggled as Houston’s defense overwhelmed Pittsburgh, forcing a costly fumble and a pick-six in a game that slipped away quickly. Rodgers finished with 146 passing yards and was sacked four times as the Steelers’ season came to an abrupt end.

Questions about Rodgers’ future followed immediately. He signed only a one-year deal with Pittsburgh and has openly spoken throughout the season about the possibility of retirement. In a previously unrevealed conversation shared by ESPN’s Lisa Salters, Rodgers admitted that it “probably” feels like the end and that he has been at peace with how the year unfolded. The Steelers did reach the playoffs, which was one of his main goals when the season began, and Rodgers said he felt good about what the team accomplished despite the early exit.

After the game, Rodgers made it clear he wasn’t ready to decide anything yet. “I’m not going to make any emotional decision,” he said, adding that the season was filled with adversity but was still a lot of fun. Former quarterback Troy Aikman, however, suggested during the broadcast that fans might have just watched Rodgers’ last appearance, saying he doesn’t see Rodgers returning to sign with another team.

Pittsburgh is reportedly open to bringing Rodgers back if he chooses to keep playing, but the veteran quarterback will be a free agent and knows time isn’t on his side. “I’m 42 years old and I’m on a one-year deal, so you know what the situation is,” Rodgers said earlier this season. Whether he walks away now or listens to one last opportunity, the decision is expected to come before free agency, as waiting longer would likely limit his options. If this truly is the end, Rodgers leaves the game as one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in NFL history.

Aaron Rodgers’ retirement in question after Steelers’ wild-card loss to Texans

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