Aaron Rodgers announced on June 24, 2025, that his upcoming season with the Pittsburgh Steelers will be his last. Can he and Mike Tomlin win one more ring?
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
It's official. The 2025 season isn't just another year for the Pittsburgh Steelers; it's the final chapter for a legend. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers confirmed on The Pat McAfee Show today that he is 'pretty sure' this season will be his last in the NFL, turning an already anticipated season into a must-watch, all-or-nothing quest for a seventh Lombardi Trophy.
'What better place to finish than one of the cornerstone franchises of the NFL, with [coach] Mike Tomlin and a great group of leadership and great guys in a city that expects you to win.'
Rodgers, 41, made it clear his one-year, $13.76 million deal was designed for exactly this: one final, legitimate shot at a title. The announcement transforms every game into a milestone watch. As the NFL's active leader in nearly every major passing category, Rodgers is just 1,136 yards away from passing Ben Roethlisberger for fifth all-time and five touchdown passes from surpassing Brett Favre for fourth. His decision to hang it up in the Black and Gold electrifies the season, making the partnership between the future Hall of Famer and Coach Mike Tomlin the league's most compelling storyline.
With a definitive end date on Rodgers' career, the pressure to win now intensifies for everyone. A recent feature highlighted key players feeling the heat, including RB Jaylen Warren, OT Broderick Jones, CB Joey Porter Jr., LB Cole Holcomb, and S Cory Trice. For the Steelers to make a deep playoff run, it won't just be on Rodgers' arm. Warren needs to be a dynamic backfield partner, Jones must protect the 41-year-old's blindside, and the young secondary trio of Porter, Holcomb, and Trice must anchor a championship-caliber defense. The margin for error has vanished; every player's performance is now under a microscope.
The front office has clearly been operating with this 'win now' mentality all offseason. While no new transactions were reported today, the 90-man roster heading to training camp, detailed by TribLive, is loaded with talent acquired for this very purpose. The additions of star receiver D.K. Metcalf and veteran corner Darius Slay, coupled with retaining key players like Jaylen Warren, show a clear commitment to surrounding Rodgers with the pieces needed for a Super Bowl run. The chess pieces are in place; now it's time to see them work together at Saint Vincent College.
As the dust settles on Rodgers' announcement, all eyes now turn to Latrobe. Training camp is no longer just about preparation; it's the beginning of a historic farewell tour. Every snap, every drill, and every practice carries the weight of a legend's final quest. The stage is set, the mission is clear. The Last Dance in Pittsburgh has officially begun.
