NFL Rumors: Free Agent Aaron Rodgers Open To Retiring With One Team

May 29, 2025
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers smiles after 2025 game.

Aaron Rodgers hasn’t officially made a decision about the 2025 NFL season—though the Pittsburgh Steelers are the expected landing spot—but one thing he's made clear is his willingness to end his career where it all started. 

During a recent appearance on the YNK podcast, Rodgers said he’d “probably” sign a one-day contract and retire as a member of the Green Bay Packers, if the team were to initiate the offer.

“There’s a lot of love for me and how I feel about the team,” Rodgers said. “If I do or I don’t [retire as a Packer], I don’t think it should make a difference… If they approached me about it, I probably would.” While he doesn’t fully understand the point of ceremonial one-day retirements, Rodgers admitted he grew up admiring players like Jerry Rice who returned to their original teams to retire. It’s the symbolic nature of the gesture—not the logistics—that still appeals to him.

Could a Ceremonial Return Mend the Past?

Rodgers’ departure from Green Bay in 2023 wasn’t exactly a smooth exit. After 18 seasons, four MVPs, and one Super Bowl title, the Packers dealt him to the New York Jets following a turbulent few years of trade speculation and tension around the arrival of Jordan Love. Despite the rocky ending, the franchise’s president Mark Murphy has said they’d eventually retire Rodgers’ number and welcome him into the Packers Hall of Fame.

That’s not lost on Rodgers. “When I retire, in four years I’m gonna go into the Packer Hall of Fame—may or may not get my number retired—whether they do or not, that’s fine,” he said. “But in four years, I’ll be in the Packer Hall of Fame.” Regardless of whether a one-day contract ever materializes, it’s clear that Rodgers sees his legacy in Green Bay as secure.

Steelers Decision First, Then Farewell in Green Bay?

For now, Rodgers remains a free agent. The Steelers have expressed ongoing interest and are waiting patiently for an answer, even keeping a backup plan in place if things fall through. But no matter where he plays next—or if he plays at all—there’s a growing sense that a Green Bay sendoff is still in the cards. And if the Packers make the call, Rodgers sounds ready to pick up the phone.

Photo Credit: Kevin R. Wexler / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Go To: NBA Rumors | MLB Rumors | NHL Rumors