Is Aaron Rodgers a free agent? Here's the latest on the former MVP QB

Safid Deen, USA TODAYMon, February 23, 2026 at 9:53 PM UTC

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The Pittsburgh Steelers’ offseason begins with a question at quarterback once again: Will Aaron Rodgers return, or do they need to pursue other options?

Rodgers said he will take some time before making a decision about playing again in 2026, after the Steelers’ playoff loss to the Houston Texans last month.

Rodgers enjoyed playing under former Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, and previously played under new Steelers coach Mike McCarthy during his time with the Green Bay Packers.

However, father-time is undefeated. Rodgers will turn 43 in December, and would again be the oldest player in the NFL (if Phillip Rivers can finally stay away from the game) next season.

Here’s some things to know about Rodgers, heading into the 2026 NFL offseason:

1 / 0See Aaron Rodgers' NFL career as he nears retirementAaron Rodgers played football at Pleasant Valley High School in Chico, California from 1998 to 2001. During his junior and senior seasons as starting quarterback, Rodgers amassed 4,419 passing yards while helping the Vikings to a 17-7 mark.Is Aaron Rodgers a free agent?

Yes, Rodgers is an unrestricted free agent – free to sign with any team.

Has Aaron Rodgers retired?

Rodgers has yet to retire, but hinted retirement could be on the horizon when he signed a one-year deal with Pittsburgh.

"I’m pretty sure this is it," Rodgers said on “The Pat McAfee Show” in June. "That’s why we just did a one-year deal. Steelers didn’t need to put any extra years on it."

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How much did Aaron Rodgers make last season with Steelers?

Rodgers signed a one-year, $13.65 million contract – it included a base salary of $3.65 million with a $10 million signing bonus, according to Spotrac.

What did Aaron Rodgers say after playoff loss to Texans?

Rodgers was naturally dejected in his postgame news conference, following the Steelers’ 30-6 blowout loss to the Texans to end the season.

"I’m not going to make any emotional decisions," Rodgers said. "Disappointed, you know, obviously. Such a fun year, a lot of adversity, but a lot of fun. Been a great year overall in my life in the last year and this is a really good part of that coming here and being part of this team. So, it’s disappointing sitting here with the season over."

Asked if he wants to be in Pittsburgh if he would play again, Rodgers added: "I’m not going to talk about that."

Asked if he thought it would be his final game, Rodgers said: "Every game could be my final game."

Aaron Rodgers stats in 2025

Rodgers completed 65.7 percent of his passes for 3,322 yards with 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions. However, his 44.4 QBR and 6.7 yards per attempt were two of the lowest marks of his career.

How long has Aaron Rodgers played in the NFL?

Rodgers has played 21 NFL seasons – 18 with the Green Bay Packers (2002-2022), two seasons with the New York Jets (2023-24) and one with the Steelers.

Rodgers won Super Bowl MVP in Super Bowl XLV, and has won four regular-season MVPs during his career (2011, 2014, 2020, 2021).

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is Aaron Rodgers a free agent? Latest on the QB’s future

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