PITTSBURGH – Wired headphones inserted into his ears and the hood of his gray sweatshirt flipped up – not long after he ended his news conference with a f-bomb – one of the best to ever step foot on a football field was on his way toward the exits of Acrisure Stadium following the Pittsburgh Steelers’ loss to the Houston Texans, 30-6, in the final game of the NFL wild-card round.
Whether it was the final time Aaron Rodgers departed a locker room as a NFL player figures to be an offseason-long question. For the second straight year, Rodgers will take his time contemplating his next steps. There’s the possibility of retirement after 21 NFL seasons, four MVPs, a Super Bowl MVP and more lines than necessary to collate a Hall of Fame resume. He could sign with a different, expected contender. Returning for another go-round with the Steelers and head coach Mike Tomlin is certainly on the table.
In his postgame news conference, Rodgers lamented not doing much with the amount of opportunities provided to the Steelers’ offense by the defense, which forced three turnovers, on Monday. He also warned that he’d be avoiding any emotional decisions.
“I’m disappointed. Obviously, it was such a fun year. A lot of adversity, but a lot of fun.”
Rodgers said that the 2025 season marked an “overall” great year in his life. He got married. He made the postseason for the first time since the 2021 season.
“This is a really good part of that, coming here and being part of this team, so it’s disappointing to be sitting here with the season over.”
Asked point-blank if he’d want to continue playing in Pittsburgh should he decide another season in the NFL was what he wanted, Rodgers replied: “I’m not going to talk about that.”
Rodgers said he’ll “get away” – coming to a darkness retreat near you – have the “right conversations” before making any grand plans.
“I’ve answered this before,” Rodgers said. “Every game could be my final game.”
Backup Mason Rudolph replaced Rodgers for the Steelers’ final offensive drive of the game, which became a blowout thanks to two fourth-quarter touchdowns by the Texans’ defense. Rodgers was sacked four times. Potentially, Rodgers’ last pass in the NFL was a pick-six returned 50 yards by Calen Bullock. Rodgers was 17 of 33 passing for 146 yards and the pick, with one fumble lost that was returned for a touchdown in the fourth quarter by Sheldon Rankins, the dam breaking on the Steelers’ season.
Did loss to Texans mark end of Tomlin era in Pittsburgh?
Tomlin, the Steelers coach, now finds himself at a career crossroads, it seems.
“I’m not even in that mindset as I sit here tonight,” Tomlin said from the podium. “I’m more in the mindset of what transpired in this stadium and certainly what we did and didn’t do – not a big-picture mentality as I sit here tonight.”
Tomlin, 53, won a Super Bowl in his second season with the Steelers and was back in the big game two years later. He’s now lost seven straight playoff games and owns an 8-12 postseason record. The last win came after the 2016 season.
“I don’t necessarily compare it to any other moment,” Tomlin said. “It’s the here and now, and certainly it’s difficult. But that’s what we sign up for. That’s the life we live.”
Tomlin said he always feels optimistic in terms of building a roster that can win in both the regular season and playoffs.
“When you don’t get it done, words are cheap. It’s about what you do or you don’t do … people talk too much in our business,” Tomlin said. “You either do or you don’t.”
Steelers’ defensive end Cam Heyward said the outside noise doesn’t affect him because nobody outside of the Steelers’ building can comprehend the effort Tomlin puts into his team and the entire operation.
“Coaches can only do so much,” he said. “Players have to play better. In those critical moments, players have to step up.”
Once again, the class of the conference existed tiers above what the Steelers were capable of reaching. Even with a future Hall of Famer at quarterback, the Steelers needed until the final game of the regular season to wrap up the division against an opponent that fired their head coach, as John Harbaugh had been employed by the rival Baltimore Ravens for 18 years before his dismissal. Harbaugh was the only coach who rivaled Tomlin’s longevity of 19 seasons in the same place. Never has he turned in a losing campaign, including a 10-7 mark this year.
Will Year 20 – if there is one to be had for Tomlin in Pittsburgh – bring more of that same standard? Or can they take the next step? The fans at Acrisure Stadium who didn’t wait for the final horn – at least half of the black-and-yellow-clad crowd – might not want to answer that question.
In fact, noticeable “Fire Tomlin!” chants permeated the brisk air as the final minutes ticked away. The boos were louder.
The classic Twitter “Mike Tomlin/Steelers voodoo dark magic” jokes don’t even hit the same anymore, especially if the result is, at best, a first-round exit.
C.J. Stroud and the Texans tried to give the game away by consistently fumbling the football, but neither Steelers’ unit took advantage. Pittsburgh’s defense is the most expensive one in football. Neither the stats nor the tape made that make sense throughout the season.
Offseason of Aaron Rodgers speculation begins
Rodgers himself dropped to 11-11 as a starter in the postseason. He has stated throughout the year that he’s enjoyed his time with Tomlin and the Steelers. NFL Media reported that the team would be open to bringing him back next season. He looks rejuvenated compared to the version of the future Hall of Famer that played last season on the New York Jets, one season after he tore his ACL on the fourth play of the season during his “Gang Green” debut.
The arm strength remains. He had no problem overthrowing Calvin Austin III on a go route in the third quarter, with the ball traveling about 60 yards through the air with ease. Or an intermediate threading of the needle to Adam Thielen to start a drive later that quarter.
But tailoring the offense to Rodgers’ wants and needs reaches a point of diminishing returns. Early in the game, offensive coordinator Arthur Smith moved the pocket for Rodgers, who rolled left, flipped hips, found a wide-open DK Metcalf on an intermediate crossing route for a pickup of 25 yards. Rodgers went back to him on the next play and drew a defensive pass interference call.
The Steelers did their best to bring in components that helped in the effort to distribute the ball quickly. Kenneth Gainwell earned Rodgers’ trust through an ability to seemingly always make the first tackler miss. Metcalf, when available, put his YAC-prowess to use. Tomlin and the front office placated Rodgers by signing veterans Adam Thielen and Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
Tomlin’s patience last offseason netted him Rodgers under the presumption that the Steelers were simply competent quarterback play away from being contenders.
Rodgers said the Steelers have the pieces in place to remain in the playoff race. Metcalf is under contract for the next handful of seasons. The team will have to keep Gainwell in the building, Rodgers advised.
Coming together as a team during training camp in Latrobe, Pennsylvania is one of the many fun moments of the 2025 season Rodgers will return to with fondness, he said.
“We faced a lot of adversity. But there’s a lot of special moments that I’ll think back on,” Rodgers said. “Right now, it’s just disappointment. But thankful to put the colors on and run out of the tunnel and be a part of this organization.”
Fueled by frustration from having to constantly answer the same question – what did he learn about Tomlin this year? – Rodgers said as much, dropped an expletive, and got up from his seat at the microphone to end his press conference.
Rodgers then strolled toward the exit, hood up and headphones in, stopped to talk with right guard Mason McCormick and a few Texans players outside of the visitor’s locker room, and then was on his way.
To where is a question that has an answer nearly as complicated as the guy it is about.
