The four-time NFL MVP has decided to return for a 22nd season in the league, re-signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to multiple reports.
Rodgers is signing a one-year contract. The deal – which is yet to be finalized – is expected to be worth up to $25 million with a base salary between $22 and $23 million, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
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Schefter also reports Rodgers is expected to join the Steelers for their voluntary offseason practice sessions, which begin Monday, May 18.
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See Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he nears retirement
Aaron 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.
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See Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he nears retirement
Aaron 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.
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See Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he nears retirement
California Golden Bears quarterback Aaron Rodgers looks to throw against USC at the Los Angeles Coliseum on Oct. 9, 2004.
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See Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he nears retirement
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, drafted 24th overall by the Green Bay Packers, poses with family and friends during the 2005 NFL draft at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City on April 23, 2005.
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See Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he nears retirement
Aaron Rodgers, the Green Bay Packers’ first round pick in the 2005 NFL draft, is introduced by GM Ted Thompson on April 24, 2005.
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See Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he nears retirement
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers drops back to pass against the Dallas Cowboys at Texas Stadium on Nov. 29, 2007.
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See Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he nears retirement
Aaron Rodgers reacts after he threw a 7-yard touchdown to John Kuhn in the third quarter of the 2010 NFC divisional playoff game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on Jan. 15, 2011. Rodgers threw for three touchdowns and ran for a third in the Packers’ 48-21 win.
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Aaron Rodgers pumps his fist in the air celebrating the 2010 NFC championship game victory over the Chicago Bears on Jan. 23, 2011 at Soldier Field.
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See Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he nears retirement
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell presents the Super Bowl MVP trophy to Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers at a news conference on Feb. 7, 2011 in Dallas, Texas. The Packers defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-25 to win Super Bowl XLV.
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See Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he nears retirement
Aaron Rodgers celebrates the Super Bowl XLV title with Green Bay Packer fans during a Return to Titletown Celebration on Feb. 8, 2011 at Lambeau Field.
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See Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he nears retirement
President Barack Obama receives a jersey from quarterback Aaron Rodgers (L) of the Green Bay Packers during a reception for the National Football League Super Bowl XLV champions on the south lawn of the White House on Aug. 12, 2011 in Washington, D.C. The Packers, lead by head coach Mike McCarthy, finished the 2010 season with a winning record of 10-6, and defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-25 to win the championship.
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Aaron Rodgers plays during the first round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am golf tournament at Spyglass Hill Golf Course on Feb. 8, 2018.
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See Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he nears retirement
Danica Patrick and Aaron Rodgers look on during the fourth quarter of Game 2 of the first round of the 2019 NBA playoffs between the Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on April 17, 2019. Rodgers has an ownership stake in the NBA team.
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See Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he nears retirement
Aaron Rodgers is shown with back up quarterbacks Tim Boyle (left) and Jordan Love during the team’s training camp in Green Bay, Wis., on Aug. 24, 2020.
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See Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he nears retirement
Aaron Rodgers served as guest host of “Jeopardy!” for two weeks from April 6-15, 2021.
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See Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he nears retirement
Aaron Rodgers celebrates his rushing touchdown during a 24-14 win against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Oct. 17, 2021.
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Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur and quarterback Aaron Rodgers stand arm in arm late in the fourth quarter of a 24-10 win against the Washington Football Team on Oct. 24, 2021, at Lambeau Field
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Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is lifted up by guard Lucas Patrick after breaking Brett Favre’s franchise record for touchdown passes during a Christmas Day 2021 game against the Cleveland Browns.
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See Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he nears retirement
Aaron Rodgers walks off the field with teammate Randall Cobb following a season-ending loss to the Detroit Lions on Jan, 8, 2023 at Lambeau Field.
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See Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he nears retirement
Aaron Rodgers was traded to the New York Jets prior to the 2023 season after spending the first 18 years of his NFL career with the Green Bay Packers.
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New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers is injured after a sack by Buffalo Bills defensive end Leonard Floyd during his first drive with the Jets on Sept. 11, 2023.
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Aaron Rodgers looks on from the sideline during the New York Jets’ 30-0 loss against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on Dec. 17, 2023.
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See Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he nears retirement
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) signs a fan’s helmet before the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, on Dec. 15, 2024.
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See Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he nears retirement
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) and wide receiver Davante Adams (17) high-five each other as they walks off the field after a 32-25 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars game at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, on Dec. 15, 2024.
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New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) throws his 500th career touchdown pass in the second quarter of the game against the Miami Dolphins on Jan. 5, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J.
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New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) celebrates his touchdown pass to New York Jets wide receiver Davante Adams (17) (not pictured) during the fourth quarter of their game against the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium on Jan. 5, 2025.
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The ball used by New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers for his 500th touchdown pass is seen on the sideline during the second quarter of the Jets game against the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium on Jan. 5, 2025.
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See Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he nears retirement
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) walks off the field with wide receiver Davante Adams (17) after a win against the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium on Jan. 5, 2025.
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See Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career as he nears retirement
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers fumbles as he is hit by the Houston Texans’ Will Anderson Jr. The Texans’ Sheldon Rankins (90) returned the fumble for a touchdown as Houston went on to a 30-6 wild-card playoff win at Acrisure Stadium on Jan. 12, 2026.
The agreement represents a change of heart for Rodgers, who previously said that he was “pretty sure” the 2025 season would be his last before retirement.
“I’m pretty sure this is it (my last season),” Rodgers said on June 24, 2025. “That’s why we just did a one-year deal. Steelers didn’t need to put any extra years on that or anything. This was really about finishing with love and fun and peace for the career that I’ve had. I played 20 freaking years. It’s been a long run and I’ve enjoyed it. What better place to finish than in one of the cornerstone franchises of the NFL?”
That tune began to change throughout the quarterback’s first season in Pittsburgh. He had plenty of positive things to say about the experience, when he helped the Steelers win the AFC North for the first time since 2020.
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Following a wild-card round loss to the Houston Texans, Rodgers didn’t entertain the retirement discussion.
“I’m not gonna make any emotional decisions,” Rodgers said after the game. “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, being a part of this team. So it’s disappointing to be sitting here.”
However, there would be a changing of the guard elsewhere in Pittsburgh. Head coach Mike Tomlin announced he would be stepping down as head coach after 19 seasons. The Steelers opted to hire Pittsburgh-native and former Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys head coach, Mike McCarthy to replace Tomlin.
McCarthy’s previous coaching experience with Rodgers in Green Bay indicated to many that the door wasn’t closed on the quarterback’s return.
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Turns out, it was wide open.
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2026 NFL offseason tracker: Player signings, trades
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2026 NFL offseason tracker: Player signings, trades
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2026 NFL offseason tracker: Player signings, trades
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2026 NFL offseason tracker: Player signings, trades
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2026 NFL offseason tracker: Player signings, trades
Aaron Rodgers contract details
Rodgers is expected to play the 2026 season on a one-year deal worth up to $25 million. His base salary is expected to be between $22 and $23 million with “up to a few million more in incentives,” according to Schefter.
It isn’t clear how much of Rodgers’ deal will be guaranteed or what his cap hit will be for the 2026 NFL season.
Aaron Rodgers career earnings
Rodgers has made $395,812,794 in his career, according to OverTheCap. The quarterback has collected checks from the Green Bay Packers, New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers in his first 21 seasons.
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Here’s the salary breakdown by team:
Green Bay Packers: $306,642,206
New York Jets: $75,050,000
Pittsburgh Steelers: $14,120,588
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Here’s what to know about Aaron Rodgers’ new contract with Steelers
