Aaron Rodgers found himself at the center of another storm after the Pittsburgh Steelers suffered a painful loss. What followed was even more uncomfortable, as critics quickly questioned whether his career had reached its final chapter.
The veteran quarterback entered the season carrying enormous expectations, but Sunday’s performance gave his doubters plenty to discuss. One costly mistake became a major talking point, while Pittsburgh’s offensive struggles only intensified the criticism surrounding Rodgers.
Now, the conversation has shifted beyond one disappointing afternoon. Social media users have openly urged Rodgers to retire, raising fresh questions about his future and whether the 42-year-old still has enough left in the tank to silence those who doubt him.
One brutal Sunday in Foxborough
The Patriots smothered Rodgers in a 20-3 win in Foxborough on Sunday. Rodgers, who is 42, fumbled twice. Linebacker Elijah Ponder returned one fumble 19 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
One of the game’s most striking plays came in the second quarter. Christian Elliss hit Rodgers from the blind side as Robert Spillane also pressured him, forcing a fumble that Pittsburgh eventually recovered for a 36-yard loss. The Steelers then faced fourth-and-43.
Rodgers said he had not taken many hits like that during his career and attributed the breakdown to a lapse in communication. He got back to his feet quickly and remained in the game.
Fans rush to call him washed
Fans wasted no time piling on across social media. One fan wrote that Rodgers was “beyond washed” and suggested moving him into a mentor role, while others urged him to retire.
This reaction is not entirely new. Fans made similar comments after Pittsburgh’s November 2025 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. The Steelers had started that season 4-1 before falling to 5-4 after the defeat.
Age makes the “washed” label easy for critics to use. A fumble can quickly become a verdict, and a sack can fuel another round of retirement talk. Yet one bad afternoon rarely explains an entire career or season.
The stat sheet tells a rough story
Rodgers completed 23 of 39 passes against the Patriots on Sunday for 187 yards, an average of 4.8 yards per attempt. Pittsburgh struggled to generate consistent production against New England’s defense.
Pittsburgh’s best offensive gain came when Jaylen Warren turned a short catch into a 26-yard gain. Rodgers was later sacked for a 13-yard loss, and his final pass was intercepted by rookie linebacker Gabe Jacas.
New England recorded 4 sacks against Rodgers, while Pittsburgh averaged only 3.5 yards per play. The Steelers managed just 235 total yards and converted 2 of 12 third downs in the 20-3 loss.
A rebuilt offense still finding rhythm
The Steelers made plenty of changes on offense this offseason. Mike McCarthy replaced Mike Tomlin, who stepped down after last season. The team also added former Colts receiver Michael Pittman Jr. and rookie Germie Bernard.
Pittsburgh has scored 1 touchdown in 25 possessions through 2 games. McCarthy put the blame squarely on himself. He said the offense needs more creativity to give Rodgers better platforms to throw from.
Chemistry simply takes time. New receivers need reps, and protection calls need cleaner communication. The real question is whether Pittsburgh can fix those problems before the losses start to pile up.
Why Rodgers came back for more
Rodgers considered retirement before agreeing to return to Pittsburgh on a 1-year contract in May. The deal includes $22 million guaranteed and can reach $25 million with incentives. It also reunited him with Mike McCarthy.
Rodgers reiterated in July that the 2026 season would be his final NFL season. He explained that McCarthy’s hiring and a conversation with his wife helped persuade him to play 1 more year.
Rodgers turns 43 on December 2 and is among the oldest quarterbacks ever to start an NFL game. Tom Brady started at age 45, while Philip Rivers, Vinny Testaverde, Warren Moon, and Steve DeBerg each started at age 44.
Last season told a mixed story
Rodgers threw for 3,322 yards in 2025, along with 24 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. He completed 65.7% of his passes and finished the regular season without throwing an interception in his final 7 games.
Houston beat Pittsburgh 30-6 in the wild-card round. Rodgers threw a pick-six on his final pass of the game, which was returned by Calen Bullock. He finished with 146 passing yards and was sacked 4 times.
Rodgers’ 2025 season included strong ball security during the regular season, although his playoff performance ended with a costly interception. Pittsburgh’s offense also struggled throughout the loss to Houston.
A legacy built on ball security
Rodgers has built his career around protecting the football. Steelers records list his career interception rate at about 1.4%, the lowest in NFL history among qualified quarterbacks with at least 1,500 pass attempts. His 4 AP MVP awards, won in 2011, 2014, 2020 and 2021, trail only Peyton Manning’s 5.
Rodgers posted a 95.4 passer rating in 2019 before Green Bay drafted quarterback Jordan Love in the first round in 2020. Rodgers then won MVP for the 2020 season while completing an NFL-best 70.7% of his passes.
In 2011, Rodgers completed 68.3% of his passes and threw 45 touchdown passes as Green Bay scored 560 points. The Packers led the NFL in scoring that season, and the 560 points set a franchise single-season record.
He has overcome humiliation before
Rodgers waited about 4 hours in the 2005 draft green room before Green Bay selected him 24th overall. Several teams with quarterback needs passed on him along the way.
Rodgers later described the experience as embarrassing because cameras remained focused on him as his draft-day wait continued. He went on to become a 4-time NFL MVP and Super Bowl champion.
Fans can debate his final season all year. Rodgers has already said he will retire after 2026, so the question now is how he will finish his final NFL campaign.
Little-known fact: The Medical College of Wisconsin awarded Rodgers an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree in 2018 for his commitment to fighting childhood cancer and blood disorders, including his work with the Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer Fund.
TL;DR
- Rodgers fumbled twice in a 20-3 loss to the Patriots, and some fans quickly called him washed up and urged him to retire.
- The Steelers scored only 1 touchdown in their first 25 possessions of the season, showing that the offense’s problems extend beyond one player.
- Heavy pressure, breakdowns in protection, and miscommunication contributed to Pittsburgh’s offensive struggles against New England.
- Rodgers has built his legacy in part by protecting the football and winning 4 AP MVP awards.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
