From Broadway Bust to Steel City Savior? Aaron Rodgers' Final Act Begins.

Illustration by George Newman

Aaron Rodgers Final Act: 20-year veteran quarterback, 10-time Pro Bowler, Super Bowl XLV Champion. The 41-year-old has been around for a while, and there’s no denying that he’s one of the greatest quarterbacks of the 21st century. This is all well known among football fans—but what we haven’t come to a conclusion on, collectively, is what Rodgers’ future holds.

None of us have a crystal ball. There’s never a way to know for sure. But it seems there are multiple sides to the argument about what the former Packer still has to offer. Some rely on the eye test; others focus on the numbers. So why not look at both?

Aaron Rodgers joined the New York Jets prior to the 2023 season, after 18 years and 248 games for Green Bay. The 2023 season was one filled with anticipation. Whether you like it or not, Aaron Rodgers is one of football’s biggest names. And he could’ve been a Hail Mary for the Jets.

Just so we’re all on the same page, the New York Jets haven’t clinched a playoff berth since 2010. They haven’t finished higher than third in the AFC East since 2015 and have recorded just one winning season in their last fourteen. New York is one of the cultural hubs of the world, and there’s an entire generation of Jets fans that don’t remember anything but mediocrity. The Big Apple demands more—and many believed Rodgers could finally deliver what fans had been starving for.

Sure, they were signing a 39-year-old. But this wasn’t just any 39-year-old. Rodgers holds four all-time quarterback records. His 1.4% interception rate, 8.22 adjusted yards per pass attempt, and 102.6 passer rating are etched in gold. He’s also the most sacked quarterback in NFL history—but more on that later.

With someone who had not only put up those kinds of numbers but also been the face of one of the NFL’s most storied franchises for nearly two decades, the Jets were willing to take a gamble. They had nothing to lose.

Rodgers’ 2023 season lasted just one drive. He tore his Achilles tendon during the Jets’ home opener against the Buffalo Bills. Backup QB Zach Wilson took over for the remainder of the season, and the Jets finished 7-10.

In that moment—when Rodgers took a knee on the turf in East Rutherford—it felt like everything changed. You can talk about stats all you want, but this was a 39-year-old with a torn Achilles. You don’t just come back from that. He didn’t even complete a single drive in kelly green. Jets fans were dealt another cruel twist of fate.

But then the 2024 season rolled around, and Rodgers was named the Jets’ starting quarterback once again. The 40-year-old wasn’t done yet.

Rodgers started all 17 games in 2024, and his numbers were enough to silence the doubters. His 28 passing touchdowns and 3,897 passing yards exceeded his totals from his final season in Green Bay. A season-ending injury at age 40 is enough to raise major doubt—and justifiably so. But not only did Rodgers return, he outperformed his last full campaign. And while it wasn’t enough to make the playoffs, it was still better than any Jets season in a decade.

That Rodgers was able to put up those numbers—on a weaker team, after a year off, and following a major injury—is remarkable. It looks great on paper. But football isn’t played on paper. It’s played on grass. So, did Rodgers pass the eye test?

I’m an incredibly devoted Buffalo Bills fan, which means, unfortunately, I watch a lot of Jets football. And when I watched Rodgers last season, I just remember feeling… sad.

Rodgers is the most sacked QB in league history. In his final season in Green Bay, he played behind the third-best offensive line in the NFL. In New York? He had the 17th-best line. He was sacked 40 times in 2024—his highest total in six years. Rodgers has never been great under pressure, and the last thing he needs at 41, coming off an Achilles injury, is poor protection.

It was tough to watch a quarterback I grew up admiring slowly crumble—drive after drive—for one of the NFL’s most dysfunctional franchises. One game stands out: December 29th, when my Bills beat the Jets 40-14. Rodgers was sacked three times, threw two picks, and both of the Jets’ touchdowns came when backup QB (and former Bill) Tyrod Taylor entered in the fourth quarter.

That night, I thought: This is it. It’s over. How could continuing his career possibly be a good idea?

But then, the Pittsburgh Steelers came knocking.

The Steelers’ six Super Bowl titles are a joint NFL record. But they haven’t made it past the Wild Card round since 2017. Their last championship came in 2008, and they’ve struggled to find a true replacement for Ben Roethlisberger.

Justin Fields was a promising young QB, but after he was replaced in Chicago by Caleb Williams, Pittsburgh gave him a chance. His five total touchdowns in 2024 weren’t enough to hold onto the job, and Russell Wilson took more reps.

The Steelers are in win-now mode. Their aging core isn’t ready for a rebuild. If they weren’t all-in, they wouldn’t have signed a 41-year-old quarterback and let two younger ones walk.

At first, the Rodgers rumors didn’t make sense. I remember going on a three-hour hike in Ireland with a friend the day the story broke, and we spent the entire trek talking about it. But when Rodgers signed in Pittsburgh, and I started digging into the details… it started to click.

Why sign a 41-year-old QB? Because he’s not just any 41-year-old. He’s Aaron Rodgers.

Sure, his ayahuasca use and darkness retreats are… different. But his numbers speak volumes. Coming back from a major injury to outperform his last season in Green Bay, despite worse protection and weapons, got the Steelers’ attention.

And Pittsburgh’s offensive line? Ranked 8th in the league. Not quite the Packers, but miles better than the Jets. Add in a weapon like DK Metcalf, and suddenly Rodgers has what he needs: protection and a playmaker.

They know they won’t have him long. But if they get it right, they won’t need him long.

The Steelers have plateaued—four Wild Card losses in five years, and a meme-worthy 9-8 record every season. They had two options: play it safe and fade into irrelevance, or go all-in and swing big. Signing Rodgers? That’s the swing.

Is it risky? Absolutely. Rodgers is 41 and has played just one full season in the past two. Father Time is undefeated. But his comeback and his 2024 numbers earned the benefit of the doubt.

I’m not an Aaron Rodgers fanboy. I was openly skeptical of him at the Jets. And as a Bills fan, I’ll never pass up an opportunity to roast the Jets. But looking at the numbers—and the situation—this move makes sense.

Would the Steelers have preferred to sign him two years ago? Of course. But when Aaron Rodgers knocks, you answer the door.

Maybe he only lasts one drive in black and gold, and I’ll eat my words. The NFL is unpredictable. But the Steelers have what the Jets didn’t: a solid line, a star receiver, and an urgency to win now.

And that’s why I believe Aaron Rodgers has one more fight left in him.