The end is here, according to ESPN’s Troy Aikman.
As the Steelers’ season came to a collapsing halt, the “Monday Night Football” broadcaster speculated that viewers just watched the end of Aaron Rodgers’ time in the NFL.
“I think we are watching Aaron Rodgers’ last game,” Aikman said as the Texans pulled away from the Steelers in a 30-6 victory to advance to the divisional round. “He might be willing to come in at some point if a team needs a QB. I doubt that will happen. I don’t imagine he’s gonna say he wants to come back and sign with the Steelers again or with another team.”
The Cowboys Hall of Famer added that he could see Rodgers return to the league in a part-time capacity, picking up midseason as a stopgap quarterback for a team that deals with injuries at the position, similar to what Philip Rivers, 44, did this past year with the Colts.
Perhaps this is an informed opinion or mere speculation from the ESPN broadcaster, who is now a special advisor to the Dolphins and helped them hire Packers executive Jon-Eric Sullivan as general manager.
Rodgers refused to speculate on whether this was indeed the end, and he vowed in a postgame interview not to make any hasty commitments.
“I’m not going to make any emotional decisions,” Rodgers told reporters after he was punished by the Texans in the second half behind a failing Steelers offensive line. “It was such a fun year… a lot of adversity, but a lot of fun… It’s disappointing to be sitting here with the season over.”
Aside from the frustrating end to the season, Rodgers said on multiple occasions that he has had a blast during his lone season in Pittsburgh, which culminated with a game-winning touchdown pass to Calvin Austin to end the Ravens’ regular season and eventually get John Harbaugh fired.
Rodgers, 42, threw for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions as the Steelers went 10-7 in the regular season and won the AFC North.
If this is the end for Rodgers, his final pass would be an interception returned for a touchdown by Texans safety Calen Bullock.
Rodgers had never been one to make swift decisions regarding his future, going on darkness retreats and traveling to exotic places to clear his mind.
The Steelers will have plenty of decisions to make as well, including whether coach Mike Tomlin will return.
The Steelers haven’t won a playoff game since 2017.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
