PITTSBURGH —Depending on the outcome, Sunday night's winner-take-all Week 18 game against the Baltimore Ravens could be Aaron Rodgers ' last outing of his Hall of Fame career.
Rodgers said on The Pat McAfee Show in June that he was pretty sure this would be his last year. It's unclear if that stance has changed for the 42-year-old quarterback.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin hasn't thought a lot about it possibly being Rodgers' last game, but he's just appreciative of the time he spent with the four-time NFL MVP.
"I don't know that I've taken time to ponder that," Tomlin said. "I'm just committed to making sure that it's not. He's certainly been an awesome contributor to our efforts, and not only from a talent perspective and an experience perspective, but just his professionalism, his relationship with the game, his love for his teammates, and his willingness to help them grow and get better and gain a better understanding. Each and every day has been cool to be part of."
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers during a game against the Cleveland Browns on Oct. 12, 2025. Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Rodgers also disclosed with McAfee in June that he doesn't want to live a life in the public eye anymore. He said once he's done playing football, "you won't see me."
"I didn't need this. I didn't need it all," Rodgers said. "I don't feel the need to prove anything to anybody (and) don't have any chip on my shoulder that I need to hold on to. I don't want the attention. I know that's a narrative out there. When this is all done … you won't see me. I won't be in the public."
Rodgers confirmed during his introductory press conference with the Steelers that he's been married for a "couple of months."
Rodgers' wife has not been revealed to the public eye, and he wants it to remain that way. The paparazzi in Southern California tried their best to get a photo of him and his wife together, however.
"It's a sick society, isn't it?" Rodgers said. "I lived in the public eye for 20 years. I've had public relationships. How did that work out? I had people leaking my home information and making up stories that we bought a house together. I had people calling the paparazzi, I had people posting (my) personal life on the internet. Didn't want any of that, didn't like any of that. And now I'm with someone that is private, who doesn't want to be in the public eye. Didn't sign up to be a celebrity, doesn't want to be a part of it. And because I do things in private because I want my personal life to be private, I'm somehow weird? And now the paparazzi is stalking me on the beach, trying to get a picture of her, stalking me at the workout. What is the entitlement to information that we're living in society these days where that's like a norm. It's a norm to have athletes addresses. They posted something about a house I bought in Pittsburgh and here's the inside of it and here's where it is. What happened to common decency about security and a personal life that we now have to dive into your details of where you live and what you're doing, who you're with, who you're wife is and if you even have a wife. If you're doing some sort of attention grabbing thing because my wife is a private person. Doesn't have social media. Hasn't been a public person, doesn't want to be a public person. But that is now somehow a weird thing? Where are we at in society where that is like the norm now?
"I told you when this is all done, I'm out. You won't see me. I know that I've chosen to be in the public eye for one more season, but my private life is staying private. And any other ridiculous story that's out there about my family that I don't talk to, you know, they won't know any information about be me. Like leave them alone. And if you want to keep stalking me on the beach and getting photos of me and Apollo (Rodgers' dog), go for it. I don't give a shit. But stop making shit up, and my private life is my private life. And it's going to stay that way."
Rodgers' personal life could play a big part in whether he returns to the Steelers or not. The outcome of Sunday night's came could also play a factor. I'm sure Rodgers doesn't want to end his 21-year career with a dud.
Alan Saunders provided reporting from Pittsburgh.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Mike Tomlin Committed to Making Sure Ravens Game Isn't Aaron Rodgers' Last
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