The Aaron Rodgers saga may be about to begin its final chapter, after the Hall of Fame-bound quarterback conceded that his 2025 campaign with the Pittsburgh Steelers could be the last hurrah in a 20-year career.

Speaking, as usual, on the Pat McAfee Show, Rodgers admitted that he had come to the realisation that his time in the NFL was drawing to a close, explaining why he didn’t seek a longer contract with the Steelers.

“I’m pretty sure this is it and that’s why we just did a one-year deal,” the former Packer and Jet confirmed. “The Steelers didn’t need to put any extra years on that or anything, so this was really about finishing with a lot of love and fun and peace for the career that I’ve had.

“I played 20 fricking years. It’s been a long run. I’ve enjoyed it, and [there’s] no better place to finish than with one of the cornerstone franchises of the NFL, with Mike Tomlin and a great group of leadership and great guys in a city that expects you to win.”

While many football fans would also consider Green Bay and the New York Jets to be amongst the more recognisable NFL names, Rodgers hasn’t played well for either over the past three seasons, and will be aware of the negativity surrounding his decision, albeit another drawn-out one, to sign on for another year.

“I’m going to give the Steelers everything that I’ve got, empty the tank and be super comfortable and satisfied with whatever happens,” the 41-year-old four-time league MVP insisted. “But I don’t feel the need to prove anything to anybody, [and I] don’t have any chip on my shoulder.

“It’s not really [a case of] ‘I can’t go out like this. I love the game, and there’s been a beautiful relationship. It was my first love when I was six years old, dreaming about playing quarterback and being in the Super Bowl, and winning in the Super Bowl… but I didn’t need this [season]. I didn’t need it at all. And I don’t want the attention.”

After again considering retirement, however briefly, Rodgers can hardly have expected not to have brought attention on himself, given his standing in Packers lore and the disappointment that followed in the Big Apple. He signed his one-year, $13.7m deal just a couple of weeks ago and was present at Pittsburgh’s mandatory minicamp.

In a supreme twist of irony, the Steelers will open their 2025 campaign on the road at MetLife Stadium against the same Jets team that cast Rodgers adrift after their 2024 campaign fizzled out. The veteran QB will also get to play against Green Bay on what is now expected to be a ‘farewell tour’, before insisting that he intends to bow out of the limelight entirely once he hangs up his cleats for the final time.

“My private life is my private life, and it’s going to stay that way,” he emphasised, adding to his recent confirmation that he got married during the offseason. “I’ve lived in a public eye for 20 years. I had a public relationship — and how did that work out? Now I’m with somebody who’s 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. She deserves the right to that.

“I don’t want the attention. I know that’s a narrative out there but, when this is all done, it’s Keyser Soze — you won’t see me. I don’t want to live a public life. I’m not going to be in the public eye. When this is done, I’m done, and you won’t see me. I’m looking forward to that.”