Aaron Rodgers’ career has always felt like a movie. The 41-year-old quarterback, who’s spent two decades carving out one of the NFL’s most iconic résumés, confirmed that the 2025 season will be his last. In Week 7 against the Cincinnati Bengals, Rodgers threw for 249 yards and four touchdowns, including a 68-yard bomb to Pat Freiermuth that nearly sealed the win before the Steelers fell short, 33–31.

Even after the loss, he overtook Ben Roethlisberger in the fifth position in the all-time list in career passing yards, which indicates that Rodgers has not lost his touch even in his farewell tour. However, during the broadcast, Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit revealed what Rodgers told them during their pregame production meeting.

“We talked to Aaron Rodgers yesterday, and the question was, ‘Do you know what you’re going to do after football?’ And he said, ‘I’m going to disappear.’” Michaels said. “He said, ‘I’ve spent my whole life in the limelight. I’m looking for the shadows.’” “I wouldn’t bet on that — but who knows?”

The idea of the 41-year-old staying completely out of the spotlight seems impossible for someone who has dominated sports news headlines for the last twenty years.

Herbstreit continued, “That quote was amazing. ‘I’ve lived in the spotlight long enough. Time to go to the shadows.’ He said, ‘You won’t hear from me or see me for at least four years.’”

Michael also could not help making fun of the notorious 2023 darker-than-black retreat of Rodgers by poking at it, “Well, he’s already had a darkness retreat, so the shadows at least will provide more light than that did.” The longtime host brought back memories to the audience of how Rodgers, at one time, spent four days in utter isolation in Sky Cave Retreats in Oregon, in an attempt to clear his head on whether to go on with his football career or not.

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Rodgers is also on his toes as the Steelers are 4-2 and still very much alive in the AFC race. For Rodgers, it is about making an end to a football career and perhaps a last run around the ring before he can disappear into that darkness forever.

Rodgers’ comments track with what he told Pat McAfee earlier this year. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure this is it,” he said. “That’s why we just did a one-year deal. I’ve played 20 frickin’ years. I’ve enjoyed it, and there’s no better place to finish than with one of the cornerstone franchises in the NFL — with Mike Tomlin and this group of guys.”

The Steelers’ QB has done just that so far. With 68.6% completion of all his passes, 1,270 passing yards, 14 TDs, five interceptions, and a rating of 105.0 in the passer rating in six games. Still, all the fans recall that in the days at Green Bay, he could shirk and drop deep balls at will that did not seem to follow the rules of physics.

Aaron Rodgers has one last score to settle before the curtain falls

Up next? Aaron Rodgers has one score to settle. Another game with the Green Bay Packers in Week 8. The franchise that turned him into a star and characterized his first 18 seasons. Rodgers is not going to tell the world about it, but on the contrary, this one carries more significance. The defense of the Packers, led by Micah Parsons, is all too willing to make it hard, and Rodgers has made it a habit of turning adversity into highlights.The four-time MVP still runs with the same composed swagger, avoiding the mayhem in the pocket and pulling off throws that seem to be almost unfair. Rodgers, on Thursday evening, completed four TDs and led the Steelers to 31 points, but left with a loss because his own defense failed to pick him up. It was almost a flashback to his days in Green Bay in some weird, poetic manner.The Packers can hope to get the exhausted edition of Rodgers that had trouble with the Jets; however, his new performance tells a different story.Rodgers has been revived, and unless the Packers keep a watch on him, he can only be expected to light them up again. It is a reminder to them and anyone who is watching why, despite his age, Aaron Rodgers is the most dangerous man with a football in his hands, even at the age of 41.