Just when it seemed Aaron Rodgers’ final chapter was written, a season-defining performance against a bitter rival has his peers rewriting the ending. The veteran quarterback delivered his best performance of the season in the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ crucial 27–22 win over the Baltimore Ravens, and Ben Roethlisberger isn’t buying that the 42-year-old is walking away from the NFL just yet.

According to Roethlisberger, Rodgers’ retirement may depend on something much bigger than personal plans or age. Appearing on Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger, the former Steelers star claimed Rodgers could change his mind about retiring under one strong condition.

“If they get to the Super Bowl, he’ll come back. If he thinks he’s they’re that close. But listen, we’re jumping so far ahead. Not even to the playoffs yet,” Roethlisberger said.

Rodgers himself, however, has been resolute publicly about how he wants his career to end. Earlier this year, he reiterated that when he does retire, it will be as a member of the franchise that molded him.

Rodgers said, “I was there for 18 years. Regardless of when I hang it up, that’s the bulk of my career. I’ll retire a Packer and see what happens after that.”

According to Rodgers, even though it was complicated, there is no bitterness toward the organization, and he has viewed the Packers-Steelers matchup as anything but revenge.

The fact is, his legacy in Green Bay remains unquestioned: Super Bowl champion, 10-time Pro Bowler, and four-time MVP. His 18-year tenure in Green Bay produced some of the most prolific quarterback plays in NFL history.

His journey since then has been uneven: a pair of official seasons with the New York Jets, one effectively lost to an Achilles tear, and his current chapter in Pittsburgh, where he’s now led the Steelers to a 4-2 start (after 6 games) while completing 68.6 percent of his passes for 1,270 yards, 14 touchdowns, and five interceptions. But through all that, Rodgers has made clear that “home” remains Green Bay.

That clarity makes Roethlisberger’s comments even more interesting. Rodgers has been quite transparent that this could be his last season, but Sunday’s effort against Baltimore created an alternate reality. After a month of struggles, a nagging wrist injury, and five straight subpar outings, Rodgers finally broke through. It was the kind of effort that can change narratives, and maybe retirement plans, overnight.

For the first time in weeks, Rodgers looked physically sharp and mentally composed and completely capable of leading a postseason push.

Steelers QB dominates Ravens to revive season and silence doubters

Rodgers’ resurgence against the Ravens was a season-saving performance the Steelers desperately needed to wrest back control of the AFC North race. A five-game run saw him average just 163.2 passing yards per start to go with an 83.5 passer rating. He exploded for 284 yards and several explosive plays on a critical road victory over the Ravens.

It was precisely the kind of quarterbacking Pittsburgh had been missing-and desperately needed, to wrest back control of the AFC North race. He opened the game with a 52-yard strike to DK Metcalf on the Steelers’ first offensive snap. A few moments later, he muscled his way into the end zone on a one-yard scramble, scoring his first rushing touchdown since 2022.

Rodgers was met with pressure and physicality from the Ravens defense, but time and again, he answered with a level of downfield accuracy that has been largely absent this season. The command of the offense, the improvisational spark, and the willingness to challenge coverage that Rodgers brought with him turned a stagnant Steelers passing attack into an explosive one.

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At 7–6, Pittsburgh now controls its own destiny in the AFC North, and if Rodgers can approximate even some of this over the final month, the Steelers will take on the feel of a legitimate playoff threat. But again, sustainability remains the looming question.

Rodgers’ big-play heroics masked broader offensive inconsistencies, and explosive passing plays are among the NFL’s least predictable metrics. It may be a little unrealistic to expect repeated outbursts at age 42.