Aaron Rodgers, the 41-year-old quarterback and four-time NFL MVP, is in uncharted territory after being released by the New York Jets on March 12, 2025. Despite posting respectable numbers in 2024 (3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions), Rodgers couldn’t prevent the Jets from stumbling to an underwhelming 5-12 record. Now, as he navigates free agency for the first time in his career, both NFL teams and card collectors are weighing a critical question: Does Rodgers have one final act of brilliance left, or is this the end of an era?
The Last Man Standing
The 2025 quarterback free agent game of musical chairs has been surprising, with most spots now filled. The Seahawks locked up Sam Darnold, the Giants secured Russell Wilson, and ironically, the Jets replaced Rodgers with Justin Fields. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Vikings appear committed to developing their 2024 first-round pick, J.J. McCarthy, effectively removing another potential landing spot.
Enter the Pittsburgh Steelers – perhaps Rodgers' only hope for continuing his NFL journey. In an interesting reversal of the typical free agency dance, Rodgers essentially invited himself to Pittsburgh for a six-hour meeting that league insiders describe as promising. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported the unusual circumstances: “Aaron basically invited himself on a visit late last week… This deal has been in place contract-wise for weeks. They’ve discussed parameters. This is not going to be a financial issue at all for Aaron Rodgers. If it gets done it’s going to be a 1-year deal.”
Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin described the meeting as “productive,” focusing on understanding Rodgers’ values as a player and person rather than rushing his decision. As this high stakes negotiation unfolds, collectors are watching closely, knowing that Rodgers’ next move could ...
