Aaron Rodgers' season with the Pittsburgh Steelers ended in a storm of frustration on Monday night, culminating in a heated exchange with a reporter during a post-game press conference.
Season ends with a whimper in Houston
The veteran quarterback's campaign came to a brutal conclusion as the Steelers were soundly beaten 30-6 by the Houston Texans in the AFC Wild Card round. The one-sided defeat on January 13, 2026, not only eliminated the team but also cast serious doubt over the futures of both the 42-year-old Rodgers and long-serving head coach Mike Tomlin.
Rodgers endured a torrid final outing, throwing for only 146 yards, coughing up two fumbles, and being sacked four times. The Texans' final score was a humiliating pick-six from a Rodgers pass, which may stand as the last throw of his illustrious career.
Rodgers' fiery defence of Tomlin
In the aftermath, journalists pressed Rodgers on Tomlin's job security, given the coach's record of nine consecutive seasons without a playoff win – a first in Steelers history. Rodgers initially offered a glowing endorsement, praising Tomlin's nearly two decades of success.
However, his patience wore thin. When a reporter continued to probe, Rodgers snapped back: "I’ve talked extensively about how I feel about Mike … and I just did in that fu**king answer." He followed the outburst with an exasperated sigh before curtly ending the conference and leaving the room.
A lament for a changing league
Earlier in the session, Rodgers had reflected thoughtfully on the modern NFL's culture. "This league has changed a lot in my 21 years," he stated, arguing that respected coaches like Tomlin and his former Green Bay boss Matt LaFleur would never have faced such scrutiny in the past.
He blamed external pressure and the influence of social media pundits. "To me, that's an absolute joke," Rodgers said. "And for either of those two guys to be on the hot seat is really apropos of where we're at as a society in the league." He warned the Steelers to think carefully before making any rash decision, emphasising the importance of maintaining the right culture.
As for his own future, Rodgers hinted strongly that this was the end. He told ESPN's Lisa Salters during the game that his career was "probably" over and that "this feels like the end." To reporters afterwards, he said he would not make an emotional decision but needed time to "get away" and "have the right conversations." The Steelers, and the NFL, now face an uncertain offseason with two of its biggest figures in the balance.
