Aaron Rodgers Shares “Last Rodeo” Photos With Steelers Teammates Ahead of Final Season
Aaron Rodgers is treating this Steelers offseason like a farewell tour, and his latest Instagram post made that official. The 42-year-old quarterback shared a slideshow over the weekend showing him bonding with several teammates, captioned simply: “Last Rodeo. #bondingweek.”
The gallery, posted before Steelers training camp opens, included wide receivers DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr., Ben Skowronek and Roman Wilson, tight end Pat Freiermuth, and backup quarterback Mason Rudolph. According to Steelers Now, the pictures showed the group riding horses, paddleboarding and gathered around a bonfire, set to George Strait’s “Troubadour” in the background.
Skowronek also posted his own version of the trip on Instagram. Per Steelers Depot, outside linebacker Nick Herbig commented on the post, and other teammates including Brock Hoffman and Max Hurleman joined in as well. It’s the second straight offseason Rodgers has organized a bonding trip with his pass-catchers — last year’s version took place at his home in Malibu.
Rodgers’ Final Season Take Shape
Rodgers announced in May that 2026 will be his last year in the NFL. He returned to Pittsburgh on a one-year deal worth up to $25 million, reuniting with new head coach Mike McCarthy, who won a Super Bowl with Rodgers back in Green Bay in 2011.
This will be Rodgers’ second season with the Steelers after signing with Pittsburgh in 2025 following his release from the Jets. That stint in New York was rocky — a Week 1 Achilles injury wiped out his 2023 debut, and the Jets finished 5-12 in 2024 before parting ways with him.
Pittsburgh proved a better fit. Rodgers started all 16 games last season, throwing for 3,322 yards with 24 touchdowns against seven interceptions, and led the Steelers to their first AFC North title since 2020 as the team finished 10-7. That run ended in a 30-6 wild-card loss to the Houston Texans, a game in which Rodgers went 17-of-33 for just 146 yards, threw a pick-six and lost a fumble that Houston also returned for a score.
The playoff exit was followed by a bigger shake-up. The Steelers moved on from Mike Tomlin after 19 seasons as head coach, hiring McCarthy in his place. There was brief uncertainty about whether Rodgers would return at all before the sides finalized his new deal in May.
| Category | 2025 Season |
|---|---|
| Passing Yards | 3,322 |
| Touchdowns | 24 |
| Interceptions | 7 |
| Record (Regular Season) | 10-7, AFC North champions |
| Playoff Result | Lost 30-6 to Houston Texans, Wild Card Round |
Skepticism Follows Rodgers Into Year Two
Not everyone is convinced the Steelers can repeat as division champions. Speaking on The Arena: Gridiron last month, Skip Bayless questioned whether Pittsburgh’s playoff run was built to last.
“They stumbled into the back door of the playoffs thanks to a missed 40-yard field goal by the Baltimore Ravens. Then they lost at home 30-6 to your Super Bowl pick, and Aaron Rodgers stunk in that game,” Bayless said, according to Steelers Now. “Now you’re telling me they’re just magically going to be back in the playoffs in that division? The Bengals are going to be better. The Ravens are going to be way, way better. The Steelers are the odd man out.”
It’s not just Bayless. Analysts including Stephen A. Smith and Colin Cowherd have raised similar doubts about Pittsburgh’s direction this offseason, per Steelers Now’s reporting. Much of that skepticism centers on the AFC North itself — Cincinnati added defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to a retooled defense, while Baltimore reshuffled its coaching staff and remains the popular pick to win the division.
Pittsburgh did address its own roster questions. The Steelers added Pittman Jr. to pair with Metcalf at receiver, giving Rodgers more targets than he had last season. Whether that’s enough to offset a 42-year-old quarterback coming off his lowest PFF grade in years — he finished 2025 ranked 29th among qualified quarterbacks, per PFF — is the question Pittsburgh will try to answer starting in September.
What’s Next
The Steelers open the 2026 season at home against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1. They avoid both the Packers and Jets during the regular season, though they’ll see both clubs in preseason play. For now, the mood around the team appears to be less about outside noise and more about chemistry — the kind Rodgers has spent two straight offseasons trying to build before his career winds down.