Aaron Rodgers, the figurative thorn in Chicago's side for almost twenty years has decided to retire from the NFL following the 2024 season. Rodgers has teased retirement before, but this time felt different because he attached a direct timeline to it. The last few offseasons has felt like the "will he, won't he" feeling associated with sitcom characters. Bears fans have firmly been in camp "retire" for several years now, but it looks as though Rodgers has finally made up his mind.
Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy are getting one final run together
With the departure of Mike Tomlin from the Steelers organization after 19 seasons, the writing was on the wall for Rodgers. The mix was thrown in the bowl when it was announced that the Steelers were hiring Mike McCarthy to be the next head coach, suddenly the assumptions changed.
"And, you know, I thought when [Tomlin] said he was stepping away, that was an emotional moment just because we all love him so much and care about him. And, you know, I thought that that was probably it for me in Pittsburgh. But when the decision was made to hire Mike, I started to open my mind to coming back."Aaron Rodgers
One last ride for @aaronrodgers12 🫡 pic.twitter.com/Thby6p4sXQ
— NFL (@NFL) May 20, 2026
Rodgers and McCarthy are far from strangers. The pair is best known for delivering the Super Bowl to Packers fans back in 2011. The reunion brings a shadow of remorse to Bears fans, but meanwhile, the rest of the NFL media is cheering on a last hurrah. Though both men are significantly older, professional sports sure does love it's greatest hits.
The strange part for Bears fans is that Rodgers somehow keeps circling back into NFC North conversations even after leaving Green Bay years ago. His reunion with McCarthy feels nostalgic for Packers fans, but exhausting for Chicago. For nearly two decades, Rodgers represented the roadblock the Bears simply could not fully overcome.
If Rodgers truly follows through on retirement after the 2026 season, Bears fans may have already seen the rivalry end without realizing it. Pittsburgh and Chicago are not scheduled to meet this year, leaving a Super Bowl matchup as the only realistic path to one final showdown between Rodgers and the franchise he spent years tormenting.
As a Bears fan simply tired of hearing Rodgers' name, I'll believe it when I see it.
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