Is Aaron Rodgers already regretting his NFL comeback? Former Patriots legend raises concerns after the Pittsburgh Steelers’ heartbreaking start to the season(Image via Getty Images)
After Sunday’s 20-3 loss to the New England Patriots on September 20, questions about Rodgers’ decision to return have already started. The Steelers beat the Atlanta Falcons 20-13 in Mike McCarthy’s first game as head coach. Rodgers threw for 221 yards and a touchdown. Julian Edelman pushed back on the idea, pointing out that the season had only reached Week 2. The Steelers also finished the game with just 235 total yards. Pittsburgh converted only 3 of 13 third-down attempts, giving the offense little chance to stay on the field. Rodgers struggled against New England on September 20. He completed 23 of 39 passes for 187 yards and threw one interception. The Patriots held Pittsburgh to 235 total yards in the 20-3 win. That leaves Rodgers and the Steelers at 1-1 after two weeks. He entered 2026 knowing this would be his final NFL season, and the Steelers reunited him with McCarthy, his former Green Bay coach. Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news , check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule .
Because he spent much of the 2025 offseason considering his future before ultimately choosing to continue his career, rodgers has also dealt with plenty of attention around his return. He also lost a fumble that New England returned for a touchdown.
During the recent episode of “The Gronk & Jules Show,” Gronkowski suggested Rodgers may already wish he had retired after the 2025 season. “Aaron Rodgers is probably thinking that he should have retired last year,” Gronkowski said during the show while discussing Pittsburgh’s first two games. “There’s just no juice on that offensive side of the ball,” Gronkowski said on the same episode.
Aaron Rodgers came back to the NFL for one final season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Two games into that farewell campaign, though, the offense has struggled badly. Former Patriots star Rob Gronkowski took the question a step further after the Steelers’ loss. Gronkowski still stood by his point, saying the Steelers had shown little life on offense. That criticism became harder to ignore after Pittsburgh’s trip to New England. The Steelers struggled to sustain drives and failed to score a touchdown. Their only points came from a Chris Boswell field goal, while the Patriots’ defense kept Rodgers under pressure for much of the afternoon. Those numbers help explain why Gronkowski focused so heavily on the lack of production. The defense has produced big plays, but the offense has yet to find a steady rhythm. The situation also adds weight to Rodgers’ decision to return. Now, the quarterback has to turn that decision into results on the field. Join conversation Share your thoughts in the comments Be respectful · TOI community guidelines A stronger offensive showing would quickly quiet the retirement talk, while another flat performance could make Gronkowski’s question even louder. Gronkowski’s retirement question may be an early overreaction, as Edelman noted. Still, after two games, Rodgers has given critics plenty to discuss. His next performances will decide if this comeback starts looking like the farewell he wanted or a season he might wish had ended before it began. Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.
For Rodgers, the plan looked far more promising a week earlier. Since then, the picture has changed quickly.