Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers will return for a 22nd NFL season

Aaron Rodgers Got Permission from His Wife to Play ‘One More’ Season in NFL

Before making a big (and sometimes even minor) decision, married men have to run it up the flagpole with their wives. Before going camping with the boys, buying a new car, or spending way too much money on an autographed baseball card, married men across the world have to get the OK from their spouse.

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Apparently, the same rule applies when pondering whether or not to sign a $25 million contract.

Such was the case with longtime Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who revealed that he consulted his wife for the green light to return for a 22nd NFL season.

Rodgers, 42, revealed on Tuesday, July 28, that he almost retired after the 2025-26 NFL season. "I thought last year might be it," Rodgers said, according to a clip from a press conference shared by the NFL.

However, when the Pittsburgh Steelers hired Mike McCarthy as their new head coach, Rodgers became intrigued with a return to the gridiron. Rodgers and McCarthy won a Super Bowl together in 2011, oddly enough against the Steelers.

Hoping to recapture that magic with McCarthy in Pittsburgh, Rodgers first had to seek approval from his wife, Brittani.

"I talked to the wife, and she said, 'You can do one more year,' " he said, smiling.

"I said, 'Well, let's see if it works out.' And then it kind of all came together," he added, according to a second clip from the press conference shared on 

Aaron Rodgers Returns For 22nd NFL Season

The four-time MVP inked a one-year deal with the Steelers worth up to $25 million.

Rodgers credited his wife with supporting his return during a May 20 press conference.

He also stated that fruitful conversations with McCarthy and Steelers general manager Omar Khan helped inspire his return.

"I had a lot of conversations with Mike, Omar, for a while," he told media at the press conference. "And you know, had a lot of conversations with my wife about it. After the [NFL] draft came to the conclusion that I wanted to play. I wanted to come back."

"I thought that was probably it for me in Pittsburgh," he said. "But when the decision was made to hire Mike, I started opening my mind back up to coming back."

Rodgers will have a shot at history in his 22nd NFL season. The former first-round pick is 3,726 passing yards shy of becoming the fifth quarterback in history with 70,000 career passing yards.

He needs just 13 passing touchdowns to surpass Peyton Manning for the third-most in NFL history.