Rodgers Retires After 2026 Season
Aaron Rodgers announced in May that he will retire following the 2026 NFL season, and Cincinnati may face him one last time on Sunday Night Football.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Football
Live Poll
Do you plan to attend the Bengals' Sunday night game against the Steelers?
Aaron Rodgers announced in May 2026 that he will retire after the 2026 NFL season. The Cincinnati Bengals may face him for the final time in a Sunday Night Football game at Paycor Stadium.
Why it matters
Rodgers' retirement closes a long NFL career and turns a regular-season matchup against the Bengals into a potential farewell meeting. The Steelers and Bengals, both 6-2 and tied atop the AFC North, meet in a race that could carry playoff consequences.
Rodgers is 4-3 against the Bengals over 20 NFL seasons, and his Week 3 2026 game against them included 292 passing yards, three touchdowns and one interception. The Bengals and Steelers both sit at 6-2, but whether the scheduled Sunday Night Football meeting will be Rodgers' last against Cincinnati remains unconfirmed.
The players
Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers is a veteran NFL quarterback whose 22nd season and retirement announcement mark the end of a long and decorated career.
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are an AFC North franchise based in Cincinnati that play their home games at Paycor Stadium.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are an AFC North franchise based in Pittsburgh that play their home games at Acrisure Stadium.
The details
Rodgers announced in May that he will retire after the 2026 season. The Bengals' probable final regular-season meeting with him would be a Sunday Night Football game on NBC at Paycor Stadium, one week after Cincinnati's Week 9 win over the Atlanta Falcons in Spain.
Timeline
December 2025: Rodgers turned 42 years old.
May 2026: Rodgers announced he will retire after the 2026 season.
September 27, 2026: The Bengals lost to the Steelers at Acrisure Stadium in Week 3.
Week 9, 2026: The Bengals beat the Atlanta Falcons in Spain.
Season Trajectory
Rodgers' retirement announcement follows the familiar arc of veteran quarterbacks who schedule their final seasons around farewell matchups against longtime rivals. A late-season Bengals meeting with the AFC North race on the line would test whether a retiring star's final games carry playoff weight.
Fantasy managers tracking Rodgers' final season will want to note that his 2026 Week 3 line against Cincinnati was 292 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. A probable Sunday Night Football date at Paycor Stadium puts the game in prime-time viewing for fans following the AFC North race.
The takeaway
Rodgers' retirement gives the Bengals a rare chance to face a future Hall of Fame quarterback one final time. Fans tracking the AFC North should watch whether the Steelers and Bengals' 6-2 starts hold through the late-season schedule.
What happens next
The Bengals' probable final regular-season meeting with Rodgers would be a Sunday Night Football game on NBC at Paycor Stadium.
Further reading
For more on the league's coverage, explore the Football section.
Live Poll
Do you plan to attend the Bengals' Sunday night game against the Steelers?
