Steelers' Aaron Rodgers walks out of press conference after defending Mike Tomlin from criticism

Aaron Rodgers walked retired of what whitethorn beryllium his last postgame property league aft being asked a 2nd consecutive question astir Pittsburgh Steelers caput manager Mike Tomlin.

The Steelers were trounced 30-6 by the Houston Texans successful the AFC Wild Card crippled connected Monday nighttime astatine Acrisure Field. The disappointment successful the nonaccomplishment sparked questions astir Tomlin’s occupation security, which has travel into question during struggles this season.

Rodgers, 42, spoke astatine magnitude successful enactment of not conscionable Tomlin, but besides his erstwhile caput manager from his clip with the Green Bay Packers, Matt LaFleur.

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Pittsburgh Steelers caput manager Mike Tomlin walks disconnected the tract with Aaron Rodgers (8) of the Pittsburgh Steelers aft a 29-24 triumph against the Detroit Lions astatine Ford Field. The crippled took spot successful Detroit, Michigan, connected Dec. 21, 2025. (Nic Antaya/Getty Images)

"I mean this league has changed a batch successful my 21 years. You cognize erstwhile you perceive speech astir the Mike Tomlins of the world, Matt LaFleurs of the world, those are conscionable 2 of the coaches I’ve played for. And erstwhile I archetypal got successful the league, determination wouldn’t beryllium speech astir whether those guys were connected the blistery seat," Rodgers told reporters postgame.

"But the mode that the league is covered present and the mode that there’s drawback decisions and the validity fixed to the Twitter experts and each the experts connected TV present who marque it look similar they cognize what the hellhole they’re talking about. To me, that’s an implicit joke. And for either of those 2 guys to beryllium connected the blistery spot is truly apropos of wherever we’re astatine arsenic a nine and a league."

"Because, evidently Matt’s done a batch of large things successful Green Bay, and we had a batch of success. Mike T has had much occurrence than damn adjacent anybody successful the league for the past 19–20 years. And much than that though, erstwhile you person the close feline and the civilization is right, you don’t deliberation astir making a change. But there’s a batch of unit that comes from the extracurricular and evidently that sways decisions from clip to time, but it’s not however I would bash things and not however the league utilized to be."

AARON RODGERS RETIREMENT INTRIGUE BEGINS FOLLOWING PLAYOFF LOSS

Pittsburgh Steelers backmost Aaron Rodgers speaks during a property league aft an NFL wild-card playoff shot crippled against the Houston Texans. The property league took spot successful Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, connected Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Rodgers was past asked different question astir what helium learned from Tomlin this season.

"I’ve answered that a fig of times. I’ve talked extensively astir however I consciousness astir Mike and I conscionable did successful that f---ing answer. Thanks," Rodgers said arsenic helium got up from the podium and walked retired of the property conference.

The Steelers’ playoff nonaccomplishment was the seventh consecutive decision successful the postseason. The seven-game losing streak nether Tomlin tied an NFL grounds for longest playoff losing streak successful league past for a caput coach. Former Cincinnati Bengals caput manager Marvin Lewis is the different manager with 7 consecutive playoff defeats.

Rodgers said helium would not fto the effect of the crippled determine his playing future.

"I’m not going to marque immoderate affectional decisions," Rodgers said. "I’m disappointed. It was specified a amusive year. Obviously, a batch of adversity, but a batch of fun."

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Pittsburgh Steelers caput manager Mike Tomlin looks connected during the 2nd 4th against the Cleveland Browns astatine Huntington Bank Field. The crippled took spot successful Cleveland, Ohio, connected Dec. 28, 2025. (Ken Blaze/Imagn Images)

The four-time NFL MVP said helium is going to get distant and person the close conversations earlier making a determination connected his playing future.

In his outstanding career, Rodgers threw for 66,274 passing yards and 527 passing touchdowns successful 264 games. He amassed 163 regular-season wins successful 257 starts arsenic a quarterback.

Rodgers spent 18 seasons with the Packers, 2 with the New York Jets and 1 with the Steelers.

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