Just days earlier, Rodgers confirmed he would join the Steelers for the upcoming season. The team needed a veteran quarterback to lead the offense, and the former Jets player was the best option available.

At 41 years old, many fans wondered whether this would be Rodgers’ final season. Now, he has confirmed it, aiming to go out on a high note with a second Super Bowl ring in his possession.

Aaron Rodgers announces retirement plans: How many QBs have won a Super Bowl in their final season?

Aaron Rodgers is preparing for one final run to prove he still belongs among the NFL’s elite. The future Hall of Famer has confirmed that the 2025 season will be his last, and he hopes to end it by hoisting the Lombardi Trophy one more time.

According to reports, Rodgers chose the Steelers because he believes the team is competitive enough to contend for a Super Bowl. It won’t be an easy road, but the former Packers and Jets star is determined to finish his career as a champion.

Unfortunately, history isn’t on his side. In NFL history, only two starting quarterbacks have won a Super Bowl and then retired—and both did it with the same franchise.

Only John Elway and Peyton Manning have accomplished the rare feat of winning the Super Bowl in their final season.

Elway won Super Bowl XXXIII in 1999, leading the Denver Broncos to victory over the Atlanta Falcons. Shortly after that win, he announced his retirement from the NFL.

Peyton Manning followed a similar path. After falling short in 2014 and 2015, Manning returned in 2016 with a vengeance, leading the Broncos to a win in Super Bowl 50 against the Carolina Panthers. He retired just weeks later.

Who is the oldest quarterback to win a Super Bowl?

Even if Aaron Rodgers becomes just the third quarterback to win a Super Bowl and then retire, he wouldn’t be the oldest to ever do it, as he would be 42 years old by then. That honor belongs to another NFL legend Rodgers is often compared to: Tom Brady.

Brady won Super Bowl LV with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 43 years and 188 days old, defeating Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. It was his seventh Super Bowl win and cemented his legacy as the greatest of all time.

When the debate over the greatest quarterback of all time arises, opinions vary widely. Some consider Tom Brady the undisputed GOAT, others argue for Dan Marino, and many believe Elway belongs in the top three.

Back in 2024, Elway was asked on The Dan Patrick Show to name the greatest quarterback of all time. Without hesitation, the Broncos legend downplayed the debate, saying it’s a matter of personal opinion. “I think you just like to be in the conversation,” Elway said. “There were so many great quarterbacks I played against, guys I have a ton of respect for. But ultimately, it’s about winning football games and championships.”

When asked whether he cares about where he ranks among the all-time greats, Elway made it clear that he doesn’t dwell on it. “I’m not worried about that,” he said. But he delivered that he thinks he is the best.

“I think I’m the best at what I did. Some guys did certain things better than me, and I would think to myself, ‘I could do that better.’ Danny [Dan Marino] had an incredible release, but at the end of the day, you have to believe you’re the best at what you do. There are plenty of stats to compare players, but that’s just part of the conversation,” Broncos legend remarked.

Elway’s take on Marino’s place in the best QB conversation

Broncos legend believes that to be in the conversation as the greatest quarterback of all time, a player must truly believe in themselves. While discussing this topic, he also shared his admiration for Dan Marino and reflected on the Miami Dolphins icon’s remarkable career. “I think we were all kind of jealous of Danny because of what he was doing over there,” Elway admitted. “In 1984, he threw for 5,000 yards in a 16-game season.”

Elway continued: “Back then, 3,000 passing yards was considered solid for a quarterback, and hitting 4,000 was next-level. And then Danny, in just his second year, threw 48 touchdowns. From that point on, statistically, we were all chasing him as he set the world on fire.“

Elway agrees with Brady’s perspective on the QB position

Reflecting on his early years in the NFL, Elway agreed with Tom Brady’s perspective on the benefits of learning from the sidelines before taking over as a starter. “I agree with Tom that not being thrown directly into the fire and having the chance to sit, watch, and learn as a backup was a huge plus for me,” Elway said.

Often, a single play can decide the course of this sport. A detail, a defense, an impossible catch, or a long run while the runner dodges everything in their path… all kinds of situations. To honor those moments, we have compiled the plays that remain etched in everyone’s memory. Let’s take a look at the most ingenious plays in NFL history.

The Double Fumble that became a touchdown

The Chargers were just two yards from the end zone with 25 seconds left before halftime. In a power run play, the running back lost the ball, which bounced and was recovered by a Cardinals defender. The defender decided to lateral the ball to a teammate to attempt a return. The result was disastrous for Arizona: the ball slipped through the hands of the player, and Chargers tight end Phillips recovered it and scored a touchdown.

Jones kept running

Jacoby Jones, the wide receiver for the Baltimore Ravens, ran a total of 109 yards against the San Francisco 49ers in a Super Bowl game. That run and those yards helped the Ravens win 34-31.

Pagano’s master play

Speaking of fun plays in NFL history, we must mention the trick play devised by Colts coach Pagano in a game against the Patriots. On a fourth down and 3, he decided to shift all the players to the right side of the field, leaving only two on the line of scrimmage—the one who snapped the ball and the one who tried to get the first down. The defense was confused, and the result was a penalty and possession for New England.

Butler’s interception

Defense in football is as important as offense, and this play is a perfect example. Malcolm Butler intercepted a pass from Russell Wilson, the quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks, in the end zone with only 26 seconds left, and the Patriots leading 28-24. Butler ended the Seahawks’ chances, and the Patriots secured their fourth Super Bowl title.

Neal’s “Bumerooski”

Chargers fullback Lorenzo Neal scored a touchdown with the classic Bumerooski play. Phillip Rivers handed the ball between his legs, executing what appeared to be a handoff to the running back. Neal kept the ball and ran to the end zone amidst the defense’s confusion.

Harrison’s pick-six

Once again, we find ourselves in the middle of a Super Bowl. In Super Bowl XLIII, the Cardinals faced the Steelers, where we saw one of the best defensive plays in history. Steelers linebacker James Harrison intercepted a pass from Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner and ran 98 yards like a freight train to score a touchdown for Pittsburgh.

The Locomotive Run

One of the greatest, most thrilling, and most remembered plays in the history of the sport. John The Locomotive Riggins scored a touchdown for the Washington Redskins, who were trailing the Miami Dolphins 13-17. Pure power. The Redskins went on to win the final 27-17.

Jones saves the Rams

Another incredible defensive play that decided a championship. With only 6 seconds left on the clock, Saint Louis Rams linebacker Mike Jones shattered the Tennessee Titans’ hopes in Super Bowl XXXIV by stopping Kevin Dyson just one yard short of a game-tying touchdown that would have forced overtime.

Manningham’s ball chase

With just minutes left, the Giants were trailing the Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI. Eli Manning threw a 38-yard pass with the Patriots leading 17-15, which was brilliantly caught by Mario Manningham on the edge of the field. In the end, the Giants won 21-17.

The greatest Catch in history

One of the most enduring images in the memory of fans. In Super Bowl XLIII between the Cardinals and the Steelers, Arizona was leading 23-20 with only 43 seconds left when Santonio Holmes made an incredible play. Ben Roethlisberger threw an impossible pass, and Holmes worked magic: he made an indescribable catch, and the Steelers won their sixth title, 27-23.

Elway’s Helicopter

A play that defines who John Elway was. It happened in Super Bowl XXXII, with the Broncos facing the Green Bay Packers led by Brett Favre. In the third quarter, tied at 17, the Denver quarterback brought his team closer to the touchdown zone with a curious helicopter-style move. The Broncos won 31-24, and this play will always be remembered for its significance and its protagonist.

A miraculous reception

The game between the Packers and Vikings was tied at 20 in overtime, and Favre had possession on third down to win the game. He threw a deep pass that appeared to be defended by the Minnesota cornerback. However, miraculously, the ball ended up in the hands of receiver Antonio Freeman, who scored a miraculous touchdown to save Green Bay’s season.

Montana’s Passes

Talking about a Super Bowl and Joe Montana always leads to something remarkable. In this case, the game was 16-13 in favor of the Cincinnati Bengals with only two and a half minutes left. Then came the magic of the legendary 49ers quarterback. Without a doubt, one of the greatest moments in the history of the sport, as Montana’s skill and leadership led San Francisco to a 20-16 victory.

The Helmet Catch

Considered by many to be the greatest play in Super Bowl history. It happened during Super Bowl XLII when the Giants were trailing the Patriots 10-14. Eli Manning threw an incredible pass, overcoming New England’s tough defense. David Tyree made an unforgettable catch using his helmet, much to the Patriots’ despair. The next play resulted in a touchdown, and the Giants won the final 17-14.

Mahomes’ Invention

Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs entered the 2024 season with their sights set on an unprecedented three-peat in NFL history. Before the real competition began, Andy Reid’s team tried out new things. One of the plays that garnered the most attention had Mahomes as the protagonist: in his final drive of the game, he attempted a behind-the-back pass. It was an 8-yard completion to tight end Travis Kelce that worked quite well. “I always said it had to happen naturally. I can’t force it,” Patrick commented. Will we see him try it more often?

Furthermore, after a blockbuster trade with Seattle, Russell Wilson was a total disappointment in his first season at Denver. However, Payton might bring back his best level as he did mentoring Drew Brees with the New Orleans Saints.

Now, in a very shocking statement, a legend of the Broncos has already made his prediction for the team before the 2023 season. John Elway seems convinced that big things will arrive for Denver in the NFL. It won’t be easy with Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert in the same division.

John Elway makes bold prediction for Denver Broncos

John Elway won two Super Bowls as a player for the Broncos and then, as a general manager, the Hall of Famer was the strategist behind another championship in the 2015 season after bringing Peyton Manning.

Though Elway has ended his tenure at Denver’s front office, he is a totally authorized voice to make a projection about the possible impact of Sean Payton as head coach.

“I am excited. He’s a perfect fit (Sean Payton) for where we are right now, where the Broncos are right now. Obviously, he has a lot of skins on the wall. He won a Super Bowl before and won a ton of football games. I don’t think there could have been a better fit. I think he will be great.”

Of course, the big question during an interview with ABC Denver 7 was Russell Wilson. “Sean has a great feel for the QB position. I think he knows what Russell will do the best. He’s so knowledgeable on the offensive side. Like every good football team, we have to try to run the football and run it successfully. If we do that, it gives Russell a much better chance to be successful in the passing game.”

John Elway is sure Wilson will show again why he’s a franchise quarterback. “It was a tough year for him, but he’s positive and tough. He will bounce back and I think he’s going to have a much better year this season. Russell is such a positive guy. I think he’s excited about it. With what was going on last year, a lot of different things, Sean brings in so much experience. I think Russell is looking forward to that coach to put him in the best position to be successful.”

For years, the Broncos focused on building a strong, physical defensive unit. Then, they slowly added some intriguing offensive prospects with high upside. But unfortunately, Vic Fangio and the lack of a true starting QB stalled the team’s offense.

Now, they have a veteran, Super Bowl-winning QB and one of the all-time great dual-threat players. So, even though they play in football’s toughest division, John Elway still loves their chances.

NFL News: Russell Wilson Is Just What Denver Needed, Says John Elway

“He was the piece we needed. We had a good football team around him and I think George (Paton) did a tremendous job of putting that deal together and getting him here. It’s great to see the fan base energized again,” Elway said, as quoted by Mike Klis of 9Sports.

“We’ve got a chance to compete in the AFC West, which obviously is going to be tough,” the legendary QB added.“But again like anything we’ve got to stay healthy. We’ve had a tough time doing that the last several years. If we can stay healthy, Russ has been there, he’s won Super Bowls, he knows what it takes and the leadership he’s provided has been tremendous.”

Wilson wasn’t his usual self last season. He was banged up, and his offensive line could notkeep him safe. But if he’s at least two-thirds of the player he’s always been, then the Broncos might be onto something.

They already had a solid defense, a promising receiving corps, and a Head Coach who knows how to make the most of Hall of Fame-caliber QBs in Nathaniel Hackett. So, don’t sleep on this team, even on the crowded AFC West.