With one make-or-break game left in the regular season, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers won’t have to worry about the added stress of NFL punishment.
The future Hall of Fame quarterback stirred up some controversy with remarks after the team’s loss to the Cleveland Browns in Week 17, leveling some direct criticism at officials for missing what could have been a game-deciding call. Rodgers could have faced additional punishment for the remarks, but the league decided against it.
NFL Opts Against Punishing Aaron Rodgers
The NFL announced all fines for Week 17 games on Saturday, with Rodgers not among those given additional punishment. The Steelers quarterback had put himself at risk of a fine after calling out officials for what he believed was interference against wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling late in the fourth quarter of last week’s 13-6 loss.
“That was definitely interference,” Rodgers said. “I’ll have to look at the film on second and third down.”
The league regularly fines players who openly criticize officials, including one for Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua for remarks similar to the ones shared by Rodgers.
“Some of the rules aren’t … These guys want to be … these guys are lawyers. They want to be on TV too,” Nacua said, via NFL.com. “You don’t think he’s texting his friends in the group chat like, ‘Yo, you guys just saw me on Sunday Night Football. That wasn’t P.I., but I called it.’ ”
Though Rodgers could not have faced any kind of suspension, he will now be free of the looming threat of a fine before the team’s most important game of the season. The Steelers had a chance to clinch the division against the Browns last week, but their loss — combined with a Baltimore Ravens win over the Green Bay Packers — means the teams will be meeting on Sunday night with the division on the line.
Aaron Rodgers Could Be Playing Final NFL Game
If the Steelers lose, it would send them off to a long offseason and prompt a decision from Rodgers on his NFL future. The veteran quarterback has openly mused about retirement, though suggested this week that he could have options if he decides to return for another season.
“Whenever the season ends, I’ll be a free agent, so that will give me a lot of options if I still want to play,” Rodgers said, via reporter Brendan Howe in a post on X. “There’ll be options, I would think, maybe one or two, if I decide I still want to play.”
Rodgers added that he has some personal issues that he will attend to and could impact his decision, noting that there will be a lot at play when he decides whether to return for another season.
“I have a couple people in my inner, inner circle who are battling some difficult stuff,” Rodgers said. “So, I have a lot of things that are taking my attention and have since the beginning of January away from football.”
NFL Makes Decision on Punishment for Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers