(Image via Getty: Aaron Rodgers and San Francisco 49ers helmet) An Instagram account called “More Than Athletes” shared humbling footage of Pittsburgh Steelers veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers. He was 22 at the time, hoping to be the No. 1 pick for the San Francisco 49ers, his dream team. But his heart was broken when they chose Alex Smith. The 2005 NFL Draft made Rodgers wait three hours. The camera kept focusing on him, but he just sat there, feeling embarrassed. “You start questioning everything,” Rodgers said after the 2005 Draft. “From where you worked out to how hard you worked, to the people you surround yourself with, very humbling.”
Aaron Rodgers said that he wouldn’t be as disappointed as the 49ers
Rodgers grew up in Northern California. He played college football for the California Golden Bears. He wanted to start his NFL career with the 49ers. The disappointment of not joining his preferred team and hours of waiting made him weary. Still, there was always a light at the end of the tunnel. After a long wait, his opportunity came: the Green Bay Packers selected him as the first round, 24th overall pick. After the Draft, reporters asked him about his disappointment at not being chosen by San Francisco. He gave a fitting reply: “Not as disappointed as the 49ers will be that they didn’t draft me.”
Second chance at Super Bowl
Playing for Green Bay, Rodgers led them to a Super Bowl victory in Super Bowl XLV against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2010 NFL season. Yes, his current team!Twenty years later, history may repeat itself. Now the four-time NFL MVP plays for Pittsburgh, and his former team, the Packers, is also in Super Bowl contention. His dream team, the 49ers, is also in contention.The 42-year-old has another chance at the Super Bowl and will make the most of it. Next year, he may become a free agent.
Aaron Rodgers’ potential return in the 2026 season?
In his June 2025 declaration on The Pat McAfee Show, the ten-time Pro Bowler viewed the 2025 season as the final year of his NFL journey, marking his 20th year in the league.Kevin Patra of NFL Network recently reported on Rodgers’ potential return in 2026. “I’m thinking about this week, but obviously I’m 42 years old, and I’m on a one-year deal,” the one-time Super Bowl champion said. “So, you know what the situation is. Whenever the season ends, I’ll be a free agent.So that’ll give me a lot of options if I still want to play. I mean, not a lot of options, but there’ll be options, I would think, maybe one or two, if I decide I still want to play.I’ve enjoyed this experience, and everybody in Pittsburgh has been fantastic to me on and off the field. And it’s really what I was hoping for this experience was, it’s been even better than I was hoping.”
Aaron Rodgers found coach Kyle Shanahan fantastic
Would the Super Bowl MVP return for one or two years to play for his dream team, the San Francisco 49ers? Only time will tell. Mike Silver of the San Francisco Chronicle asked Rodgers about the 2021 trade speculation in September 2024. He expressed the desire to play for 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan.“I mean, I’ve thought about that from time to time,” Rodgers said. “And I’ve had conversations with people who think that’s an interesting idea. I don’t know; it’s one of those ‘what if?’ things.He is a phenomenal play-caller. I think he’s a fantastic coach. I think anything can work if two people can find a common ground. The common ground for great relationships is respect.”
Could Aaron Rodgers start a broadcasting career like Tom Brady?
San Francisco has quarterback Brock Purdy under contract through 2030. By then, Rodgers would be 47 years old, about the same age as Tom Brady is now with his broadcasting career. Brady retired at 45. Would the Ayahuasca retreat lover enter television, or would he prefer to become a head coach for an NFL team, possibly the one where he was interested in Kyle Shanahan’s role?
The Ayahuasca retreat lover was speculated to take Kyle Shanahan’s role at San Francisco
In March 2025, the veteran quarterback was speculated to join San Francisco as a coach, reportedly positioning him as Kyle Shanahan’s eventual replacement.The Sporting News reported that Marissa Myers of TWSN predicted Kyle Shanahan is safe for the 2025 NFL season, but his future in 2026 is uncertain. This could be the perfect opportunity for Rodgers to take the next step in his career and move into coaching.Again, only time will tell. For now, the 42-year-old signal caller is preparing to beat his dream team and his former squad, all in contention for the final goal. The Steelers hold the No. 4 seed, the 49ers the No. 6, and the Packers the No. 7 seed.Also Read: Aaron Rodgers’ Supposedly Troubled Relationships with Shailene Woodley, Olivia Munn, and Danica Patrick
