Former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jerome Bettis believes Aaron Rodgers' announced final season will provide extra motivation for the team in 2026.
Bettis, who helped lead the Steelers to a Super Bowl win in 2005 during his own final season, shared his thoughts in an interview with Adam Schein. He said the knowledge that 2026 marks the end for Rodgers could rally teammates around the veteran quarterback.
"That’s motivation, right? It’s motivation for him, but it’s also motivation for his teammates," Bettis said. "They wanna make sure they get the best out of him and the best opportunity because they all know, hey, this is it."
Rodgers re-signed with the Steelers and declared 2026 his last year in the league. The team reached the playoffs last season but lost 30-6 to the Houston Texans in the Wild Card round, after which coach Mike Tomlin stepped down. Bettis noted additional motivation exists from veterans like Cam Heyward and T.J. Watt seeking their first playoff victories.
