Sports
Aaron Rodgers retirement intrigue begins following playoff loss
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Aaron Rodgers very well may have played his final NFL game on Monday night, and it came at a crushing loss in the Wild Card Round against the Houston Texans.
Rodgers had a tough night that included a fumble loss that resulted in a touchdown and a pick six that piled onto the already seemingly insurmountable score. But while it appeared he could still make amazing throws all season long, NFL broadcaster Troy Aikman brought up a sobering reminder that Rodgers could very well hang up the cleats after the game.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans greets Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) after an NFL wild-card playoff football game, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Justin Berl)
“I think we are watching Aaron Rodgers’ last game and what we saw of Philip Rivers this year when he came out and decided to come out of retirement and play for the Colts, who knows what next year might bring,” Aikman said. “He might be willing to come in at some point if a team needs a quarterback. I doubt that will happen.
“I don’t imagine he’s gonna say he wants to come back and sign with the Steelers again or with another team.”
Rodgers shook hands with Texans opponents as he walked off the field. He was 17-of-33 for 146 yards. He was sacked four times.
TEXANS DEFENSE SUFFOCATES AARON RODGERS, STEELERS IN PLAYOFF WIN
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers warms up before an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Houston Texans, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
The clock started on his decision about whether he would return to the NFL for the 2026 season. He was asked almost immediately about his future as he joined reporters for the postgame press conference.
“I’m not going to make any emotional decisions,” Rodgers said. “I’m disappointed. It was such a fun year. Obviously, a lot of adversity, but a lot of fun.”
The NFL Network reported last week the Steelers would be “more than open” to bringing Rodgers back for next season if he decides against retirement.
If this is it for Rodgers, he will go down as one of the game’s best quarterbacks.
He was a 10-time Pro Bowler, four-time MVP and one-time Super Bowl champion. He played for the Steelers, Green Bay Packers and New York Jets.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers speaks during a press conference after an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Houston Texans, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Rodgers racked up 66,274 passing yards and 527 passing touchdowns in 264 games. He amassed 163 regular-season wins in 257 starts as a quarterback.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Sports
Former Auburn men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl calls for ‘free Iran,’ backs Trump amid US-Israel strikes
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Former Auburn men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl called Iran the “head of the snake” and backed President Donald Trump hours after the United States and Israel launched a joint attack on the country.
Pearl, one of a handful of Jewish coaches in college basketball before his retirement in September, took to social media shortly after the U.S. joined Israel in launching preemptive strikes against Iran on Saturday morning.
Auburn Tigers head coach Bruce Pearl during the first half in the South Regional final of the 2025 NCAA tournament against the Michigan State Spartans at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 30, 2025. (Brett Davis/Imagn Images) (Brett Davis/Imagn Images)
“President Trump gave Iran a chance to avoid War by simply agreeing to No Nukes. Iran launched middles at other Arab countries and Israel, huge mistake! Saudi Arabia joins our side,” Pearl wrote in post on X.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
“Iran is head of the snake. President Trump is the leader of the free world. Defeat Evil then Peace!”
In an earlier post on X, Pearl made a plea for a “free Iran” and “real peace” in the Middle East.
“Lord Hear Our Prayer Please put your hedge of protection over our heroic armed service as they target Iran military and missile sites with Operation Epic Fury. Pray for the innocent Pray for the enemy to be destroyed, a free Iran and then for real Peace in the Middle East.”
Auburn Tigers head coach Bruce Pearl signals to players against the Florida Gators during the first half in the semifinals of the men’s Final Four of the 2025 NCAA Tournament at the Alamodome. (Bob Donnan/Imagn Images)
In video remarks posted to Truth Social, Trump encouraged the Iranian people to take over their government once the United States and Israel finished “major combat operations” in Iran.
“The hour of your freedom is at hand. Stay sheltered. Don’t leave your home. It’s very dangerous outside,” he said addressing the Iranian people. “This will be, probably, your only chance for generations. For many years, you have asked for America’s help, but you never got it. No President was willing to do what I am willing to do tonight. Now you have a President who is giving you what you want.”
Iran launched retaliatory missile strikes targeting U.S. facilities in multiple countries. Fox News’ Jennifer Griffin reported that approximately 40 missiles had landed in Israel. Additionally, Iran appeared to hit the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, but no casualties were reported. Iran also launched missiles at Saudi Arabia and Jordan, where the U.S. has squadrons of advanced fighter jets, Griffin added.
Smoke rises after reported Iranian missile attacks, following strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran, in Manama, Bahrain, Feb. 28, 2026. (Reuters)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Pearl, an outspoken supporter of Israel since the Oct. 7 attacks, was named chairman of the board of directors for the U.S. Israel Education Association (USIEA) in April. At the time of the announcement, Pearl said he was “proud to continue advocating for greater understanding and collaboration” between the U.S. and Israel.
Fox News Digital’s Michael Sinkewicz and Rachel Wolf contributed to this report.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Related Article
It’s the final day of the month, and we have great matches across Europe for you to enjoy!
We kick things off in the Premier League, as the race for the top four becomes tighter. Liverpool needing a win against relegation battlers West Ham United to stay in touch in the fight for a spot in the Champions League next season. Later, we have Leeds United looking to spoil Manchester City‘s title hopes as they host Pep Guardiola’s team at Elland Road.
Elsewhere, in LaLiga, Barcelona look to continue to remain top of the league as they host Levante, and, in the Bundesliga, it’s Der Klassiker as Borussia Dortmund hope to halt Bayern Munich‘s potential title hopes.
Enjoy all the updates from Saturday’s matches.
Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan plays a shot during the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup Super Eights match between England and Pakistan at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy on February 24, 2026. Photo: AFP
Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan set a new benchmark at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 after becoming the highest run-scorer in a single edition of the tournament.
Farhan achieved the milestone during Pakistan’s Super Eight match against Sri Lanka at Pallekele on Saturday, moving past former India captain Virat Kohli, who scored 319 runs in the 2014 edition.
The right-handed opener now leads the run charts with 323* runs, underlining a standout campaign that has included a century and two half-centuries for Pakistan at the T20 World Cup 2026.
Farhan’s consistency at the top of the order has been one of the few certainties for Pakistan in a tightly contested tournament.
Most runs in a single T20 World Cup edition
323 – Sahibzada Farhan, Pakistan (2026)*
319 – Virat Kohli, India (2014)
317 – Tillakaratne Dilshan, Sri Lanka (2009)
303 – Babar Azam, Pakistan (2021)
302 – Mahela Jayawardene, Sri Lanka (2010)
The match also saw Pakistan shatter several records. Farhan and Fakhar Zaman stitched together a 176-run opening partnership — the highest ever for the first wicket in T20 World Cup history.
The pair surpassed the previous record of 175 set by New Zealand’s Tim Seifert and Finn Allen against the United Arab Emirates in Chennai earlier in the tournament.
It was also Pakistan’s highest-ever partnership in T20 World Cup history, eclipsing the unbeaten 152-run stand between Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan against India in the 2021 edition.
Al Jazeera broadcast interrupted by emergency missile alert in Qatar
Govt increases petrol price by Rs8 per litre for next fortnight
King Charles’ ‘trusted’ hand hosts Central Asian leaders in London
-
Tech1 week agoA $10K Bounty Awaits Anyone Who Can Hack Ring Cameras to Stop Sharing Data With Amazon
-
Business1 week agoUS Top Court Blocks Trump’s Tariff Orders: Does It Mean Zero Duties For Indian Goods?
-
Fashion1 week agoICE cotton ticks higher on crude oil rally
-
Entertainment1 week agoThe White Lotus” creator Mike White reflects on his time on “Survivor
-
Politics1 week agoPakistan carries out precision strikes on seven militant hideouts in Afghanistan
-
Business1 week agoEye-popping rise in one year: Betting on just gold and silver for long-term wealth creation? Think again! – The Times of India
-
Sports1 week agoBrett Favre blasts NFL for no longer appealing to ‘true’ fans: ‘There’s been a slight shift’
-
Fashion1 week agoClimate risks could impact fashion industry by 34% in 2030: Aii