(Video) Aaron Rodgers Gets Picked off in Possibly the Last Play of His Career, Fails to Surpass Patrick Mahomes

Aaron Rodgers' last throw in the wildcard round against the Texans was a pick-6 before he was benched for Mason Rudolph.

(Video) Aaron Rodgers Gets Picked off in Possibly the Last Play of His Career, Fails to Surpass Patrick Mahomes

Texans Calen Bullock picked off Aaron Rodgers (Image via IMAGO/X)

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Aaron Rodgers’ last-ditch efforts to catch up to Patrick Mahomes in playoff touchdowns ended up backfiring. Not only did he fail the objective, but Rodgers also threw a wayward pass that was returned for a pick-6 by Houston Texans safety Calen Bullock.

The Pittsburgh Steelers trailed by 18 points with fewer than three minutes left. Rodgers needed the miracle of 2017 to stand any chance of prolonging the season. He stepped back on fourth and five and launched a pass inside the Texans’ territory. It landed safely in Bullock’s arms.

After the interception, the second-year defensive back went past several Steelers players to score a defensive touchdown. The 42-year-old Rodgers’ sad attempt to stop Bullock went in vain.

Bullock, a graduate of USC, was drafted in the third round of the 2024 season. In 34 appearances, he racked up 118 combined tackles, 21 pass deflections, 9 interceptions, and one forced fumble.

Peyton and Eli Manning react to Aaron Rodgers’ throwing a pick-6

The Manningcast, hosted by brothers and Super Bowl winners, Peyton and Eli Manning, covered the game as it was a Monday Night fixture. It’s fair to say they weren’t thrilled by Rodgers’ performance.

(Video) Aaron Rodgers Gets Picked off in Possibly the Last Play of His Career, Fails to Surpass Patrick Mahomes
Aaron Rodgers (Image via IMAGO)

After he threw the pick-6, older brother Peyton quickly retorted, “Is that the last pass of Aaron Rodgers’ career?” Eli guessed that Rodgers might return after the Texans’ next drive. He didn’t. The pick-6 turned out to be his final involvement in the game before Mike Tomlin replaced him with Mason Rudolph. Rudolph completed just one pass before the referee blew the final whistle.

Then came the all-important question that both of them experienced during their playing career.

“I don’t know Peyt… What do you think? Is he [Rodgers] coming back for another year?” Eli Manning asked. Peyton quickly responded, “No idea.”

It kept Rodgers (45) from matching Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (46) in postseason touchdown passes.

A former Steeler says Aaron Rodgers is the best quarterback he’s ever played against

Rodgers nearly packed his bags and headed for Malibu following two disastrous years in the Big Apple with the New York Jets. The Steelers and Tomlin convinced him to play for the Pittsburgh club for a shot at his second ring. He agreed to a one-year contract, making it his 21st season in the NFL.

It ended prematurely at the first hurdle in the postseason. Ryan Clark, who was part of the Steelers team that lost Rodgers’ Packers team in the 2011 Super Bowl, gave the four-time MVP the biggest compliment a quarterback can receive.

I walked off AT&T field in February of 2011 after losing the Super Bowl to the Packers, knowing 3 things. Aaron Rodgers was the best quarterback I’d ever played against, Mike T [Tomlin] was the best coach I’d played for, & they’d both get back to the Super Bowl. One of those things turned out to be false. If this is where it ends for them, it’s fitting that it ends together. Both of their legacies are cemented. Congrats to them both.

Ryan Clark tweeted

Rodgers has a CV that most athletes dream of emulating. So, although he failed to get a second ring, he is a first ballot Hall of Famer, and if that pick-6 was his final throw, then so be it. That doesn’t put any stain on his legacy.

As for the Texans, they move on to the next stage in their playoff journey. According to the NFL Network, they will face off against the New England Patriots in the divisional round.

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