Aaron Rodgers revealed this week that he was battling severe flu-like symptoms, including a fever and repeated vomiting, in the hours before the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 30-6 Wild Card playoff loss to the Houston Texans last January. The four-time NFL MVP said team staff sent him home from the hotel before kickoff after taking one look at him, only for him to return and start anyway in what became one of the worst statistical outings of his postseason career.

Rodgers, now 42 and entering his 22nd and final NFL season, has never been one to make excuses. He completed just 17 of 33 passes for 146 yards against Houston’s top-ranked defense, threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown, and lost a fumble, finishing with a career-worst postseason passer rating. Former Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith backed up the illness account, saying Rodgers “looked terrible” beforehand and was clearly downplaying how sick he actually was.

The Flu Game That Wasn’t

“I wasn’t feeling good, and I actually came over to the team hotel, and they sent me home — probably because I was pale and looked like s—,” Rodgers said in an interview at Steelers training camp at Saint Vincent College. He insisted he had recovered by kickoff and pointed to Houston’s defense, not his illness, as the reason the offense never found rhythm. Teammates reportedly hoped for a Michael Jordan-style “Flu Game” performance; instead, Pittsburgh’s season ended with a blowout loss that also marked the beginning of the end of Mike Tomlin’s 19-year tenure as head coach, with his departure announced the very next day.

The revelation adds context to what was already a deflating finish for a Steelers team that had leaned heavily on Rodgers’ veteran presence all year. It’s also the second consecutive postseason in which a key Pittsburgh player has had to play through illness in a big spot, a wrinkle that will likely fuel offseason conversation about how the organization manages player health during the most important week of the year.

McCarthy Wants Rodgers on the Field This Preseason

Separately, Rodgers confirmed that new head coach Mike McCarthy — his former Green Bay coach, now reunited with him in Pittsburgh — has asked him to play meaningful snaps in the Steelers’ first two preseason games. “He wants me out there for 30 or 40 plays. I said, ‘Mike, if you want me to play, I’ll play. I’m not saying I want to do it, but if he wants me to, I will,'” Rodgers said.

In a scheduling twist, those two preseason games come against the Green Bay Packers and New York Jets, both former stops in Rodgers’ career. It would mark his most extensive preseason workload since 2018, his final year under McCarthy in Green Bay. Rodgers played zero preseason snaps last summer under Tomlin and appeared in just two series with the Jets in 2023. McCarthy has noted the final call on playing time will come closer to kickoff based on how camp progresses, but the plan signals a coaching staff intent on evaluating chemistry and rhythm early, given this is being billed as Rodgers’ last ride in the league.

The preseason snaps also carry weight for Pittsburgh’s fan base and for bettors monitoring how the offense looks heading into a pivotal year — anyone tracking the Steelers’ NFL odds this preseason will be watching Rodgers’ reps closely for early signs of chemistry with his new weapons. With McCarthy calling plays and Rodgers publicly framing himself as a “good soldier” willing to follow instructions rather than dictate terms, the dynamic between coach and quarterback looks notably different than it did during Rodgers’ tenure with the Jets.

What Comes Next

For Pittsburgh, the dual storylines — a gutsy but ultimately unsuccessful health battle in the playoffs, and a coach eager to get his 22-year veteran reps in exhibition football — paint a picture of a franchise trying to maximize what’s left of a legendary career. Rodgers has been candid that this is likely his final NFL season, and McCarthy’s approach suggests the Steelers want him as sharp and battle-tested as possible before Week 1 rolls around, rather than treating the preseason as an afterthought the way many teams do with aging star quarterbacks.

Whether the flu game revelation changes any perception of that playoff loss is beside the point at this stage — Pittsburgh’s season is over and won’t be revisited. What matters now is health, chemistry, and reps, and McCarthy clearly believes exhibition snaps against two of Rodgers’ old teams are the best way to get there. Fans hoping to build out a full 2026 season strategy around the Steelers can also check the latest DraftKings promo code offers as training camp storylines continue to develop heading into the preseason slate.