The ending was so sweetly sublime, it was almost hard to process.There was John Elway, one of the greatest quarterbacks the sport has known, standing atop the balcony of his eighth-floor hotel room — Cuban cigar in his left hand, American lager in his right, South Florida rain in his eyes — reflecting on the final game of his storied football career.He was practically glowing as I stood next to him, preparing to write a cover story for “Sports Illustrated” on the quarterback’s mic drop of a performance. He’d done it all on that glorious Sunday in January of 1999, hoisting a second consecutive Lombardi Trophy, crafting a Super Bowl MVP masterpiece and taking down the head coach who’d once tormented him.There was nothing left to do but soak it all in.Most final acts, even for the legends, aren’t close to that triumphant. For every Jerome Bettis (won Super Bowl in hometown), there’s an Adrian Peterson (16 yards in a Seahawks jersey) — or 20. Some sendoffs are mundane; others are downright depressing.For Aaron Rodgers, the pass that could have been his last four months ago could not have been more ignominious: Houston Texans safety Calen Bullock picked it off, raced down the Pittsburgh Steelers’ sideline, brushed off the quarterback’s attempted kill shot and shoved him out of bounds en route to the end zone, punctuating a first-round playoff blowout.That could have been a wrap for Rodgers. Blessedly — for those of us who like our finales tinged with at least a trace of radiance and redemption — he decided he’s not going out that way.On Wednesday, two days after signing a one-year deal with the Steelers, Rodgers met with reporters and delivered the final word on his imminent retirement.“This is it,” Rodgers said of the 2026 season, during which he’ll celebrate his 43rd birthday.Hearing that felt good, on so many levels. While not binding — take it from Rodgers’ predecessor in Green Bay, Brett Favre — it was a declarative statement, providing the type of clarity that the quarterback’s many critics complain his words and actions often lack.