Kevin O’Connell Lets the Cat Out of the Bag
For several weeks of the Minnesota Vikings’ 2025 offseason, onlookers waited on pins and needles to determine if Aaron Rodgers to the Vikings smoke was real.
Kevin O’Connell spoke about Aaron Rodgers this week, providing a backstory on the Vikings’ role in his offseason.
As it turns out, Minnesota did the diligence of exploring what a Rodgers relationship might look like, but in the end, the team’s leadership opted against it, paving the way for quarterback J.J. McCarthy’s ascension to QB1.
And O’Connell spoke about the topic late last week.
Kevin O’Connell Explains Vikings’ Role in Exploring Aaron Rodgers’ Free Agency
The Vikings, indeed, talked internally about adding Rodgers as the QB1 in 2025 — future Hall of Famers require those kinds of conversations.
O’Connell told KFAN, “When there was an opportunity — when him and I connected this offseason just to kind of talk about what that would look like — we had a lot of great dialogue about it, but it always was centered around what was best not only for the present in the Minnesota Vikings organization, but the future.”
“I was very honest about my feelings towards J.J. McCarthy, my obligation that I felt like we were going to give him the best possible situation to begin and thrive on this NFL journey, and let’s see where it goes. We stayed in touch and had some communication.”
Rodgers allegedly pursued the Vikings personally, selling them on a one-year run at a Super Bowl that has eluded the franchise for over 60 years.
“Out of respect for our friendship and everything, that’s about as much as really kind of happened. I still talk to him, and the next time I talk to him, it’s going to be the same old, same old. He’s different than people probably think, but I think that’s all part of it in this day and age,” O’Connell added.
He also mentioned McCarthy: “He’s having a great spring. We’re pretty darn close to having a good feel for where he’s at. He’s had a great offseason. He’s healthy, strong, throwing the ball great, fundamentals — everything you hope for in the spring.”
Aaron Rodgers to Steelers, Alas
It’s worth noting that the Rodgers saga, at least regarding Minnesota, is totally over.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted Saturday, “ESPN sources: Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers was in the team’s training facility today to sign his one-year, $13.65 million contract that includes $10 million guaranteed and has a maximum value of $19.5 million. The deal includes $5.85 million worth of playtime and team performance incentives.”
After a couple of months of serious speculation about the Steelers as Rodgers’ ultimate landing spot, he finally made it official.
It’s Go Time for J.J. McCarthy
Rodgers signing in Pittsburgh wipes out any doubt about McCarthy as the team’s sole QB1 solution in 2025. Until Saturday, some believed Minnesota could swerve and ink Rodgers to a one-year deal, even if it has spent the last several weeks touting McCarthy as “the guy.”
Most Rodgers-to-Minnesota fodder was born from Rodgers’ predecessor in Green Bay. Brett Favre played in Green Bay as a Vikings rival for almost 20 years, left for the Jets, and later signed in Minnesota.
Rodgers played in Green Bay for 18 years, left for the Jets, and came somewhat close to effectuating the Favre Special in Minnesota.
But no cigar.
A Poetic Showdown in Europe
Minnesota will face Rodgers in Ireland this season, a Week 4 showdown in Dublin. The Vikings defeated Rodgers’ Jets overseas last year in London.
Therefore, fans will experience McCarthy versus Rodgers, the two characters at the epicenter of all things Vikings in the month of April.
And it’ll be the first-ever regular season game in Ireland.
More on Rodgers to Pittsburgh
Some Steelers fans and analysts struck a pessimistic tone upon Rodgers’ formal arrival in Pittsburgh.
Behind the Steel Curtain‘s Ryan Parish wrote Saturday, “If winning the Super Bowl is the end goal, it takes quite the stretch of imagination to envision this version of Rodgers leading the Steelers there. As a Steelers fan, I would be thrilled if he did, but I have a hard time quieting my skepticism in this case. What feels like the most likely outcome is the Steelers clawing their way to another Wild Card defeat, or at the very least winning enough games to make drafting a rookie an even more expensive proposition.”
“Rodgers teaming up with the Steelers just doesn’t move the needle for me. In my mind, this feels like Tomlin and Rodgers were the last two people remaining at the bar, who lock eyes at closing time, shrug, and drive home together. Why not? This isn’t going to be a meaningful relationship, but maybe the Steelers can find out something about themselves in the effort.”
The Steelers haven’t finished a season with a losing record since 2003.
Parish added, “Regardless of what happens, there is hope on the horizon. The 2026 quarterback class is shaping up to be a good one, and the Steelers are projected to have 12 picks at their disposal. The draft will be in Pittsburgh next season, and it feels almost poetic destiny that the future of the franchise will be introduced to the fanbase for the first time on that stage. We just need to survive 2025.”
The Vikings are a very early 2.5-point favorite to take down the Steelers in Dublin on September 28th.
Popular Viking Formally Says Goodbye
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