Spicy Vikings Rumor Picks up Steam
Solely because Brett Favre did the exact same thing 15 years ago, the Minnesota Vikings rumor mill can’t quite shake Aaron Rodgers.
Spicy Vikings Rumor Picks up Steam
Rodgers has quarterbacked the New York Jets for the last two seasons, an unsuccessful experiment due to injury and an apparent age-related decline.
And when the Jets cleaned house in 2024, firing their general manager and head coach, the rumor mill began to chirp about Rodgers to the Vikings in 2025, as it seemed unlikely a new regime would want Rodgers back under center.
The Rodgers-to-Vikings theories then gained new legs on Super Bowl weekend after credible reporting suggested his time in New York was over.
Fox Sports‘ Jay Glazer — the guy who created Kevin O’Connell trade rumors last month — tweeted Sunday: “Big scoopage: Aaron Rodgers flew back to New Jersey last week to meet with the Jets about his future with the team, only to be told that the team was moving on from him.”
“That means that he will be a June 1 designation that allows him to sign with any team in the league on March 12, if he decides to continue to play. Given that Aaron made the effort to fly back to discuss his future, all signs point to him continuing to play. It just won’t be for the Jets.”
Immediately, Rodgers in purple took on a life of its own on social media, mainly because Favre’s reign in the Twin Cities is still fresh in some folks’ memories. Vikings fans speculated about the idea, even creating AI-generated images of Rodgers in a Vikings uniform, while some media outlets took the liberty of putting Minnesota on Rodgers’ shortlist of possible destinations.
Minnesota drafted quarterback J.J. McCarthy with the 10th overall pick last April, and most expect the 22-year-old to start in 2025, especially if Sam Darnold joins a new team via free agency or franchise-tag-and-trade. Darnold guided the Vikings to the postseason in 2024 but vanished in the season’s final two games — not unlike Patrick Mahomes in Super Bowl LIX.
Two weeks ago, Rodgers was linked to Minnesota via Bleacher Report. BR’s Kristopher Knox explained in an article about the best and worst landing spots for quarterbacks on the move: “While this scenario is highly unlikely, following Brett Favre’s Green Bay-to-New-York-to-Minnesota path could be the best possible outcome for Rodgers. If the 41-year-old decides to extend his NFL career, it’ll be to ensure that the Jets debacle isn’t his final chapter. He won’t come back to lead another directionless franchise. He’ll want to play for a contender, and there aren’t many that will consider employing him.”
“The Vikings theoretically could have an opening if they part with both Darnold and Jones while deciding that McCarthy needs another year as an understudy. Minnesota has a strong enough offensive cast to support Rodgers, while the veteran has stated that he’s open to mentoring a young quarterback,” Knox continued.
On the whole, Rodgers joining Kevin O’Connell and Co. is wildly unlikely. McCarthy is the team’s future, and Rodgers’ personality isn’t necessarily known for the locker room chemistry. His persona could be a detriment to McCarthy’s development.
However, Rodgers-Vikings rumors will continue until he retires or signs with another team. They’re too Favrian to resist.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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