Vikings Main Offseason Rumor Has Died
It’s basically a done deal, and the Minnesota Vikings’ top offseason rumor expired on Thursday.
That’s a wrap for the Vikings’ top offseason rumor, which persisted for a few months rather prominently.
After months of some Vikings fans wondering if Aaron Rodgers would sign in Minnesota, he reportedly informed the Pittsburgh Steelers that he’s ready to ink a contract.
Rodgers will not play for the Vikings in 2025.
Aaron Rodgers to Sign with Steelers
NFL Network‘s Tom Pelissero broke the news: “Renegade A-Rod: Four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers informed the Steelers he’ll fly to Pittsburgh on Friday and sign before next week’s minicamp, sources tell The Insiders. Finally, a done deal: Rodgers, 41, will play his 21st NFL season in black and gold.”
Steelers’ ownership, coaches, players, and fans were incredibly patient with Rodgers, who seized the spotlight for months with a “Will he or won’t he?” saga, and their troubles were rewarded.
Rodgers will quarterback the Steelers in 2025, possibly a final hurrah.
Vikings’ Offseason Rumor Is Toast
The Vikings, on the other hand, have J.J. McCarthy ready to lead in 2025. However, some fans were hellbent on the purple team signing Rodgers, who appeared to campaign for a spot on the Vikings’ roster through back channels.
Rodgers reportedly pitched a one-year run at the Super Bowl to the Vikings’ leaders, although they declined in favor of the McCarthy era.
It’s worth noting that the Rodgers rumor mill died down significantly after the draft, but as recently as this week, some talking heads suggested Rodgers could be waiting to see if McCarthy would succumb to another injury or struggle.
McCarthy has done no such thing at OTAs, and Rodgers will evidently effectuate the longstanding Steelers theories.
Rodgers vs. MIN in Dublin
And this news spices up the Vikings’ battle in Ireland this September.
Minnesota will take on Pittsburgh in the first-ever Ireland game, and guess what? Barring injury or extreme setback, Rodgers will lead the Steelers against Kevin O’Connell’s team.
Interestingly, the Vikings beat Rodgers and the New York Jets overseas in London about nine months ago. It’s a sequel of sorts.
Rodgers’ Performance in 2024
Rodgers’ volume stats were quite pretty last season. He dimed 28 touchdowns to 11 interceptions, with 3,897 passing yards and a Jets’ team record of 5-12.
Yet, his efficiency wasn’t very Rodgers-like, ranking 22nd in the NFL per EPA+CPOE, notably bested by a quarterback like Russell Wilson, who coincidentally led Pittsburgh in 2024.
He’ll hope for a full career revival at the age of 42 (in December) this season.
More from SteelersNation.com
SteelersNation.com‘s Parker Abate wrote about the soon-to-be signing: “While Rodgers won’t be looked at as a long-term option, the offense suddenly has some more experience and talent to it. The additions of Rodgers and DK Metcalf will bring some significant excitement to the fan base. Utilizing the new players properly will be pivotal moving forward. There will be plenty of strong opinions regarding the signing, but it’s impossible to ignore the fact that the Steelers absolutely do believe that they are in win-now mode.”
“There is no reason to sign a 41-year-old signal-caller if the belief internally is that a rebuild is necessary. Rodgers defeated Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XLV as a member of the Green Bay Packers, but he could make it up to the Steel City by bringing a championship trophy back to the Steelers’ building soon. The Steelers will have to prioritize the offensive line throughout the offseason as the development of several young starters will be imperative.”
Oddsmakers believe Pittsburgh will win eight or nine games in 2025 — the same as Minnesota’s forecast.
Abate continued, “Rodgers is not as mobile as he once was, so it will be crucial to make sure that the big men up front are performing consistently and effectively. It’s clear, overall, that General Manager Omar Khan wanted to set the offense up for success. It is already starting to look completely revamped. Pittsburgh is a very popular place to play specifically because of the history of the organization.”
“Rodgers only has one Super Bowl ring and there’s no doubt that he will want to chase another one prior to his retirement. He could absolutely do that in the Steel City if the offense continues to be upgraded and an aging defense can remain healthy moving forward. Are you happy that the Steelers are expected to sign Rodgers in free agency?”
Rodgers will now have all summer to build chemistry with players like D.K. Metcalf, Kaleb Johnson, Robert Woods, Pat Freiermuth, and Jaylen Warren.
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