Surprise Suitor? Another Destination Emerges for Aaron Rodgers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are interested in him. So are the New York Giants. But, Aaron Rodgers could continue to follow the path blazed by Brett Favre.
The New York Jets officially released Rodgers on Wednesday. The future Pro Football Hall of Famer can sign wherever he prefers. The Steelers and Giants appear to be his options, but he could also land in another spot.
“Vikings decision-makers are still evaluating their options at quarterback, including the possibility of signing Aaron Rodgers,” The Athletic’s Dianna Russini wrote Wednesday on X. “The four-time MVP is intrigued by the idea of playing in Minnesota. For now, it’s a waiting game, sources tell @mikesilver and me.”
If Rodgers heads to Minneapolis, he’d have a similar career map to Favre, his predecessor in Green Bay. The Packers traded Favre to the Jets in 2008. He spent a season there before playing for Minnesota from 2009-10.
The Athletic’s Alec Lewis considered why Aaron Rodgers would make sense with the Vikings on Wednesday. Rodgers went 6-12 as the Jets starter over the past two seasons and passed for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions in 2024.
“First, let’s make this clear: The Vikings’ thoughts on J.J. McCarthy have not changed,” Lewis wrote. “They believe he is the franchise’s quarterback of the future and do not want to impede his path to the starting job. So, how could Rodgers still make sense? Because the Vikings want a veteran quarterback to pair with McCarthy, and Rodgers is the best veteran available.
“McCarthy is coming off a torn meniscus that forced him to miss his entire rookie season, and while the Vikings have spoken positively about his rehab, they still have to prepare for the worst. Rodgers would provide insurance for a team that has spent handsomely (on players like Justin Jefferson) and is focused on winning.”