There’s Nothing Dumber Than the Aaron Rodgers to Minnesota Narrative
Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The Minnesota Vikings and the New York Jets have quite the history when it comes to disgruntled ex-Packers quarterbacks. After failing to convince Brett Favre to stay retired during the 2008 offseason, Green Bay begrudgingly traded Favre to the Jets for a fourth round draft pick only for Favre to retire a second time following the 2008 season, change his mind again, and sign with the Vikings in 2009. Ever since then, there’s been a lot of media members fantasizing about history potentially repeating itself with Aaron Rodgers.
With the New York Jets blowing everything up, does Aaron Rodgers wind up with the Minnesota #Vikings in 2025?! #SKOL pic.twitter.com/tdC01xU7AR
— SKOR North – Minnesota Sports (@SKORNorth) November 20, 2024
“Rodgers is one of the best quarterbacks to play the game.” Said NFL media analyst Mike Hennelly. “Pair him with one of the NFL’s most dynamic and explosive wide receivers in Justin Jefferson, and the sky’s the limit for the Vikings’ offense in 2025. Not to mention Jordan Addison is one of the top number two wide receivers in the league, and the Vikings have a good offensive line. Head coach Kevin O’Connell is one of the best offensive-minded coaches in the game. Rodgers and O’Connell could do something special together in the quarterback’s 21st season.”
I would say the vast majority of Vikings fans want nothing to do with Aaron Rodgers. Yes, the Vikings have quite the reputation when it comes to happily taking the Packers’ hand-me-downs. Greg Jennings, Za’Darius Smith, Aaron Jones, heck even Datone Jones! With all due respect to Mike Hennelly and anyone else who has been trying to speak Rodgers to Minnesota into existence, this has a zero percent chance of happening. Matter of fact, there’s nothing more off base than this tired, old, narrative.
Kevin O’Connell is known as a quarterback whisperer. He helped Kirk Cousins put up borderline MVP numbers before he tore his Achilles in 2022, made Josh Dobbs’ life easier by translating calls and mapping out plays mid-huddle as the play clock was ticking down, and helped Sam Darnold revive his career after the league wrote him off as a bust. What the national media often fails to realize is that O’Connell is extremely picky when it comes to quarterbacks, even once dubbing himself the “quarterback killer” due to his rigorous selection process for top draft prospects at the position.
O’Connell also runs a Sean McVay-inspired scheme full of pre-snap motions and shifts, and he doesn’t like to deviate from that style of play. O’Connell has full faith in his offense which has a proven track record of success, and he wouldn’t enjoy coaching a quarterback who isn’t willing to execute his offensive scheme.
Aaron Rodgers much prefers operating in a West Coast-style offense. “The West Coast offense I think is the most beautiful offense ever created.” Rodgers said in an interview. “It’s very much about timing, rhythm, and balance. Everything makes sense protection wise and you know where your hots are, you know where your eyes are going every single time, you know how the concepts fit together. In that offense though, it’s not predicated on motions, it’s predicated on winning 1v1 matchups, and being accurate throwing the football. So that’s what I grew up in.” Part of what led Rodgers to ultimately demanding a trade to the Jets was his unwillingness to run Matt LaFleur’s motion-heavy, Kyle Shanahan-influenced offensive scheme.
Even if Kevin O’Connell didn’t run a motion-heavy offense, it would be extremely out of character for Aaron Rodgers to join Minnesota of all teams. We’re talking about someone who once showed up to a post-game press conference after the Packers beat the Vikings drinking a purple-flavored crush. Rodgers isn’t going to join the one team he hates to get revenge on Green Bay for drafting Jordan Love.
Taking a swig of grape soda, Crush, after beating the Vikings again. Rodgers low-key trolling here pic.twitter.com/S64JCLzXk8
— Master (@MasterTes) November 24, 2014
Signing Rodgers to a one-year deal wouldn’t make sense for the Vikings, either. Minnesota already signed Daniel Jones as a bridge quarterback who will compete against second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy for the starting job next season. McCarthy is on track to be ready for the 2025 season, and if he wasn’t Minnesota could roll with Daniel Jones or franchise tag Sam Darnold. However, it’s in the Vikings’ best interest long-term to avoid signing Darnold or Rodgers for that matter. They should instead surround McCarthy with high-level talent using their $55.64 million in effective cap space.
Lastly, it doesn’t make sense for the New York Jets to allow Aaron Rodgers to leave in the first place. The Jets spent significant draft capital reuniting Rodgers with his favorite receiver by trading for Davante Adams midseason. New York also hired former Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, who unsurprisingly wants to keep Rodgers. That’s because the Jets hold the 7th overall pick in a quarterback class that only has two first-round caliber quarterbacks, both of whom are expected to be selected within the first three picks. Rodgers is still the Jets’ best option at quarterback.
Nothing about this narrative makes sense for any of the parties involved. Kevin O’Connell wouldn’t approve of Rodgers changing his offense, Aaron Rodgers wouldn’t enjoy playing in a motion-based offense on a team he hates, the Vikings won’t want to absorb Rodgers’ massive cap hit when they have J.J. McCarthy on a rookie-scale contract, and the Jets probably won’t let Aaron leave to begin with. Please do us all a favor and let this tired narrative die, because it ain’t happening.
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