The Minnesota Vikings are in search of a new quarterback – but don’t expect it to be Aaron Rodgers for one bizarre reason.
While Rodgers was released by the Jets, the Vikings are looking to add a veteran to their quarterback room (in addition to 22-year-old J.J. McCarthy) after letting their 2024 starter Sam Darnold go to the Seahawks.
And while Rodgers has been linked with the Vikings, a source told DailyMail.com that the passer doesn’t want to follow the same path as his Packers predecessor Brett Favre.
‘Aaron’s best chance to get back to the Super Bowl would be with a team like Minnesota who is still stacked, but he is looking to avoid signing with them now that Sam Darnold has signed with the Seahawks because he wants to avoid taking the same trajectory as Brett Favre who also went to the Jets, then Minnesota from his time at Green Bay,’ the source said.
‘The Giants and Pittsburgh are still on the top of the list for varying reasons, one with the Giants, he wouldn’t have to move and he would enjoy staying in New York and when it comes to Pittsburgh, it’s similar to Green Bay, great coach and it is a team that has fans that are known to be hardworking.
‘This will be his last contract, so ultimately, it is who pays him the most on where he ends up signing with, but Minnesota might not want to try for him as he is looking to use them more as leverage than anything else.’
Aaron Rodgers is looking for his next team after being released by the New York Jets
An insider told DailyMail.com that he doesn’t way to play for the Vikings because he doesn’t want to follow the same path as his Packers predecessor Brett Favre
Brett Favre finished his career with the Vikings after playing one season for the Jets
Rodgers made about $75million during two seasons with the Jets in 2023 and 2024 (though he missed essentially all of 2023 after tearing his Achilles in Week 1), per Spotrac.
A move to the Vikings, who have also been linked with re-signing Daniel Jones, would represent a near-identical career path between Rodgers and Favre, who started over the younger quarterback during Rodgers’ first three years in Green Bay.
Favre played a total of 16 seasons for the Packers after spending his rookie year in Atlanta, while Rodgers was in Wisconsin for 18 years (15 as the starter).
After departing Green Bay, Favre then spent one year with the Jets in 2008 before playing two seasons with his former rivals in Minnesota.
The landing spots of several other quarterbacks could determine the future of Rodgers, who has attracted interest from the Giants and Steelers, according to multiple reports.
Jones is said to have a choice between the Vikings and Colts, while Russell Wilson is still on the market and appears headed for a new home outside of Pittsburgh.
Elsewhere in the league, Rodgers’ former team, the Jets, have agreed to sign Justin Fields, while the Raiders traded for Geno Smith.
Rodgers, 41, saw his Jets stumble to a 5-12 record and miss the playoffs last season.
While the offense struggled to consistently score points, he finished the year with 28 passing touchdowns and 3,897 yards.
