Chase Daniel said it the best on the recent episode of the Scoop City podcast: “I know that Minnesota has a championship-ready roster right now.” Especially after last season, when everyone had written them off after JJ McCarthy‘s injury. But Sam Darnold stepped up, helping the Vikes to 14 Ws from under center. Oof! So, it’s safe to say that now, with JJ returning, the Vikings are stepping into a new era. However, about their quarterback situation? That’s a script that refuses to be written in ink.
Just when it seemed like the JJ McCarthy era was about to take off, whispers of a potential Aaron Rodgers reunion with the NFC North started making the rounds. Then, the Skol Nation sounded off those false alarms. But it’s not really leaving the purple and gold. And not just from basement-dwelling Reddit theorists—actual plugged-in insiders are leaving the door open.
Let’s rewind. The Vikings traded up in the draft to take McCarthy at No. 10, signaling a clear investment in the young quarterback. But here’s the kicker—Kevin O’ Connell is yet to name the youngster his QB1. He’s not done it. Not yet. Despite Sam leaving Minnesota to be the guy in Seattle.
When asked by Kay Adams on Up & Adams if he’d officially been given the starting job, McCarthy said, “They haven’t told me. I’m happy they didn’t, because I try to earn it every single day.” That’s a great mindset, but it also raises eyebrows. Why haven’t the Vikings fully committed? That’s where the Rodgers speculation starts making a little too much sense.
Dianna Russini stirred the pot on Scoop City with Chase Daniel, pointing out, “There is a world that exists this year where Aaron Rodgers hangs out, and the Minnesota Vikings pick up the phone and make the call. It could happen.” And if you think about it, it actually could. Rodgers’ time in New York has been… let’s call it “eventful,” with more off-field drama than actual on-field action. The Jets haven’t exactly slammed the door on moving on from him, and the Vikings? Well, they’re reportedly keeping an open mind.
Aug 10, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) passes against the Las Vegas Raiders in the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Meanwhile, Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah added just enough intrigue to keep the rumor mill spinning. When asked about Rodgers, he acknowledged, “Aaron Rodgers—you know, this organization has known for a long time on the opposing sideline. You know, talking about a great player, a Hall of Famer… It’s our job as a personnel group to make sure we’re aware of every potential option.” Notice the careful wording? That’s a classic front-office move—keeping all options “open” while not actually committing to anything.
And then there’s Kevin O’Connell. Chase Daniel put it bluntly: “For God’s sake, they won 14 games with Sam Darnold! You don’t think Kevin O’Connell can make it work with Aaron Rodgers?” The point stands—O’Connell’s track record suggests he can get the best out of any QB.
But there’s also the question of fit. Would Rodgers, known for wanting things his way, mesh with a head coach who’s equally firm in his system? Russini waved off that concern, saying, “That is such a lazy argument to make… They will figure out how to make that marriage work.”
At the end of the day, the Vikings’ situation is simple: They’re committed to McCarthy—just not publicly. They want him to earn the job, and that’s part of the culture they’ve built under O’Connell and Adofo-Mensah. Bringing in a veteran? That was always part of the plan. But which veteran remains the question.
Was Aaron Rodgers a pawn in Kevin and Co.’s larger scheme?
Alright, stay with me here. There’s just one problem with the idea of JJ McCarthy taking the reins—he hasn’t played football in over a year, and they’re not about to hand him the job on a silver platter. So, what do they do? Keep the pressure off. Make it look like there’s a competition. Maybe even drop a few breadcrumbs about a certain 41-year-old, four-time MVP who still thinks he’s got it. Enter Aaron Rodgers—the perfect smokescreen.
Rodgers, fresh off a self-imposed exile from the Jets, has been lingering in the free-agent abyss, waiting for a call. And the Vikings? They played it smart. They didn’t shut the door. Instead, they let the rumors simmer, let Rodgers believe there was a seat at the table. Okay, Dianna said it the best that door is still open, but that door’s open for any veteran to take the role of a trendsetter.
“The Vikings had the opportunity to completely close the door on Aaron Rodgers and they didn’t..
I know that Aaron Rodgers loves everybody in that Pittsburgh Steelers building” ~ @OfficialAJHawk#PMSLive pic.twitter.com/bWp42Njv6D
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) March 28, 2025
Meanwhile, Rodgers, still clinging to the idea of a comeback, had one option left—the Steelers. Tom Pelissero even reported that Rodgers invited himself to Pittsburgh’s facility for a visit. “This deal has been in place contract-wise for weeks,” Pelissero said.
But here’s the problem—Rodgers can’t seem to make up his mind. Adam Schefter even suggested that Rodgers might just retire instead, saying, “Until I hear him say, ‘I want to play,’ then I can tell you people are asking that question about whether he wants to play.”
So, what was all this Vikings talk for? A distraction. A way to buy McCarthy time. A classic misdirection play straight out of Kevin O’Connell’s playbook. And now, as Rodgers drags his feet on a decision with Pittsburgh, the Vikings are sitting pretty, watching their rookie take over without the weight of expectations crushing him before he even takes his first snap. Genius, really.
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