During his time in Minnesota, Anthony Barr was known for his physical presence and playmaking ability at linebacker. But for Packers fans, he’ll forever be remembered for one moment: the 2017 hit that sent Aaron Rodgers to the turf - and to the sideline with a broken collarbone. That tackle, completely legal, ignited a years-long rivalry between Barr and Green Bay faithful, with Rodgers himself expressing frustration over the play.
Fast forward to now, and that history makes Barr’s recent social media comment all the more surprising - and let’s be honest, a little entertaining. On Monday, Barr floated the idea that the Vikings should consider bringing in Aaron Rodgers next season, not just to compete, but to serve as a veteran mentor to rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
Yep, you read that right. The same Aaron Rodgers. In a Vikings uniform.
It’s a suggestion that’s been gaining traction among parts of the Vikings fan base, especially as McCarthy has experienced the inevitable growing pains of a rookie starter. The flashes are there - the arm talent, the mobility, the poise in moments - but consistency has been elusive. And with a roster that’s not far off from playoff contention, Minnesota may not want to wait for McCarthy to figure it all out on the fly.
Rodgers, meanwhile, has quietly put together a solid campaign in Pittsburgh. Through 11 starts, he’s thrown for 2,086 yards, 19 touchdowns, and just seven interceptions.
Not bad for a 42-year-old who’s battled through injuries and a new system. But after a hot 4-1 start, the Steelers have slipped to a 6-6 record, and the playoff picture is starting to blur.
With Rodgers’ contract set to expire at the end of the season, and no guarantee that he’ll want to return for another year, the speculation is already swirling. Could Minnesota be a landing spot? The idea isn’t as far-fetched as it might have seemed a few years ago.
If Kevin O’Connell and the Vikings do pick up the phone, they’d be offering Rodgers a pretty intriguing setup: a dome stadium for home games, a return to the NFC North - where he built his Hall of Fame résumé - and a chance to throw to Justin Jefferson, one of the league’s premier receivers. That’s a hard combination to ignore, even for a veteran who’s taken his fair share of hits.
Of course, there are a lot of “ifs” involved. Rodgers would need to want to keep playing.
The Vikings would need to be willing to bring in a future Hall of Famer with a strong personality and a history of commanding the spotlight. And J.J.
McCarthy would need to be on board with taking a backseat - at least temporarily.
But if all those pieces align, it’s not hard to imagine Rodgers in purple and gold, helping bridge the gap between now and whatever McCarthy becomes. And if that happens, Anthony Barr might just want to grab a front-row seat at the press conference. After all, it’s not every day a former rival becomes a teammate - or that a linebacker-turned-analyst gets to say, “I called it.”