The Minnesota Vikings have a quarterback conundrum on their hands heading into the 2026 season - and the latest twist involves none other than Aaron Rodgers. Yes, that Aaron Rodgers.
The four-time MVP, future Hall of Famer, and one of the most polarizing figures in football might not be done just yet. And according to one insider, Minnesota could be a real possibility.
Mike DeFabo of The Athletic stirred the pot with a bold projection: there’s a 35% chance Rodgers suits up for the Vikings next season, a 40% chance he retires, and just a 25% shot he returns to Pittsburgh. Now, forecasting what Rodgers will do has never been a straightforward task - the man thrives on unpredictability - but the fact that Minnesota is even in the conversation says a lot about where things stand with JJ McCarthy.
The Vikings made a big bet on McCarthy when they moved on from Sam Darnold. But that bet hasn’t paid off - at least not yet.
McCarthy’s 2025 campaign was rocky, to put it mildly. In 10 starts, he completed just 57.6% of his passes, throwing 11 touchdowns against 12 interceptions.
That’s not exactly the kind of stat line that inspires confidence, especially for a team that believes it has the pieces to contend.
Meanwhile, Darnold - the guy they let walk - is now one win away from the Super Bowl. That stings. And it puts even more pressure on Minnesota’s front office to get the quarterback position right, fast.
Enter Rodgers.
At 42, he’s no longer the player who could single-handedly carry a franchise, but he’s still one of the smartest quarterbacks in the league, and when healthy, can make throws few others can. The question is: does he still want to play? Rodgers addressed that uncertainty recently, and while he didn’t give a definitive answer, he left the door open.
“Listen, I’m thinking about this week, but obviously I’m 42 years old, and I’m on a one-year deal, so you know what the situation is,” Rodgers said. “Whenever the season ends, I’ll be a free agent, so that will give me a lot of options, if I still want to play… I mean, not a lot of options, but there’ll be options, I would think maybe one or two if I decide I still want to play.”
One of those options, however, probably isn’t a return to Pittsburgh. Rodgers’ arrival there was largely tied to the opportunity to play under Mike Tomlin. And according to Steelers owner Art Rooney II, that connection might be the deciding factor in whether Rodgers stays or goes.
“Aaron came here to play for Mike,” Rooney said. “I think it will most likely affect his decision.”
So if not Pittsburgh, where? The Texans were floated as a possibility, but with CJ Stroud firmly entrenched and leading Houston to three straight playoff appearances, that door feels closed. The Dolphins were also mentioned, but between organizational instability and a murky quarterback situation, that doesn’t exactly scream “Rodgers destination.”
Which brings us back to Minnesota.
The Vikings have a young quarterback who hasn't proven he's ready, a roster that’s not far from contending, and a potential opening for a veteran to come in and stabilize the ship. Rodgers wouldn’t just bring experience - he’d bring credibility and a level of poise under pressure that McCarthy simply hasn’t shown yet.
Now, none of this guarantees anything. Rodgers could hang it up tomorrow and walk away from the game. But if he’s got one more run in him, and if the Vikings are serious about maximizing the window they have with this roster, then this pairing - as wild as it might sound - could actually make some football sense.
We’re not there yet. But we’re close enough that it’s worth watching.