Pro Football Rumors reported this offseason that Aaron Rodgers and Kevin O’Connell spoke on multiple occasions as the veteran quarterback searched for a new team.
Minnesota’s interest never materialized into an offer or even a formal meeting, and Rodgers later signed in Pittsburgh. Months later, both teams are 2-1, though the Vikings started backup Carson Wentz in Week 3 with J.J. McCarthy sidelined by an ankle injury.
Rodgers confirmed on Wednesday (via ESPN’s Brooke Pryor) that he did reach out to O’Connell, but added that their discussions “never progressed beyond catch-up conversations.” The two have known each other since 2008, when O’Connell entered the NFL as a Patriots fourth-round pick. They became more familiar with one another when O’Connell joined the NFC North as the Vikings’ head coach in 2023.
Rodgers signing with his former rival always seemed like a long shot considering Minnesota’s investment in J.J. McCarthy last offseason. The team made it clear when they let Sam Darnold leave in free agency that they intended to hand over the keys to the offense to McCarthy after he missed his rookie year due to injury. As a result, Rodgers would have been a placeholder at best and a backup at worst.
He still had reportedly had interest in signing with the Vikings with the belief that he could thrive in O’Connell’s offense, but such an addition would raise questions about Minnesota’s plans for McCarthy. Losing a training camp competition could shake the young QB’s confidence, and if he won the starting job and struggled – as he did to start the year – having a backup with Rodgers’ pedigree could have put pressure on the team to make a switch. Of course, the same could still happen if Wentz leads the Vikings to a few more wins as McCarthy works his way back to the field.
Oh good, it continues to be all about Aaron Rodgers…
I think you’ll be ok man
Letting Daniel Jones go may be the worst decision MINN ever made lol
I think drafting Troy Williamson in the first round is worse.
i mean there was also drafting laquan treadwell, Lewis Cine,
the obvious Walker trade,
There is a bit of an ongoing list.
I’m going to go with trading for Sam Bradford or taking Christian Ponder at #12. Or maybe passing on Rodgers in the draft twice to take Troy Williamson and Erasmus James
My god another Aaron article? Are you his PR guy? No one cares. Move on.
They also put out a Samuel Cosmi article, wheres you accusing them of being his PR? You come to a pro football trade rumors site and surprised you see an article about a starting QB? Cmon bro