There has been plenty of talk this offseason regarding just how much former Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has wanted to sign with the Minnesota Vikings. Effectively, it would complete the Brett Favre career arc, and there’s no denying that Kevin O’Connell’s offense would be an ideal scenario for him.
Vikings Could Get Aaron Rodgers Again
Of course, that ship has sailed, and it was never actually realistic given how committed Minnesota has remained to J.J. McCarthy. Really, the only landing spots providing any level of sensibility include the Pittsburgh Steelers or the New Orleans Saints.
Neither team has a starting-caliber talent, and in the wake of Derek Carr’s retirement, the Saints are truly down bad. It’s the Steelers that Rodgers has dabbled more in, though, and it’s there that an eventual signing seems to make the most sense.
We now know that Minnesota will see Pittsburgh in Dublin for a neutral-site road game. If Rodgers is under center for Mike Tomlin’s squad, he’d present a unique opportunity for the Vikings.
Last year, Minnesota hosted the New York Jets at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Their quarterback was Aaron Rodgers. Veteran cornerback Stephon Gilmore picked off a pass to seal the game, and the Vikings emerged victorious in Europe.
This time around, Minnesota is set to play European contests in consecutive weeks. The Steelers game is not in London, but a win over Rodgers and Pittsburgh in Ireland would represent a second-straight victory over a Rodgers-led team on foreign soil.
It’s not shocking that Minnesota could stack wins against the future Hall of Famer. He’s a shell of himself at this point in his career, and most opposing defenses should salivate at the opportunity to line up against him.
There would be some poetic justice if Rodgers goes from wanting to sign with Minnesota to losing against them for the second straight season. It’s hardly out of the question at this point.
Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes daily for Minnesota Sports Fan. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.