As free agency began, the New York Giants found themselves in competition with the Pittsburgh Steelers for quarterback Aaron Rodgers. For the Giants, Rodgers represents a bridge to the future—an experienced passer who could potentially save jobs and restore credibility during the twilight of his career.
On the other hand, Pittsburgh sees Rodgers as the key to breaking their playoff win drought, something that their alternative, Russell Wilson, failed to accomplish. Yet, neither New York nor Pittsburgh knows what the future holds for Rodgers. What is becoming increasingly clear, however, is that the Minnesota Vikings have emerged as the biggest player in this offseason saga.
The Vikings can offer Rodgers the best receiving talent of the bunch, along with the reigning Coach of the Year, a fearsome defense, and a clearer path to playoff contention. The ball is now in Minnesota’s court. If the Vikings want Rodgers, they can likely get him—but that remains uncertain. According to The Athletic, Minnesota might be the only place Rodgers is willing to play, short of retiring.
With retirement rumors swirling, the Giants are left waiting for Rodgers’ decision. According to The Athletic, Rodgers has kept the Steelers and Giants on hold as he seeks clarity about the Vikings’ situation. If Minnesota pulls out of the race, Rodgers might choose retirement over playing for either of the other two teams.
“The bottom line: There are a lot of people waiting on Rodgers’ decision. And Rodgers, at least for now, is waiting on (Kevin) O’Connell.” Returning to Minnesota would give Rodgers the chance to cap his career playing against the Green Bay Packers, a team he spent nearly two decades with. While the NFC North remains tough, the playoff path in that division is more straightforward than in the AFC, which is stacked with elite quarterbacks. The Vikings also present a more formidable team than the Giants, making their offer even more appealing.
While Rodgers would certainly improve the Giants’ fortunes over last season’s disappointing performance, New York would still face an uphill battle to make the playoffs. The Giants wouldn’t be favored to finish ahead of any of their NFC East rivals. The biggest advantage the Vikings have over New York and Pittsburgh, however, is leverage.
Minnesota already has its franchise quarterback in place, even if there is still some healing to do following a rookie-season knee injury. As The Athletic pointed out, all of this rests on O’Connell, who would need to manage Rodgers’ larger-than-life personality, heightened expectations, and the media frenzy that would follow. It’s a gamble the coach may be willing to take, but one that won’t be made lightly.
Without O’Connell’s endorsement, Rodgers might be left to consider a team with little hope or optimism heading into 2025. That simply might not be enticing to him. Should Rodgers choose Minnesota or retire, Russell Wilson and veteran Joe Flacco would likely emerge as the favorites to land in New York.
