Typically issues current themselves in sports activities that you just simply want to occur, even once you don’t have any pores and skin within the sport. Circumstances so hilarious, so sensible, that you just need to will them into existence. Now that Aaron Rodgers’ time in New York is formally achieved there’s just one place he wants to complete out his profession.
Aaron Rodgers must change into the beginning quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings.
This is able to enable him to achieve his ultimate type, the profession he was constructing in the direction of all this time, the superbly 2025 incarnation of Brett Favre. The most effective half is that this isn’t some pie-in-the-sky notion that makes zero sense — it may really work. Hilariously the Vikings have change into exactly the “proper place, proper time” crew for Rodgers to make one final run, and Minnesota may really be in a spot the place Rodgers is healthier than the choice.
The trail ahead at quarterback for the Vikings is murky. Sam Darnold had a Professional Bowl season worthy of a big-time extension, however Minnesota don’t seem desirous to be the crew to pony up large cash. In the meantime J.J. McCarthy, who the crew drafted to be their QB of the long run, nonetheless wants extra rehab time to get well from damage.
It leaves the Vikings with a couple of of choices: Attempt to signal Darnold to a short-term deal, franchise tag him, or discover a short-term caretaker quarterback.
Why not this man?
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Picture by Luke Hales/Getty Photos
Historical past has a humorous means of repeating itself. In 2008 the Vikings discovered themselves in an oddly related state of affairs. The crew went 10-6, eradicated within the Wild Card Spherical of the playoffs, however with a roster robust sufficient to make noise. Tavaris Jackson confirmed unimaginable flashes to shut out the season, however the crew was involved that he couldn’t replicate his efficiency in 2009.
It was at exactly this time that the Jets lower a 40-year-old Brett Favre after their try and win all of it with No. 4 didn’t work. Favre went to the Vikings, turned the crew round, they usually have been 4 factors away from making it to the Tremendous Bowl — the closest they’d been in years.
Now Minnesota are uncertain about whether or not Darnold may be the man, and a 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers has been lower by the Jets. The query is whether or not Rodgers is a basically higher possibility than Sam Darnold if you happen to assume the Vikings can really compete for a Tremendous Bowl — and the reply is sure.
Say what you’ll about Rodgers personally, however really throughout his time with the Jets he didn’t present that the drop off was so pronounced that he can’t nonetheless win. The Jets didn’t have unimaginable weapons, and their run sport faltered in 2024, however Rodgers nonetheless managed to throw for 3,897 yards, 28 TDs and 11 INTs.
If you happen to put Rodgers with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson in a Kevin O’Connell offense there’s a very actual likelihood he would carry out higher than Darnold. Furthermore he wouldn’t require an costly franchise tag, liberating up extra free company cash for the Vikings to make a splash — they usually have already got a struggle chest.
There’s actually nothing to lose right here for the Vikings. In the event that they plug in Rodgers for a 12 months and it fails, no hurt no foul. Do you actually assume they’d be capable of go additional in the direction of a championship with Darnold on the helm? Let Sam go and get the bag from one other QB-needy crew on a long-term deal, see if you happen to can’t go additional with Rodgers. Even when it blows up it’s higher to get a excessive draft decide than be locked within the playoffs mediocrity of early 20s draft picks.
You know Rodgers would like to play in opposition to the Packers twice a 12 months. It is a man who relishes being a villain at this level in his profession, a lot as Brett Favre did.
It’s time to finish the metamorphosis. Comply with the very same path. Transfer from supplanting Favre, to waffling about your future, heading to New York, then return carrying purple for one final revenge tour.
Aaron Rodgers is the Vikings is what the NFL wants.