Dalvin Cook Says Aaron Rodgers Is Top Reason He Wants to Play for Jets

The running back is visiting with New York this weekend.

Dalvin Cook is spending this weekend visiting the Jets, as the free agent running back is coming close to deciding where he will play next season. The former Viking seems to be deciding between two division rivals—New York and his hometown Dolphins—for where he will spend the 2023 season.

On Friday, Cook joined Good Morning Football to discuss his free agency and upcoming visit with the Jets, and the veteran credited new Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers for his interest in the team.

“You always want to be around a great QB, you always want to be around somebody who you can pick his brain and learn from,” Cook said. “A-Rod is a four-time MVP. Just being around a guy like that, you can really learn a lot more and develop as a player.”

HE'S HERE 🚨@dalvincook gives us the details of his @nyjets visit planned for this weekend 👀👀👀 pic.twitter.com/g5eKJl3vdU

— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) July 28, 2023

Rodgers and Cook spent the past six seasons as rivals in the NFC North, with the Packers and Vikings battling it out twice a season. In that span, Green Bay and Minnesota combined for five of the six division titles among the four NFC North teams.

Now that Rodgers is in New York, he has made the Jets an immediate draw for veteran players who are looking for the elusive Super Bowl ring. New York already has Breece Hall at running back, but the sophomore is recovering from an ACL tear he suffered last year, which could open the door for Cook to get a bunch of carries early in the season.

Last year, Cook played in 17 games for Minnesota, totaling 1,173 yards and eight touchdowns along with a fourth-straight Pro Bowl appearance. The Vikings released Cook in the offseason, though, and chose to roll with Alexander Mattison instead.