Inside The Vikings

Live updates: Aaron Rodgers-Minnesota Vikings news and rumors

  • Is Aaron Rodgers simply waiting on the Vikings to make a decision?
  • Tracking the latest Rodgers buzz as we begin Week 2 of NFL free agency.

Joe Nelson

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) looks on before an NFL football matchup Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) looks on before an NFL football matchup Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union] / Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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The Aaron Rodgers drama has entered Week 2 of NFL free agency, and there remains a split in the national media narrative about how realistic his signing with the Minnesota Vikings is. Regardless of what happens, the Vikings still have J.J. McCarthy and appear to be in good hands heading into the 2025 season.

For some backstory: Michael Silver and Dianna Russini report that Rodgers is waiting on Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell to decide whether he's willing to approve Minnesota offering him a contract. Apparently, it's O'Connell’s call. Meanwhile, the likes of Adam Schefter, Tom Pelissero, and Ian Rapoport continue to say that Rodgers to the Vikings is unlikely.

As long as the Rodgers-to-Minnesota rumor mill has a pulse, we'll be keeping tabs on it. Follow along for updates...

7:15 a.m. Wednesday — Vikings no longer pursuing Rodgers

That's the word from NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, though The Athletic's Dianna Russini maintains that the Vikings, although "not ready to commit at this point," will "continue to monitor Aaron Rodgers as an option."

2:38 p.m. — Steelers gaining hope?

This from NFL insider Josina Anderson: "One league source told me earlier today that the [Steelers] feel like they're 'getting closer' on their quarterback situation.

"In their mind, that optimism pertained to Aaron Rodgers."

2:12 p.m. — Jay Glazer has no idea what Rodgers will do

"I'm not going to predict these dominos falling because I will never predict what Aaron Rogers is going to do. Aaron's his own dude. Admittedly, he's his own guy. I like to deal in facts, so I'm not sure what he's going to do. But I know it's going to be on his timeline," Glazer said on The NFL on FOX podcast.

12:00 p.m. — The latest from Adam Schefter...

"I think everybody's waiting on Aaron Rodgers," Schefter said in an ESPN radio appearance on Tuesday. "At some point, you wonder if the teams and the players involved will just go ahead and make their decision and move forward. I think the Steelers are interested in Aaron Rodgers, the Giants are interested in Aaron Rodgers. I think Aaron Rodgers may be more interested in Minnesota, but Minnesota's not really moving along in that direction right now, but who knows if they would ever change. ... It's not out of the question entirely in Minnesota that he could wind up there, it's just not something that they're actively thinking about or pursuing right now. And everybody's kind of waiting on that."

And here's more from Schefter, summing up the situation on his podcast:

9:30 a.m. (Tuesday) — "Maybe they're talking more than we realize"

The Vikings have been suspiciously quiet lately. They haven't publicly addressed the media since signing several marquee free agents last week. They also haven't taken the opportunity to shut down their rumored interest in Rodgers. That has only added to the speculation. Read our story here, with more quotes from The Athletic's Dianna Russini.

6:16 p.m. — Rodgers not in 'any hurry at all' to make decision

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport doesn't get the sense Aaron Rodgers is in "any hurry at all" to make a decision about where he plays next season. "There's no actually deadline, so if you're the Giants or Vikings or the Steelers or whoever ends up signing Aaron Rodgers, if it's anyone, then you'd like it now, but the next point is: Do you draft someone? And that's a month or so away, so like, all of us would kind of like this done sooner rather than later, I don't get the sense Rodgers is in any hurry at all, and could it go all the way to the draft like it did two years ago? Maybe it could," Rapoport said on NFL Network on Monday.

5:35 p.m. — Vikings have 'checked on' on veteran QB Joe Flacco

That's according to SI's Albert Breer who noted in his latest column that Flacco visited the Giants last week. Breer also stated that the Vikings were one of three teams, Browns and Steelers were the other two, to "think enough of him still to have checked on him."

12:16 p.m. — Rodgers to Vikings is 'possible but unlikely'

That's the word from ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, who was on with Dan Patrick Monday morning.

"I think they're ready to roll with J.J. McCarthy," Fowler said. "All their moves, especially with two big offensive line signings, says we're all in on J.J. McCarthy and his development."

12:13 p.m. — Dan Orlovsky says Vikings need to go with J.J. McCarthy

"I just feel that once Minnesota let Sam Darnold walk out of their building, they made a clear line of demarkation: 'We are moving forward with J.J. McCarthy,'" Orlovsky said.

11:32 a.m. — Seahawks thought about Rodgers before settling on Darnold?

That's the word from SI's Albert Breer. He wrote that the Seahawks considered two options after Geno Smith was traded to the Raiders: Darnold or Rodgers. They went with Darnold due to a number of reasons, including Darnold's time working with offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak when they were with the 49ers in 2023.

9:59 a.m. — AFC coach says Rodgers 'is still a beast'

SI's Albert Breer talked to anonymous execs and coaches who had differing opinions on Rodgers. While one told Breer that Rodgers is "on the downside" of his career (obviously, he's 41), an AFC defensive coach told Breer that Rodgers "is still a beast."

“Mentally and arm-talent-wise, he hasn’t dropped off at all," the defensive coach told Breer. "Now, his mobility and athleticism, of course, isn’t the same as it was 10 years ago. [But] if I’m a team and I need a quarterback right now, I don’t hesitate signing him.”

9:30 a.m. — Giants waiting on Rodgers, visiting with Jameis Winston

The New York Giants have already done their due diligence by visiting with Joe Flacco and Russell Wilson, and now they're reportedly talking with veteran quarterback Jameis Winston. All the while, Rodgers remains a possibility.

9:20 a.m. — Silver maintains that decision is in Kevin O'Connell's hands

"To the Vikings' credit, they are letting him run point on this and ownership won't stand in his way," Silver said Sunday on the Just Your Opinion, Man podcast. "Everybody else is on hold because of it."

"Some people who are pretty familiar with what's going on in that building have told us it's literally 50-50 in their eyes," Silver said, citing people inside Vikings headquarters.

Vikings news, rumors and analysis

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Joe Nelson
JOE NELSON

Joe Nelson has more than 20 years of experience in Minnesota sports journalism. Nelson began his career in sports radio, working at smaller stations in Marshall and St. Cloud before moving to the highly-rated KFAN-FM 100.3 in the Twin Cities. While there, he produced the popular mid-morning show hosted by Minnesota Vikings play-by-play announcer Paul Allen. His time in radio laid the groundwork for his transition to sports writing in 2011. He covers the Vikings, Timberwolves, Gophers and Twins for On SI.

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