Why Vikings stuck with J.J. McCarthy instead of signing Aaron Rodgers

Sep 9, 2025 - 08:00

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Why Vikings stuck with J.J. McCarthy instead of signing Aaron Rodgers originally appeared on The Sporting News

The Minnesota Vikings looked like a Super Bowl contender in 2024, so it was no doubt a risk to roll with J.J. McCarthy in 2025.

Granted, the Vikings invested a lot in McCarthy as a No. 10 overall pick, but he is also a total wild card after not playing during his rookie campaign due to a knee injury.

According to reports, veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers was eyeing the Vikings in free agency before he ultimately ended up with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Rodgers was coming off a down season, but he would have at least provided a more sure thing than McCarthy.

However, the Vikings decided not to pursue Rodgers and instead moved forward with McCarthy. Here's why.

Why Vikings didn't sign Aaron Rodgers

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported the Vikings didn't sign the future Hall of Famer because of their three-year plan that included having a quarterback on a cheap rookie deal.

“They saw this as a three-year window right now to win a championship with a really good quarterback they like on a rookie deal," Fowler reported.

This is a tough pill to swallow for Vikings fans right now as McCarthy struggles through his NFL debut on Monday night against the Chicago Bears.

Meanwhile, the questions about how much Rodgers has left in the tank appear to have been premature, as the veteran quarterback looked like his old self in the Steelers' Week 1 win over the New York Jets.

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