The Minnesota Vikings are content to proceed with J.J. McCarthy as their quarterback and won’t sign free agent Aaron Rodgers, multiple outlets reported Wednesday.
Rodgers reportedly has offers from the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants but had been waiting for word from Minnesota before making a decision to continue playing or retire.
The Vikings selected McCarthy with the 10th overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft when he was fresh off of leading Michigan to the College Football Playoff championship. He missed the entire season following surgery to repair his torn right meniscus.
Sam Darnold led the Vikings to a 14-3 record in the regular season but chose to let him walk in free agency, and he signed with the Seattle Seahawks.
The Vikings are a team with sights on the Super Bowl and clearly decided the 22-year-old McCarthy was a better all-around option than the 41-year-old Rodgers.
For starters, McCarthy still is on his rookie deal and will earn a base salary of $960,000. Rodgers would have commanded millions, leaving the Vikings with money they already have used in free agency.
Minnesota has rejected trade discussions with other teams about McCarthy, per reports.
Now, the clock is on Rodgers to tell the Steelers and the Giants of his plans.
One Steelers player, veteran captain Cameron Heyward, said he’s tired of waiting on Rodgers, a four-time NFL Most Valuable Player.
“Either you want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler or you don’t,” he said Tuesday on his “Not Just Football” podcast. “It’s that simple. That’s the pitch. If you want me to recruit, that’s the recruiting pitch. Pittsburgh Steelers. If you want to be part of it, so be it. If you don’t, no skin off my back.”
Rodgers is coming off a 2024 season in which he led the New York Jets to a 5-12 record. He completed 368 passes for 3,897 yards with 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
