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Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell and former Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers
What will the Minnesota Vikings do at the quarterback position in 2026?
This is one of the hallmark questions of the 2026 NFL offseason as a whole. Head coach Kevin O’Connell is seemingly on the hotseat, and he needs to win now. This raises the questions of what maneuver he will pull off for a signal caller.
Will they make a trade or sign Kyler Murray? Could they reunite with old friend Kirk Cousins? Maybe they sleep in the bed they made with the young and struggling J.J. McCarthy?
Or, will they call upon a 42-year-old hall of famer that wanted to come here in 2025?
Vikings Receive Yet Another Aaron Rodgers Signing Prediction
GettyDUBLIN, IRELAND – SEPTEMBER 28: #8 Aaron Rodgers of Pittsburgh Steelers looks on following victory in the NFL 2025 game between Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers at Croke Park on September 28, 2025 in Dublin, Ireland.”” (Photo by Jack Thomas/Getty Images)
This has been a huge rumor for a years now. The way was paved by Brett Favre, who played forever with the Packers, made a pit stop with the Jets, and ended with the Vikings. Minnesota had the opportunity to replicate this. However, they denied Aaron Rodgers’ pitch to play for cheap to take a shot at the Lombardi.
Well, the stars may be aligning once again for Rodgers to join forces with the Vikings. Minnesota needs QB help, and Aaron Rodgers needs a contract.
Mike Moraitis of The Sporting News shared a strong take regarding Minnesota potentially coming to an agreement with the former Packer.
“Head coach Kevin O’Connell almost certainly has an increased sense of urgency after failing to make the playoffs last season. Acquiring Rodgers and starting him over McCarthy would give the Vikings a better chance to win.
If Rodgers was able to win 10 games with the Steelers last season, it’s conceivable he could win even more with a better team.”
While McCarthy did prove to be better in his final games of 2025, it’s still a huge gamble for KOC to put his job in the hands of the young kid. Bringing Rodgers in wouldn’t really alter the career trajectory of McCarthy, so he could still be the long-term vision for Minnesota. It’s fair to say McCarthy wasn’t even ready to play last season.
Will Kevin O’Connell Risk His Job for J.J. McCarthy?
GettyMINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – JANUARY 04: Head coach Kevin O’Connell and quarterbacks coach Josh McCown talk with J.J. McCarthy #9 of the Minnesota Vikings during the second quarter of a game against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium on January 04, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
It’s understandable to think that Kevin O’Connell can’t trust J.J. McCarthy with his job. However, it can also be argued that this wasn’t a decision that’s being made in 2026. The bulk of decision was made in 2024, and emphasized in 2025.
Kevin O’Connell was involved with the acquisition of J.J. McCarthy in the 2024 NFL Draft. When a head coach puts his stamp of approval on drafting a QB in the top 10 in their third year of coaching, they are likely tying their job to the prospect.
This is speculation, but it’s also justifiable to believe he had some say in choosing McCarthy over Darnold in 2025 after Darnold’s huge 2024. The game has changed a little with the firing of the man that hired O’Connell in Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, but don’t be surprised if Minnesota triples down on McCarthy in 2026.
Brevan Bane Brevan Bane is a sports scribe covering the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Minnesota Vikings and Cincinnati Bengals. Brevan began his writing career by making a platform on Twitter and leveraging his presence into writing and content creation opportunities for outlets like PurplePTSD, Vikings Territory, The Noise, Hockey Wilderness, and the VikesNow YouTube channel. You can follow him on X @brevmanbane. More about Brevan Bane
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