Though all signs are pointing to a reunion with the Pittsburgh Steelers for a second season, especially after the hiring of head coach Mike McCarthy and a number of familiar faces from his Green Bay days, led by Senior Offensive Assistant Frank Cignetti Jr. and offensive line coach James Campen, the speculation is ramping up regarding Aaron Rodgers’ future.

That speculative future for the 42-year-old quarterback seems to center, once again, on the Minnesota Vikings.

With the Vikings firing GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah earlier in the week, Minnesota is in a state of flux. They seem to have gotten the JJ McCarthy selection wrong at the quarterback position and are paying dearly for letting Sam Darnold walk in free agency. So, head coach Kevin O’Connell could look for a quick fix in 2026.

That could be Rodgers, especially with O’Connell’s relationship with the veteran quarterback.

The ties to Pittsburgh are strong, but Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, during an appearance on 93.7 The Fan Wednesday afternoon, wouldn’t rule out the possibility of Rodgers heading to Minnesota.

“No, no. And I believe…I’ll just say I believe that last year Kevin O’Connell was banging hard on the table to have an accomplished veteran to go along with JJ McCarthy, recognizing that McCarthy wasn’t ready to go out there and be the guy and they needed someone else, whether it was Sam Darnold, whether it was Daniel Jones, whether it was Aaron Rodgers,” Florio said of the possibility Rodgers could play for the Vikings in 2026, according to audio via the Fan. “Now I saw some reporting that they didn’t want Rodgers because they didn’t want JJ McCarthy to learn bad habits. But I think now that O’Connell is in charge, you gotta look at the options that are available. Obviously, Darnold’s not available. Jones is technically available because he’s gonna be a free agent, but I think he’s gonna stay with the Colts. Rodgers is available.

“There aren’t many other guys out there. So I could see Rodgers going to Minnesota. It wouldn’t shock me if it happened.”

The biggest part of this equation is what Rodgers wants to do in 2026, whether that’s ride off into the sunset in retirement or come back for a 22nd season in the NFL.

At the end of the season, following the loss to the Houston Texans in the AFC Wild Card, Rodgers stated he would take some time to figure it all out, but added that he believed he would have some options as a free agent, whether in Pittsburgh or elsewhere.

Throughout the offseason before he signed with the Steelers on a one-year deal, there was plenty of speculation about Rodgers and the Vikings, and whether he was holding out, waiting for the Vikings to want him rather than joining the Steelers.

Ultimately, Rodgers shot that speculation down, stating that while he has a strong relationship with O’Connell, the conversations with him in the offseason weren’t about playing for the Vikings.

But now, after a solid season in Pittsburgh where he took ownership of the offense and was a great leader, leading players to want him back for 2026, it appears the same song and dance in the offseason with the veteran quarterback could occur.

Considering what the Steelers have done with the coaching staff so far under McCarthy, and the point of emphasis McCarthy has made on wanting Rodgers back early in the offseason, it would be shocking if Rodgers spurns the Steelers and heads to Minnesota.

Stranger things have happened, and you never want to say never in this industry. Hopefully, this all ends quickly, and Rodgers makes his decision in a timely fashion.