When former Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre became a free agent for the first time in his NFL career, he chose to sign with one of his former team’s biggest NFC North division rivals, the Minnesota Vikings. Of course, Favre spent two seasons in Minnesota at the end of his career, leading the Vikings to the NFC Championship Game in 2009 before ultimately throwing their chances at a Super Bowl away with a fourth quarter interception.
Indeed, there have been multiple instances of former Packers players signing with the Vikings or another division rival following their tenure with Green Bay. However, Favre was notable due to his being one of the NFL’s all-time greats and his desire to exact revenge on the franchise that he felt slighted him.
Of course, many Packers fans still hold him in high esteem despite his decision to play for Minnesota. His retirement as a Packer and all the things that he accomplished on the field, for many, overshadow the time he spent as a Viking (and his alleged involvement in the Mississippi Welfare Scandal).
And now, it looks like history may repeat itself.
Former Green Bay Packers Quarterback Aaron Rodgers Wants to Play for the Minnesota Vikings
Of course, in between the Packers and Vikings, Favre spent a year with the New York Jets. That was the team that Green Bay traded the three-time NFL MVP to after they made the decision to move on to a young Aaron Rodgers in 2008.
After his lone season in New York, Favre retired. He then unretired so that he could join Minnesota in free agency.
In a similar fashion, Rodgers himself was traded to the Jets when Green Bay opted to hand the keys of the offense over to Jordan Love. Now having completed two seasons in New York (one of which was spent with a torn Achilles), the four-time NFL MVP is a free agent following his release from the team earlier this week.
And, apparently, he has identified the Vikings as the team he wants to play for in 2025. Per a report by The Athletic:
“Rodgers is hoping to sign with the Vikings, who went 14-3 in 2024 before suffering a first-round playoff defeat to the Los Angeles Rams. Meanwhile, the Vikings have been strongly weighing the possibility of pursuing Rodgers as a replacement for 2024 starter Sam Darnold, who signed a three-year, $100 million free-agent deal Wednesday with the Seattle Seahawks.
“Rodgers has been targeted by the Steelers and Giants but has essentially put both teams on hold while he waits for clarity regarding the Vikings’ situation. If Minnesota ceases to be an option, it’s also possible that Rodgers will turn down both the Steelers (a 2024 playoff team) and Giants and instead opt for retirement.”
This would, of course, be an ironic signing as it would mean Rodgers followed the Favre career path as closely as he could: 15 years as Green Bay’s starter, followed by a stint with the Jets, and finally ending his career with the Vikings.
Green Bay Packers Fans React to Aaron Rodgers Wanting to Play for the Minnesota Vikings
When Favre signed with the Vikings, it outraged many Packers fans because he obviously did so in order to exact revenge on Green Bay. With Rodgers, though, his intentions appear to be much different. He wants a chance to win another Super Bowl and extend his NFL career with a team that, quite frankly, is a contender (they were 14-3 last year).
And that, along with the controversy surrounding Rodgers and his off-field pursuits/opinions, seems to have made the fan reaction to his interest in Minnesota much different than it was when Favre signed with the Vikings:
As one can see, many fans made the joke that all Rodgers needs to do is commit welfare fraud and his imitation of Favre will be complete.
But that is the point: they are making jokes. The idea of Rodgers signing with Minnesota is comical to Packers fans now.
