Inside The Vikings

Vikings showdown vs. Aaron Rodgers, Steelers set for Dublin in Week 4

Rodgers is finally signing with Pittsburgh, meaning he'll face the Vikings overseas for the second year in a row.
Oct 6, 2024; Tottenham, ENG; New York Jets Quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) in the 3rd Quarter against Minnesota Vikings at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Oct 6, 2024; Tottenham, ENG; New York Jets Quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) in the 3rd Quarter against Minnesota Vikings at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. | Shaun Brooks-Imagn Images

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The saga is over: Aaron Rodgers is finally signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He's informed the team he'll fly to Pittsburgh this weekend, sign a one-year contract, and participate in next week's minicamp, per reports. The most likely outcome is now a reality, as Rodgers will play his 21st season for Mike Tomlin and the Steelers.

What does this mean for the Vikings? A couple things.

First and foremost, it officially ends any remaining speculation — not that it should've still existed — about Rodgers waiting around to see if a potential J.J. McCarthy injury would open up a spot for him in Minnesota. The Vikings had discussions with Rodgers earlier this offseason, but ultimately decided not to go in that direction. That wasn't going to suddenly change anytime soon, but the idea also wasn't going to 100 percent die in some people's minds until Rodgers put pen to paper with the Steelers or another team.

Now it can. Aaron Rodgers will not be a Viking in 2025 (or ever, almost certainly).

It also means the overseas showdown between Minnesota and Pittsburgh just got quite a bit more interesting. In Week 4 (Sept. 28), the Vikings and Steelers will play the first-ever NFL game in Ireland when they face off at Croke Park in Dublin. It'll now officially be the 22-year-old McCarthy going against the 41-year-old Rodgers in that game, which promises to be a good one.

Both quarterbacks will try to lead their team to a victory in that game. But there might be a little extra motivational juice for each guy. From a narrative perspective, McCarthy will look to prove that the Vikings made the right decision in not signing Rodgers this offseason. Rodgers, of course, will look to make the opposite statement against his buddy Kevin O'Connell.

It'll be the second straight year where the Vikings face Rodgers across the pond, after beating him and the New York Jets in London early last season. Get the early-morning popcorn ready, Minnesota fans.

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Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI, who also covers the Twins, Timberwolves, Gophers, and other Minnesota teams. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.

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