It appears the future of Aaron Rodgers’s NFL career is up to one person. And it’s not the four-time NFL MVP.

The Athletic’s Michael Silver, Dianna Russini and Alec Lewis reported Saturday that Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell has “the biggest sway” over Rodgers’s future on the gridiron.

According to The Athletic, Rodgers “is hoping” to sign with Minnesota. Although the Vikings would make an organizational decision on whether or not to add Rodgers to their quarterbacks room with 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy, owners Zygi and Mark Wilf as well as general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah will “defer” to O’Connell’s decision.

Additionally, if the Vikings decline to offer a contract to the 41-year-old quarterback, the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants remain as two teams interested in signing Rodgers. But according to The Athletic, it’s possible Rodgers could opt for retirement instead of signing with Pittsburgh or New York.

Rodgers had a rough two-year stint with the New York Jets, missing all but four offensive snaps due to a torn Achilles in 2023 and winning just five games in ’24. He appeared to find a bit of a rhythm late in the 2024 season with the Jets, throwing for nine touchdowns in the final five games, but Rodgers still finished the year with stats well below his career average—a 90.5 passer rating with 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

After letting quarterback Sam Darnold walk in free agency, the Vikings appear ready to hand the keys to their franchise to McCarthy, who they selected with the No. 10 pick of the 2024 draft. But McCarthy missed his entire rookie season due to a pair of knee surgeries, and Minnesota could bring in Rodgers to give the Michigan product another full year to learn on the sidelines.

Minnesota’s decision likely comes down to how close the organization believes McCarthy is to developing into the franchise quarterback they drafted him to be. And nobody reportedly holds more weight in that decision than O’Connell, the 2024 AP NFL Coach of the Year.

Aaron Rodgers to the Vikings? Reports elaborate on possibility

Rodgers signed with the Jets prior to the 2023 season

Aaron Rodgers is looking for a new home after two seasons in the Big Apple, but could he follow the same career path as another Packers legend?

According to Mike Silver of The Athletic, that is exactly what Rodgers is hoping to do, as he reports that the quarterback is “hoping” to sign with the Minnesota Vikings, with the club “strongly weighing” the possibility.

If that story sounds familiar, it’s because it is. Legendary quarterback Brett Favre played in two games for the Atlanta Falcons as a rookie, but then spent 16 seasons with the Packers, winning a Super Bowl and setting an NFL record for most consecutive starts.

He ended up leaving before the 2008 season, signing with the Jets, then headed to the Vikings for the final two seasons of his NFL career, which ended in 2010.

As for Rodgers, he too had a lengthy career in Green Bay, playing 18 seasons with the Packers and capturing a Super Bowl title. He then signed with the Jets prior to the 2023 season, but tore his Achilles tendon on his very first drive of the season.

In the 2024 campaign, Rodgers completed 63% of his passes, throwing for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions as the Jets went 5-12.

Now, New York is looking to move on and Rodgers could be on the lookout for a new home, but it’s unclear whether the Vikings will reciprocate the interest.