When the Minnesota Vikings travel to Dublin, Ireland next season for a Week 4 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, they will be joined on the field by All-Pro quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Thankfully, however, Rodgers will be taking part in the contest as a member of the Steelers and not in a Vikings uniform.
That’s right, after many long (and pointless) discussions about Rodgers ending up in Minnesota this year, the nightmare finally came to an end for Vikings fans on Thursday when ESPN’s Adam Schefter revealed that the former Green Bay Packers quarterback will head to Pittsburgh on Friday to sign a contract with the Steelers.
With Thursday’s news, now the full attention of the Minnesota fan base can be placed on J.J. McCarthy and his preparations to open the upcoming season as the team’s new starting quarterback.
After signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Aaron Rodgers will face the Minnesota Vikings for the 32nd time in his NFL career
Since entering the league in 2005, Rodgers has had countless battles against the Vikings. His most recent matchup with Minnesota took place last season when he was a member of the New York Jets.
Unfortunately for the Jets, Rodgers wasn’t able to lead them to a win over one of his longtime rivals, as the Vikings wound up escaping that contest with a 23-17 win.
In each of the three seasons since Kevin O’Connell was hired to be the franchise’s head coach in 2022, Minnesota has faced a team with Rodgers as its starting quarterback. In two of those three matchups, last season and in 2022, O’Connell and the Vikings left the field with a victory.
Minnesota’s upcoming 2025 showdown with Rodgers will be an entirely different animal, though. Is he going to perform like he did with the 2024 Jets, or will his level of play be closer to what it was when he won two consecutive NFL MVP awards with the Packers in 2020 and 2021?
We’ll all just have to wait and see, but, thankfully, whatever Rodgers does next season won’t be happening in a Vikings uniform.
Steelers vs. Vikings: What to Expect
As the Steelers prepare to take on the Vikings, all eyes will be on how Rodgers navigates Minnesota’s defensive schemes. Pittsburgh’s offense, bolstered by a strong running game led by Najee Harris and a versatile receiving corps, gives Rodgers plenty of weapons to work with. However, the Vikings’ ability to disguise coverages and generate pressure without blitzing could test Rodgers’ pre-snap reads and mobility.
On the other side, the Vikings’ offense will look to exploit Pittsburgh’s secondary, which has shown flashes of brilliance but occasional vulnerabilities. J.J. McCarthy, now in his second year, has shown poise beyond his years, and with weapons like Justin Jefferson and T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota has the firepower to keep pace in a potential shootout.
The Bigger Picture
This game is more than just a regular-season matchup; it’s a statement for both teams. For the Steelers, a win would solidify their status as AFC contenders and prove that Rodgers, even in the twilight of his career, remains a force to be reckoned with. For the Vikings, it’s a chance to assert their dominance in the NFC and show that their defense can rattle even the most seasoned quarterbacks.
As kickoff approaches, the NFL world is buzzing with anticipation. Will Rodgers conquer his “32nd nightmare,” or will the Vikings add another chapter to his storied rivalry with them? One thing is certain: this clash between two storied franchises, with Rodgers at the helm of the Steelers, will be must-watch football.