Could Aaron Rodgers choose retirement over Steelers, Giants if Vikings don't sign him?

Former New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers is reportedly willing to wait to learn if the Minnesota Vikings will start him over 2024 first-round draft pick J.J. McCarthy as both the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants seem ready to sign Rodgers as soon as he'd put pen to paper on a deal. 

Thus, some have wondered if Rodgers could retire if the Vikings turn to McCarthy after the 22-year-old spent his rookie season recovering from a full meniscus repair. 

For a piece published on Monday night, NFL reporter Ralph Vacchiano of Fox Sports shared why he believes Rodgers won't ride off into the sunset of retirement this offseason. 

"I think he wants to play," Vacchiano said of Rodgers. "I think he needs to play. He wants to go out in a better way. I also think he needs the attention. He knows that two teams seem to desperately want him — the Steelers and the Giants. And the Steelers won 10 games last year and just added receiver DK Metcalf. So, while it's not nearly as good of a situation as the one he'd get in Minnesota, it's one where he'll have a chance to succeed and win."

The 2024 Vikings went 14-2 before Sam Darnold endured back-to-back nightmare outings, so it makes sense Rodgers would believe he can at least take that franchise back to the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Steelers were 10-3 this past season before quarterback Russell Wilson and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith allegedly found themselves fighting "through their differences" amid what became a five-game losing streak to close the campaign. 

Of course, the Steelers theoretically could grow tired of waiting for Rodgers to make a decision and could either turn back to Wilson or pursue a different proven commodity such as Kirk Cousins of the Atlanta Falcons. Vacchiano suggested Rodgers would retire rather than play for a Giants side that may be less than a year away from showing both general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll the door. 

"I don't think he wants any part of a three-win team where the upside is maybe seven or eight wins, nor do I think he wants another year in the New York market," Vacchiano said about the 41-year-old possibly settling on the Giants. "But if the Vikings punt on him and the Steelers are an option, Rodgers will go to Pittsburgh."

In a different article posted on Monday, Conor Orr of Sports Illustrated argued that the Vikings should sign Rodgers because their "window to win a Super Bowl is right now." It will be interesting to see how Rodgers reacts if Minnesota general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah decides that McCarthy will be ready to guide a team through a postseason tournament in January 2026 even though the former Michigan Wolverines star has never taken a meaningful in-game snap at the highest level.