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These reportedly are Rodgers' options as Steelers, NFL wait for answer
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Barry Reeger-Imagn Images

These reportedly are Aaron Rodgers' options as Steelers, NFL wait for answer

Shortly after Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback and soon-to-be free agent Aaron Rodgers revealed earlier this week that "there's no contract offer or anything" between him and the Steelers, some wondered if the Minnesota Vikings could emerge as a potential landing spot for the 42-year-old. 

During a Friday appearance on "The Dan Patrick Show," insider Ian Rapoport of NFL Network addressed the options Rodgers is considering heading into the second weekend of March. 

Aaron Rodgers has Steelers or this for 2026?

"My sense is it's Steelers or no one," Rapoport explained, per Ross McCorkle of Steelers Depot. "It's just on him to sort of make a decision and let us all know. [The Vikings] had a chance last year and didn't do it. I'd be surprised if they did it this year with the same exact opportunity presented."

A recent report claimed that Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell, who is close with Rodgers, wanted to sign the future Hall of Famer last year but found that "the overall Vikings organization was not on board" with that plan. The Vikings surprisingly fired general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah earlier this winter, so it's possible O'Connell could be given an opportunity to pursue Rodgers. 

That said, recent reports have linked the Vikings with Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray and Geno Smith of the Las Vegas Raiders. Talk about Minnesota possibly signing Rodgers basically disappeared before the scouting combine wrapped up.

Do Aaron Rodgers, Steelers have a handshake agreement? 

As it pertains to the Steelers and Rodgers having "no contract," Rapoport suggested that Rodgers "probably knows" the deal will be similar to what the two sides officially signed in June 2025. Ahead of the Steelers' summer break last year, Rodgers inked a one-year deal that reportedly was worth $13.65M and had a maximum value of $19.5M.

"It's just a matter of him saying, 'Do I wanna play or not?'" Rapoport added about Rodgers.

Rapoport thinks the Steelers will learn of Rodgers' intentions before free agency gets underway. The "legal tampering" portion of free agency starts at noon ET this coming Monday, while the league year is set to open at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday. 

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

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