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By Tyler Erzberger
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Above all else, Aaron Rodgers wants a chance at a second ring.
Beyond money or where he gets to live, Rodgers has been on a mission for almost two decades to lift a second Lombardi Trophy and set off into the sunset to finish his career.
While he thought that could happen with the New York Jets, an instantaneous injury and a faulty foundation swiftly ended any hopes of that. And the most recent season, the Pittsburgh Steelers' stagnant offense built around Rodgers wasn't strong enough to get through a single playoff game.
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But before he signed with the Steelers, Rodgers wanted to go somewhere else, he felt, that could help him reach that second elusive ring.
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The Athletic's senior NFL insider, Dianna Russini, revealed on Friday that Rodgers was open to taking a below-market deal to play for Kevin O'Connell and the Minnesota Vikings.
Last year, the Vikings were coming off a 14-3 season in which they were stopped in the first round after Sam Darnold's implosion against the Los Angeles Rams. They had the defense and the receiving corps, led by Justin Jefferson, to be a Super Bowl favorite with a few minor tweaks.
Rodgers and the Vikings had discussions about him playing for them, but general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah eventually passed on the veteran QB to double down on rookie J.J. McCarthy.
The Vikings missed the postseason entirely, and Adofo-Mensah is out of a job, with the denial of Rodgers' request cited as a reason for his dismissal.
Rodgers ended his season against the Houston Texans in the playoffs, throwing a pick-six to end a disappointing night that ended in a blowout. Not too long after, 19-year coach Mike Tomlin stepped down as the leader of the Steelers, prompting Rodgers to allegedly apologize to Tomlin for not doing enough to secure a playoff win.
While there are rumors that Rodgers might put off retirement one more year to return to Pittsburgh to play for former Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy, he has other options.
With Adofo-Mensah out and the Vikings already publicly saying their now-sophomore QB won't be handed the starting job, it could open the door again to a potential relationship between Rodgers and Minnesota.
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