What Does That Tell You? A.J. Hawk Weighs in on Vikings Leaving the Door Open for Aaron Rodgers

The Vikings Had a Choice—And They Didn’t Shut It Down

The Minnesota Vikings had a golden opportunity to publicly and decisively rule out any possibility of Aaron Rodgers donning purple and gold. But instead of slamming the door shut, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah left it ajar. That decision—or lack thereof—has sparked speculation, and former NFL linebacker A.J. Hawk believes it might actually mean something.

“Yeah, they didn’t close the door completely. That’s the thing. You had the opportunity to close the door completely, publicly at least, if you were the Vikings, and you did not. What does that tell you?” Hawk said on The Pat McAfee Show Friday.

Rodgers Has Options—And the Vikings Might Be One of Them

At this point, it seems like Aaron Rodgers has three viable paths ahead of him:

• Sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers
• Retire from the NFL
• Wait in free agency and see if the Vikings come calling

For now, Rodgers remains unsigned, and even Hawk, one of his closest friends and former Green Bay Packers teammate, admits he has no inside scoop on what the four-time MVP is thinking.

“That’s the question that I don’t think he knows. I don’t know what he’s waiting on. I really don’t,” Hawk said, adding that he doubts Rodgers will wait until the April 24 NFL Draft to make his decision.

Does Hawk’s Friendship with Rodgers Make His Words More Credible?

A.J. Hawk isn’t just another talking head speculating about Rodgers’ future—he’s one of the people closest to him. When Hawk speaks about the quarterback’s mindset, his words carry more weight than those of a typical analyst or journalist. That’s what makes his reaction to the Vikings’ stance particularly interesting.

If someone with no connection to Rodgers pointed out that Minnesota didn’t completely dismiss the idea of signing him, it might not mean much. But when a longtime friend and former teammate acknowledges it as a legitimate possibility, the conversation takes on a different level of intrigue.

The Vikings’ Silence Speaks Volumes

While Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and the Vikings haven’t outright stated that Rodgers is a target, their reluctance to close the door outright suggests that they aren’t ruling it out entirely. Whether that’s a strategic move, a courtesy to a future Hall of Famer, or a sign of genuine interest remains to be seen.

One thing is for sure: A.J. Hawk thinks there’s at least “some kind of chance” that Rodgers could end up in Minnesota. And if he’s saying that out loud, it’s worth paying attention to.