Former Minnesota Vikings and University of Minnesota football player Jack Brewer shared a grievance with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.
The AG is waging a legal battle against President Donald Trump and the Department of Justice to ensure transgender athletes can continue participating in girls sports in the state. The state's ongoing defiance of Trump's executive order to keep girls sports female has resulted in a controversy involving a transgender pitcher who has dominated a girls softball season.
"Clearly, Keith Ellison, the attorney general of Minnesota, has never played any major sports," Brewer told Fox News Digital.
"It’s like he’s never stepped foot in a real locker room, especially not one where the sport demanded true athleticism, grit and toughness. It’s embarrassing to watch a Black man stand before the nation and promote boys competing against girls."
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The White House has responded to the lawsuit, condemning Ellison for taking legal action to enable trans inclusion.
"Why would a grown man sue the Trump administration to allow other biological males to participate in women’s sports? This is creepy and anti-woman," White House spokesperson Harrison Fields told Fox News Digital.
Brewer played four seasons for the Golden Gophers from 1998-2001, then started his NFL career with the Vikings in 2002. He also raised his children in the state.
HOW TRANSGENDERISM IN SPORTS SHIFTED THE 2024 ELECTION AND IGNITED A NATIONAL COUNTERCULTURE
"The state has veered so far off course that it’s doing the exact opposite of what it once stood for. It used to be a national leader on Title IX and women’s rights. Now, it’s destroying women’s sports, degrading women and promoting situations where men are physically dominating women," Brewer said.
"It’s heartbreaking for any former Gopher, any former Viking, any professional athlete who’s lived in that great city. It’s embarrassing. It’s shocking. And, to be honest, it’s just devastating."
Reports of a trans softball pitcher winning 14 straight games heading into the playoffs and earning first-team All-State honors rocked the state in recent weeks.
For Brewer, it is a difficult situation to witness as a Minnesota resident and former pro athlete.
"In any sport — especially something like softball — people can get seriously hurt. A man hits the ball harder. A man throws the ball faster. So, the idea of allowing men to compete in women’s softball — especially now, when that sport has grown in visibility and opportunity — is insane," Brewer said.
"Women’s softball is one of the fastest-growing sports in America. If every high school varsity baseball player decided to go play Division I women’s softball, there would be no women left on the field. Anyone who supports that agenda is either ignorant or pushing politics over people.
"And that’s exactly what Keith Ellison is doing. They don’t care about the girls. They care about fundraising and staying in power, and they’re doing it at the expense of young athletes all across America.
"President Trump understands exactly what’s happening. He said it best. If you put a bunch of MLB players on a women’s softball team, they’d win the championship."
Ellison made the announcement of the lawsuit at a press conference after months of the state defying Trump's "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports" executive order. Ellison claimed he received notice from the Department of Justice threatening legal action if the state did not follow the executive order.
"I'm not going to sit around waiting for the Trump administration to sue Minnesota. Today, Minnesota is suing him and his administration because we will not participate in this shameful bullying," Ellison said. "We will not let a small group of vulnerable children who are only trying be healthy and live their lives be demonized."
Ellison's lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, argues the Trump administration does not have the authority to set states' athletic gender eligibility policies through an executive order.
Minnesota is the first state to sue the Department of Justice over threats of funding cuts for allowing trans athletes to play in girls sports and the second state to sue the Trump administration over the issue.
Maine filed a lawsuit against Trump after the Department of Agriculture cut funding to the state April 2, and a federal judge has already ruled the USDA must release the funding to Maine.
After Trump's executive order, the Minnesota State High School League announced it would defy federal law by allowing transgender athletes to continue playing in women's sports.
Ellison's office said "based on the plain language of the statute, educational institutions and the Minnesota State High School League would violate the MHRA by prohibiting transgender athletes from participating in extracurricular activities consistent with their gender identity."
Minnesota's state legislature failed to pass the Preserving Girls’ Sports Act in early March, which would have stated that "only female students may participate in an elementary or secondary school level athletic team or sport that an educational institution has restricted to women and girls."
A New York Times/Ipsos survey found the vast majority of Americans, including a majority of Democrats, don't think transgender athletes should be permitted to compete in women's sports.
Of the 2,128 people who participated, 79% said biological males who identify as women should not be allowed to participate in women's sports. Of the 1,025 people who identified as Democrats or leaning Democratic, 67% said transgender athletes should not be allowed to compete with women.
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The NFL is playing seven international games during the 2025 season, and there is some history involved on multiple levels.
Almost all the games and teams involved were announced on Tuesday, and each destination has been set.
London, which has been the sight of NFL regular-season games since 2007, will have three contests. The NFL is also heading back to Brazil and Germany, while two countries will have its first taste of regular season football this year.
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Dublin, Ireland and Madrid, Spain will also host teams vying for the Vince Lombardi Trophy next season. Here’s the full rundown of who will be playing in each game:
FOX ANNOUNCES SATURDAY NFL DIVISION RIVAL DOUBLEHEADER WHEN PLAYOFF RACES GET SPICY
It was reported the Kansas City Chiefs were going to travel to Brazil to face their AFC West-rival Chargers, though the announcement with exact opponents should come Wednesday.
Also, it’s worth noting that the Vikings will become the first team in NFL history to play in two separate countries on back-to-back weeks. Their dynamic offense, which is expected to be led by J.J. McCarthy next season, will be on full display in Ireland and the United Kingdom early in the schedule.
Continuing the global initiative is what the NFL has made a point in doing, and that includes increasing the number of international games on the regular season schedule.
London was the main hub for building NFL fandom, but in 2022, the league also started to make its presence known in Germany. The Falcons-Colts matchup will be the fifth game played in the country since that year.
The Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers made history this past season with a game in São Paulo, which was the start of Saquon Barkley’s Offensive Player of the Year season with his new squad.
And while the league is excited to see games in two different countries this season, there is already a plan in place to get one down under in Melbourne, Australia in 2026.
The season schedule for every team in the league will drop on Wednesday.
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History on the schedule for the Minnesota Vikings this season.
The NFL announced its international schedule on Tuesday, showing that games will take place in Brazil, the United Kingdom, Germany, Ireland and Spain this season.
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The Vikings will be the first NFL team to compete overseas in back-to-back weeks. Minnesota will faceoff against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Croke Park in Dublin on Sept. 28. The game will be seen on 9:30 a.m. ET and broadcast on NFL Network.
"Playing in Ireland’s first-ever NFL game is an opportunity to introduce new fans to the Minnesota Vikings and help the league continue to make the game of football more accessible globally," Vikings team owner Mark Wilf said in a news release. "To do so against a storied franchise like the Pittsburgh Steelers adds a unique challenge that makes this even more special.
"We are honored to be selected for this historic game and will be anxious to see what promises to be an electric game day environment in Croke Park."
FOX ANNOUNCES SATURDAY NFL DIVISION RIVAL DOUBLEHEADER WHEN PLAYOFF RACES GET SPICY
The following week, the Vikings will go up against the Cleveland Browns. The game will start at 9:30 a.m. ET as well and take place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
"Our experiences in London have always been memorable, so to return in 2025 as the first team to play in back-to-back international games in different countries was something we could not pass up," Wilf added. "UK fans have a history of showing up and embracing the Minnesota Vikings, creating what often feels like a homefield environment, and we are hopeful that is what we see again in 2025."
Minnesota first played Pittsburgh overseas in 2012. It was the first season the NFL had multiple games in London. The team played the Browns in London in 2017 and returned to play the New Orleans Saints in 2022.
Last season, the Vikings defeated the New York Jets at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
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For the first time in his career, Sam Darnold sat down in NFL free agency with options to be a starting quarterback.
Despite a disappointing finish in the playoffs, Darnold's career-best season with the Minnesota Vikings earned him the right to get a big payday. It was just a matter of where – not if.
While it is a great feeling for any player in professional sports to have that opportunity in free agency, making the right choice is not easy. There are many factors, personal and professional, that go into a player deciding to choose a different team.
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However, when the Seattle Seahawks traded veteran signal caller Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders, speculation began immediately. Could Darnold be heading to Seattle?
He was thinking the exact same thing with his agents at Creative Artists Agency.
"I was looking at my free agent options and talking with my agent about it, and then all of a sudden, we hear the news that Geno [Smith] was getting traded," Darnold explained to Fox News Digital, while discussing his work with the Lowe's Foundation for SkillsUSA National Signing Day. "And that was kind of like, ‘OK, Seattle could be a potential spot.’
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"When I just found out about the mutual interest that both sides had in getting a deal done, that was something that was really important for me. Having somebody that also wanted me there, and to be able to have an impact as best I can."
Seeing mutual interest is a main factor, but then it comes down to whether or not the player, especially a quarterback, can be successful.
The Seahawks had a new head coach last season, Mike Macdonald, who came from the Baltimore Ravens. Although they did not compete in the playoffs, they just missed out with a 10-7 record – not too bad for a first-year head coach.
Darnold loved what he saw when he faced the Seahawks in a 27-24 win for his Vikings.
"There’s great players on defense, great players on offense. I feel like Coach Macdonald’s scheme on defense was really hard to go against last year, and I know coach Klint Kubiak," Darnold said. "I know him from 2023 in San Francisco, when we made that run there, so I’m pretty familiar with the system. I think all those factors combined was really the reason I fell in love with the decision to come to Seattle, and, man, I couldn’t be more excited about it."
Finally, while the on-field product and scheme look up to par, free agents are always looking at the team chemistry and culture. Darnold saw it right away.
"Being here for the last few weeks, it’s been amazing being able to meet some of my teammates and some of the coaches," he explained. "And like I referenced with Minnesota, just meeting some of the people in the building. It’s just a special place, because you hear about it in the league. You hear about the good spots, the bad spots, the spots in between.
"Seattle was always a place that guys love going to. They love the energy, they love the environment, and it really did exceed all my expectations. I’m so happy to be here."
CELEBRATING NEXT GENERATION OF TRADE WORKERS
While Darnold is getting his bearings in his new city, he made sure to stop by Lowe’s Seattle store ceremony for SkillsUSA National Signing Day, which is a celebration mirroring the excitement of athletic signings but for future electricians, plumbers, HVAC techs and builders.
Lowe’s rolled out the blue carpet and all for students who were surprised by Seattle’s newest football star. This initiative is one that hits close to home for Darnold. His father, Mike, has been a plumber for 30-plus years.
"It was unbelievable," Darnold said of the experience. "I’ve seen the hard work that he put in his entire life to it. So, just being able to see these kids and see the hard work they’ve already put in, get to meet them and talk to them about the path that they’re headed, and just how passionate they are about it.
"I think there’s so many more opportunities out there in the skill trades world, and me and my dad have talked about it, how there’s not a lot of kids doing that anymore. It’s a special opportunity for kids to impact their communities in ways they probably don’t even know they’re going to."
New data from ADP shows nearly one in five workers aged 20-24 held blue-collar jobs as of May 2023. While that was a 2% rise since 2019, the U.S. faces a shortage of 439,000 construction workers.
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While the football world was wrapped up in where Shedeur Sanders was going to go on day three of the 2025 NFL Draft, ESPN’s Adam Schefter dropped some other quarterback news that is very significant for a certain MVP free agent.
Aaron Rodgers remains without a team for the 2025 season, as he hasn’t made his decision on whom to play for.
One of those potential teams was the Minnesota Vikings, given that J.J. McCarthy, the team’s first-round pick in 2024, didn’t touch the field last season due to a season-ending injury. However, the front office has been adamant that McCarthy is the man for the job, heading into this season, but speculation about a potential Rodgers deal remained afloat.
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Perhaps that has officially come to an end after Schefter revealed during ESPN’s broadcast of the draft that the Vikings had acquired Sam Howell from the Seattle Seahawks. Howell later confirmed the trade, making a celebratory post on Instagram.
ESPN STAR OFFERS EXPLANATION FOLLOWING SHEDEUR SANDERS' NFL DRAFT TUMBLE
In return for Howell, Minnesota sent its 142nd pick in the fifth round, which the Seahawks used on defensive lineman Rylie Mills. Two picks later, Sanders was finally taken by the Cleveland Browns.
So, where does that leave Rodgers for 2025?
The Pittsburgh Steelers are still the frontrunner for his services, and their draft mindset appeared to show that they still believe he has a good chance of signing. When Pittsburgh passed on a quarterback in the first round, electing to go with Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon instead, many were shocked.
The surprise only gained weight when the Steelers continued to select other positions of need for its roster other than quarterback on day two. Finally, after Sanders was taken, the Steelers selected Ohio State’s Will Howard, a Pennsylvania native, in the sixth round.
Steelers owner Art Rooney II and head coach Mike Tomlin have both publicly shown interest in bringing in the four-time MVP quarterback to lead their offense after his failed tenure with the New York Jets.
"That’s certainly a possibility," Tomlin said to NFL Network about getting a decision from Rodgers soon. "I’m not going to forecast the ifs and whens regarding not only him, but any other potential free agent. We’ve had really productive talks with him, and I’ve enjoyed having productive talks with him and getting to know him."
Ultimately, it appears the decision is entirely Rodgers’ at this point. Retirement, much like it was when his time with the Green Bay Packers was clearly up before the 2023 campaign, is still in the cards.
But the true options are down to really only one team that could use his services for next season. The Steelers did make things enticing for Rodgers, too, bringing in D.K. Metcalf in a trade with the Seahawks to add to their offensive firepower, which includes George Pickens, Jaylen Warren, Pat Freiermuth and rookie running back Kaleb Johnson out of Iowa.
Other than Howard, the Steelers brought back Mason Rudolph and signed Skylar Thompson to fill out its quarterbacks room.
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Former Minnesota Vikings star running back Adrian Peterson was arrested in Minnesota early Friday morning on a DWI charge, hours after he had appeared as a special guest for the team’s draft party celebrations at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Peterson, 40, was arrested by the Minnesota State Highway Patrol in the early-morning hours on Friday and is facing a fourth-degree misdemeanor charge of driving while impaired, according to online records from the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office.
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TMZ Sports reported that the one-time league MVP was pulled over at around 3:20 a.m. after law enforcement saw him traveling 83 mph in a 55-mph zone. According to the report, the arresting officer suspected that Peterson was driving while intoxicated.
According to a report, his blood alcohol level was .14 – well over the legal limit of .08.
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Peterson, a future Hall of Famer, was one of the Vikings' most dominant players in franchise history. A seven-time All-Pro, Peterson spent 10 seasons with the Vikings where he was named league MVP and Offensive Player of the Year in the same season. He led the league in yards rushing three times and rushing touchdowns twice.
Peterson celebrated the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft at the Vikings' stadium on Thursday night.
According to online records, Peterson was released two hours after being booked on a $4,000 bond. He is due back in court on May 9.
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Historian William Short watches and rates depictions of Viking combat in movies and TV shows.
He discusses Viking shield formations in "Vikings." He outlines brutal village raid tactics in "The Northman," starring Alexander Skarsgård, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Nicole Kidman. He breaks down how Vikings organized their troops in war in "How to Train Your Dragon," starring Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, and Jonah Hill; and "The Last Kingdom." He demonstrates how Vikings wielded their battle axes in "Vikings: Valhalla." He describes what Viking armor looked like in "Outlander," starring Jim Caviezel, Ron Perlman, and John Hurt. He explains how Vikings navigated and landed their ships in "The Long Ships," starring Sidney Poitier; and "Ironclad," starring Paul Giamatti, Kate Mara, and Brian Cox. He breaks down the distinct techniques used by archers in "Beowulf," starring Ray Winstone, Anthony Hopkins, and Angelina Jolie. Finally, he analyzes how Vikings fought at sea in "The Vikings," starring Kirk Douglas and Tony Curtis.
William Short is an independent scholar focusing on scientific research of all aspects of Viking history, particularly Viking combat. He is the manager of Hurstwic.
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones had one of the best seasons of his career in 2024 and made clear on Monday that, to him, age is just a number.
Jones will be 31 years old at the end of the 2025 season. He had 1,138 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 255 carries. He also had 51 catches for 408 yards and two touchdowns. All the numbers came in his first year with the Vikings.
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"I feel the best I have ever felt," Jones told reporters. "Feel like I’m back to 24, 25 years old. Age is just a number. It’s just a number. I’ve been saying that since I was a little kid trying to get older women, age is just a number. But it really is. If you stay young (mentally) and continue to work every day, that’s really what it is."
Jones signed a two-year contract extension with the Vikings at the beginning of the offseason. He joined Minnesota from the Green Bay Packers.
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Minnesota was the surprise team of the year as Sam Darold led the Vikings to a 14-3 record, nearly winning the NFC North division.
However, the Vikings’ run would end early with a loss in the NFC wild-card round to the Los Angeles Rams.
Minnesota will have a new starting quarterback under center in 2025 as Darnold left for the Seattle Seahawks. Right now, it’s set to be J.J. McCarthy.
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Former New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers publicly addressed the swirling free agency rumors for the first time on Thursday, saying that nothing is off the table for the four-time league MVP.
Rodgers, however, added one caveat that will greatly influence his decision to play in 2025.
Appearing on "The Pat McAfee Show" for the first time since the season concluded, Rodgers was asked to clear up many of the rumors that have linked him to several teams, including the New York Giants, Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers.
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"I’ll set it all straight," Rodgers said with a smile. "I’ll set it all straight, I have no problem."
Rodgers said he spoke with the Giants’ head coach Brian Daboll and is in regular contact with Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell. He also noted that he spoke with Mike Tomlin and even visited the Steelers’ facility in secret.
"I’m open to anything and attached to nothing. Retirement could still be a possibility, but right now my focus is and has been and will continue to be on my personal life… there’s still conversations that are being had."
Rodgers dismissed the narrative surrounding his next move, saying that length of contract and money are non-issues for him. He also said that what teams decide to do in the draft next week will also have no bearing on his decision.
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"I’m not out there putting s--- out just to put s--- out, that’s just not how I operate. There’s been a lot of people assuming they have information about me – that’s just not true. I’ve been straight up with these teams from the start about where I was at, starting with the money thing."
What Rodgers does know for sure is that his decision to play will be largely based on where he is in his personal life.
"I’m in a different phase of my life. I’m 41 years old, I’m in a serious relationship. I have off-the-field stuff that requires my attention. I have personal commitments I’ve made not knowing what my future was going to look like after last year that are important to me. And I have a couple of people in my inner, inner circle who are really battling some difficult stuff. So, I have a lot of things that are taking my attention – and have beginning really in January – away from football.
"To make a commitment to a team is a big thing, whether you’re a first-year player or a 20-year vet," he added.
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Don Hasselbeck, a Super Bowl champion tight end who played nine years in the NFL, died after going into cardiac arrest at his home, his son said Monday. He was 70.
Matt Hasselbeck, the former NFL quarterback and son of the elder Hasselbeck, remembered his father in a post on X.
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"He was a great husband, father, grandfather, friend, coach, player, coworker, artist, mentor, and storyteller. Despite being an All-American at Colorado and a Super Bowl Champion with the Raiders, what we are most proud of is the leader he was for our family," he wrote.
"He helped set our feet on solid ground. Married to and in love with our mom, Betsy, for 50 years, they built their house on the rock of Jesus Christ. Our dad’s prayer journals, in his meticulous handwriting and in a rainbow of pen colors, hold each of our names and needs. Many of you who have known our father, have been thoughtfully prayed for in the pages of his journals."
Don Hasselbeck was a second-round pick in the 1977 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. He played for the Patriots until 1983, when he was traded to the Los Angeles Raiders.
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He played 14 games with the Raiders and appeared in each of their playoff games en route to their Super Bowl win over the Washington Redskins.
Hasselbeck then spent one season each with the Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants before he retired.
"There is a 6’ 7" hole in our hearts. He will be so missed by so many. We are beyond grateful that he was our dad and look forward to Heaven and being all together again," Matt Hasselbeck added.
Both of Don Hasselbeck’s sons, Matt and Tim, both played in the NFL.
He had 107 catches for 1,542 yards and 18 touchdowns in 123 career games.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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All signs point to J.J. McCarthy being the man under center for the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1.
Despite a career resurgence from Sam Darnold, the Vikings decided to move on, and he went to the Seattle Seahawks.
And, as much as it appears Aaron Rodgers wants to pull the full Brett Favre and go to Minnesota, the feeling does not appear to be mutual.
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Rodgers and Russell Wilson are still available, but they don't appear to be in any rush; thus, it looks like McCarthy, whom the Vikings traded up for in 2024, will get the nod.
But, it's still a mystery to him.
McCarthy told Fanduel TV that he has not yet been told that he's the QB1.
"And I'm happy they didn't, because I try to earn it every single day. And I never want that to be given to me," McCarthy said. "It's such a privilege and opportunity to give me that chance, and I'm just going to make the most of it every single day."
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McCarthy figured to be in a competition with Darnold last year, but a knee injury in training camp kept McCarthy out for the entire season, just months after he helped Michigan to a national championship.
The Vikings went 14-3 last year, but lost the NFC North title game to the Detroit Lions, thus dropping them down to the fifth seed in the conference. They hit the road against the Los Angeles Rams but were a first-round exit.
It was a bad time for Darnold to have the worst two games of his season, but he still managed to earn $100 million from his new team as it appeared he was going to be a bust just a few years ago.
Assuming he's the guy, McCarthy will join a stout corps of Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson, with reigning Coach of the Year Kevin O'Connell on the sideline.
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The Minnesota Vikings are content with JJ McCarthy as their starting quarterback amid the Aaron Rodgers rumors in free agency – for now.
The Vikings have reportedly rejected multiple trade calls on McCarthy and are moving forward with the 2024 first-round pick as their starting quarterback, per an NFL Network report on Wednesday.
The report also said the Vikings plan to add a veteran quarterback with McCarthy but are not pursuing Rodgers "at this time."
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With the Vikings currently not in pursuit of Rodgers, the New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers are seen as the two teams that could sign the four-time MVP, if Rodgers chooses to play next season.
McCarthy flashed during the preseason last year, as he completed 11 of 17 passes for 188 yards and two touchdowns and no interceptions. However, the 22-year-old tore his meniscus in that preseason game and underwent season-ending surgery in August.
McCarthy’s injury left Sam Darnold as the unquestioned starter going into the season.
Darnold thrived as he led the team to a 14-3 record. He completed just over 66% of his passes for 4,319 yards with 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
STEELERS STAR OFFERS BLUNT MESSAGE FOR AARON RODGERS AMID QUARTERBACK UNCERTAINTY
Despite the incredible success Darnold had, his last two performances left a lot to be desired. In Week 18, the Vikings played the Detroit Lions, with the NFC North title and No. 1 seed on the line. The Vikings lost, 31-9, and Darnold struggled mightily, completing just 18 of 41 passes for 166 yards.
That loss sent the Vikings to the wild-card game instead of the all-important first-round bye, where they played the Los Angeles Rams and lost 27-9. Darnold struggled in that game as well.
The 27-year-old completed 25–40 passes for 245 yards while throwing one touchdown and one interception. He was sacked a whopping nine times.
Perhaps those two games influenced the Vikings’ decision to let Darnold leave in free agency, where he signed a three-year, $100.5 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks to replace Geno Smith as their starting quarterback.
With Darnold out of the picture, and the team currently not pursuing Rodgers, head coach Kevin O’Connell appears to be ready to hand the starting quarterback job over to McCarthy.
Howeer, If the Vikings ramp up their pursuit of Rodgers if he remains unsigned, it could signal that the team is not ready to hand the reins over to McCarthy.
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Pittsburgh Steelers star defensive tackle Cam Heyward offered a blunt message to Aaron Rodgers amid the speculation about where the four-time MVP will end up after he was released by the New York Jets this month following a tumultuous two years.
Rodgers is reportedly weighing offers between the Steelers and New York Giants, but according to a report from The Athletic, the veteran signal caller is also interested in playing for the Minnesota Vikings.
Heyward said he was "tired of talking about the quarterback situation" and that he is "ready to move on from free agency" as the NFL world continues to wait for Rodgers' decision.
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"I ain’t doing that darkness retreat. I don’t need any of that crap," Heyward said during a recent episode of his "Not Just Football" podcast.
"Either you want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler or you don’t. That’s simple, that’s the pitch. If you want me to recruit, that’s the recruiting pitch. Pittsburgh Steelers — if you want to be part of it, so be it. If you don’t, no skin off my back."
One of the Steelers quarterbacks last season was Justin Fields, who departed for the Jets in free agency.
Russell Wilson, who supplanted Fields as the Steelers starting quarterback last season, is still a free agent and has met with the Cleveland Browns and Giants.
AARON RODGERS COULD RETIRE IF HE DOESN'T GET OFFER FROM SPECIFIC TEAM: REPORT
The Steelers went 6-1 in Wilson’s first seven starts but then lost their last five games with him at the helm, including their playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
The only two quarterbacks currently on the Steelers roster are Skylar Thompson and Mason Rudolph.
The Steelers signed Rudolph a two-year contract last week, which will be his second stint with the team, as a backup who has 18 career starts.
The Steelers went 10-7 last season with Fields and Wilson, and would hope the potential addition of Rodgers to their quarterback room would lead them to a deep playoff run.
Last season, Heyward played in all 17 games and had 8.0 sacks and 71 total tackles. Heyward is a seven-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro. The 35-year-old has spent his entire 14-year career with the Steelers after being drafted in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft out of Ohio State.
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Aaron Rodgers may choose to retire from the NFL if he doesn't get his way in free agency, according to The Athletic.
As the former MVP reportedly considers offers from the New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers, he would prefer to sign with the Minnesota Vikings, according to the outlet.
If Rodgers doesn't get an offer from Minnesota, he may retire.
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The Vikings have an opening for a veteran quarterback after last year's starter, Sam Darnold, signed with the Seattle Seahawks. However, Minnesota also has former Michigan national champion J.J. McCarthy, the team's first-round pick in the 2024 draft.
Rodgers, at 41 years old, is not considered a long-term solution for any team.
Famed NFL agent Leigh Steinberg, who has negotiated contracts for multiple Hall of Fame quarterbacks, told Fox News Digital he envisions Minnesota as a "positive fit" for Rodgers at this stage in his career, especially due to McCarthy's presence as a potential protégé and the team being suited to win in the short-term.
"So, you need to have a situation where, because Aaron at best maybe plays another year, maybe plays another two years, but it's not a permanent solution, so it's a one- or two-year fix," Steinberg said. "So, he could go to a team that's really good but just needs that last little piece to put them over the top, and he could mentor a younger quarterback."
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Steinberg also believes a team without a chance to win in the short term with no young quarterback on its roster would not be as good a fit. The Giants are a team that fits that mold. The Steelers may have had a winning record last season but aren't a shoo-in to be good again this year. They also don't have a young project quarterback.
"A team that's really dissatisfied with their quarterbacking that takes him wouldn't be as positive of a solution," Steinberg said.
If Rodgers does end up getting an offer from the Vikings and signing with them, he would follow a nearly identical career path to that of his Green Bay Packer predecessor, Brett Favre. Like Favre, Rodgers played the vast majority of his career with the Packers, winning a Super Bowl before being traded to the New York Jets. Favre then spent his final two years on the Vikings.
Favre offered advice to Rodgers and encouraged him to sign with the Vikings during an interview on Fox News Channel's "The Will Cain Show" Tuesday.
"By all means, sign with them," Favre said. "They got a really good football team. They're loaded at pretty much every position. They made it to the playoffs last year. They got a tremendous fan base, much like the Packers. If you get the opportunity, that's a good place to win.
"Of course, you gotta play the Packers then."
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Kirk Cousins' time with the Atlanta Falcons has not expired yet.
The Falcons intend to honor the quarterback's $10 million roster bonus, according to ESPN. The payment triggers if Cousins is on Atlanta's roster after 4 p.m. ET Saturday.
Cousins was benched ahead of Atlanta's Week 16 game against the New York Giants last season.
The move came after Cousins struggled, throwing nine interceptions over a five-game stretch. In December, Falcons head coach Raheem Morris confirmed the team's plans for Michael Penix to be the "starting quarterback moving forward."
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Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million contract in March 2024. The deal included $90 million in guarantees and the $10 million roster bonus, which would be paid March 17. The team made the shocking decision to use the No. 8 pick in the NFL Draft on Michael Penix, just six weeks after committing to Cousins.
While the marriage between Cousins and the Falcons seemed destined for divorce, Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot said the organization was "comfortable" with the 36-year-old remaining with the team and backing up Penix.
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"We are very comfortable moving forward with (Cousins) as backup," Fontenot said in January. "Kirk is a great man, and he's been great support for Mike. We are very comfortable moving forward with him as the backup."
While the sincerity of Fontenot's comments continues to be debated, the decision to keep the four-time Pro Bowler on the roster for the time being at least makes it possible the quarterback could be in a Falcons uniform in 2025.
Cousins met with Falcons owner Arthur Blank last week and asked to be traded to a team he had a chance to start for next season, Sports Illustrated reported.
However, Blank and the Falcons will likely do what is in the best interest of the franchise. There will be financial implications for whatever the organization decides.
Cousins is owed $27.5 million next season, regardless of whether he plays for the Falcons in 2025. The $10 million bonus applies to the 2026 season. Cutting ties with Cousins and designating the transaction as a post-June 1 release would allow Atlanta to spread out the salary cap hit over two years.
Since the Falcons are electing to stick with Cousins — at least for now — the front office will presumably use the extra time to work on finding a team willing to agree to a trade. If a trade does materialize, Cousins would get the final say on where he is sent because his contract includes a no-trade clause.
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Aaron Rodgers has just one more stop to complete the entire Brett Favre trifecta.
Like Favre, Rodgers spent roughly two decades with the Green Bay Packers before heading over to the New York Jets.
Favre spent one season with Gang Green before moving to the Minnesota Vikings for two seasons, and ironically enough, with Rodgers a free agent, that's exactly where Favre wants his successor to go.
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"By all means, sign with them," Favre said on "The Will Cain Show" Tuesday. "They got a really good football team. They're loaded at pretty much every position. They made it to the playoffs last year. They got a tremendous fan base, much like the Packers. If you get the opportunity, that's a good place to win.
"Of course, you gotta play the Packers then."
Minnesota moved on from Sam Darnold, who reportedly agreed to a three-year deal worth $100 million with the Seattle Seahawks earlier this week. Perhaps Darnold's performances in the Vikings' two most important games of the season cost him a lot of money.
The Vikings selected J.J. McCarthy with the 10th selection in last year's draft, but after he injured his knee, Darnold was automatically tabbed as the starter and revitalized his career.
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However, reports are circulating that Rodgers and the Vikings have some mutual interests, even though McCarthy is slated to be ready for Week 1.
Rodgers' tenure with the Jets was an overall disappointment. The 2023 campaign was a zero after he ruptured his Achilles on just the fourth play of the season, and last season, despite Rodgers showing signs of his vintage self, the team went 5-12.
The new regime announced that they would be moving in a different direction earlier this offseason, and they recently agreed to bring in Justin Fields as their presumed starter.
Rodgers could join the likes of Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, and his former teammate Aaron Jones after the Vikings went 14-3 last season, narrowly missing out on the NFC North title.
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Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Michael Pierce announced his retirement from the NFL on Wednesday after nearly a decade in the league.
Pierce, 32, spent nine years in the NFL, seven seasons with the Ravens and one with the Minnesota Vikings. He opted out in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I've decided to call it a career," Pierce shared the news on the "Sports Spectrum" podcast. "It's been a beautiful, beautiful, beautiful nine years. I've had so many people help me along the way."
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"I’d like to thank a few people personally, obviously my lord and savior, Jesus Christ, first and foremost."
One of the people he thanked was former Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome, who signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2016.
Pierce spent the first four seasons of his career with the Ravens, then signed a three-year, $27 million contract with the Vikings prior to the 2020 season.
The nose tackle opted out of the COVID season and played one season with the Vikings before getting released. Pierce then went back to where it all started, returning to the Ravens on a three-year, $16.5 million contract.
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In his nine-year career, Pierce had 218 total tackles, 9.5 sacks, 19 tackles for loss, with six fumble recoveries, and one memorable interception.
The Ravens were up 35-10 against the Cleveland Browns in Week 18, on Jan. 4, 2025, with just over two minutes left in the fourth quarter.
Pierce, the 355-pound nose tackle, dropped into coverage and intercepted Bailey Zappe and returned it six yards before kneeling down.
Pierce’s interception sent the Ravens into a frenzy, as the team poured off the sideline to mob him.
"I was shocked myself bro, I’m not gonna lie to you," Pierce said about his interception in a post to social media.
Pierce’s interception came on the final snap of his regular-season career.
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Daniel Jones is on the move again.
The former New York Giants quarterback, who finished last season as a backup in Minnesota after being released mid-season, has agreed to terms with the Indianapolis Colts, the NFL Network first reported Tuesday.
According to reports, the one-year deal is worth $14 million plus incentives, and includes $13.15 million fully guaranteed.
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Jones, 27, had an opportunity to remain in Minnesota, especially after free agent Sam Darnold agreed to a lucrative three-year deal with the Seattle Seahawks on Monday. Instead, he will compete with Anthony Richardson for the starting role in 2025.
Richardson was selected by the Colts with the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. His rookie season was derailed after he sustained a shoulder injury that sidelined him in Week 5.
He returned last season and missed more time because of injuries but was also benched two games due to his performance on the field.
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Richardson was expected to be Indy’s long-term starter, but the addition of Jones could challenge that.
Colts general manager Chris Ballard said last month at the league's annual scouting combine in Indianapolis that the team would be adding another quarterback to the mix – one who would fiercely compete for the starting role.
"It's got to be the right guy to create real competition," he said. "I think it's good for the team, I think it's good for Anthony. Look, we drafted Anthony high, knowing it was going to take some time and we knew there was going to be some hiccups along the way."
Jones moves on to Indy after his tumultuous six-year tenure with the Giants ended mid-season.
Head coach Brian Daboll benched Jones in favor of third-string quarterback Tommy DeVito back in November, which prompted Jones to request that he be released. He joined the Vikings with a 24-44-1 record in the regular season and 1-1 record in the playoffs.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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The Minnesota Vikings are keeping one of their own pending free agents on the roster on a day when tons of NFL deals and trades went down.
Veteran running back Aaron Jones won't be setting the market like he did last offseason after he agreed to terms on a new deal with the Vikings, who announced the move on Sunday.
Jones' new deal is reportedly worth $20 million over the next two seasons.
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Jones had signed a one-year, $7 million deal to join the Vikings, who he knew as his NFC North rival throughout his time with the Green Bay Packers.
He severed ties with the Packers after turning down a pay cut this past offseason.
Now, head coach Kevin O'Connell had the initial view of the Jones signing as a veteran who could lead a running-back-by-committee scheme in his backfield. Jones, 30, had an injury history, including six games missed in 2023, so having the options there was the thought.
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However, Jones quickly showed O’Connell that he still deserves the lion’s share of touches after he rushed for 1,138 yards on 255 carries with five touchdowns while hauling in 51 passes for 408 yards and two scores.
Jones’ 1,546 yards from scrimmage was his best total since his breakout 2019 campaign, where he had 1,558 yards and 19 total touchdowns to lead the NFL with the Packers.
Jones played a vital role in a high-octane Vikings offense that also saw Sam Darnold, a journeyman quarterback to that point in his career, light up the scoreboard thanks to play-action playing a major part in the pass game.
As NFL fans know, a good play-action is only as good as a productive run game.
Seeing the success of Jones in the backfield, the Vikings wasted no time keeping him in place as they go into the 2025 season trying to answer the quarterback question instead.
Recent reports indicate the Vikings and Darnold are not expected to reach a deal despite the career-altering campaign he just had in Minnesota. The team still has 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy on the depth chart, and Daniel Jones, who was released by the New York Giants two years after signing a four-year extension, joined the team and could return to provide veteran competition.
But there is no worry as to who will be taking carries from whoever starts under center for the Vikings in 2025, as Jones is set to lead the way once more.
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