Aaron Jones is joining the list of Green Bay Packers greats who joined the Minnesota Vikings.
The Packers released Jones on Monday. By Tuesday morning, he had agreed to sign with the Vikings, so he’ll get to see his former teammates twice in 2024.
According to NFL Network, it was a one-year deal worth $7 million. He was scheduled to earn a base salary of $11.1 million this season; the Packers wanted him to take a major pay cut. So, Jones will earn less money with the Vikings but presumably it’s less of a cut than the Packers desired.
While Jordan Love starred in the Packers’ run to the playoffs, it was Jones who carried the team. After missing time with a knee injury, Jones reeled off five consecutive 100-yard games – a franchise record. That includes 20 carries for 120 yards in Green Bay’s blowout win at Minnesota in Week 17.
In 11 career games against the Vikings, Jones topped 100 yards on four occasions and had at least 66 yards in seven.
At the end of the season, Jones’ return to the Packers seemed like practically a sure thing, with general manager Brian Gutekunst calling him the “heartbeat” of the team.
“Yeah, absolutely, we’d love to Aaron back,” Gutekunst said after the season. “We’re still putting all those things together as far as how we’re going to move forward. But he was such a difference-maker when he was out there this year. The way our offense was able to move, the way he changed a lot of the way we operated when he was in there and when he was healthy.
“I think for us, it’s finding a way to keep him out there and keep him healthy. Not only on the field but, and you guys know this, he’s such an influential leader in our locker room. He’s just really the heartbeat of our team. That’s certainly the anticipation, that he’ll be back.”
Instead, talks on a revised deal broke down, and the Packers released Jones on Monday after agreeing to a four-year contract with Josh Jacobs, the 2022 NFL rushing champion.
The Vikings had a dire need at running back. Last year, they ranked 29th in rushing per game and 24th in rushing per carry. Their lead back last year, Alexander Mattison, was released earlier in the offseason. So it will be Jones standing front and center on the Vikings’ depth chart.
Other Packers stars who jumped to the Vikings include receiver Greg Jennings, pass rusher Za’Darius Smith, safety Darren Sharper, kicker Ryan Longwell and, indirectly, quarterback Brett Favre. Cornerback Chandon Sullivan, linebacker Desmond Bishop and receiver Robert Ferguson did, as well.
