The Green Bay Packers have a storied history in the NFC North. With historic rivalries against the other three teams in the NFC North, many former players and fans would rather be dead than caught in an opposing team’s gear, Though this is not always the case, as some players join rivals to spite the Green Bay Packers. The most consistent of these teams is the Minnesota Vikings, as there have been a multitude of players in recent years and in the past to make the move from Green Bay to Minneapolis.
Aaron Jones
In his tenure as a Green Bay Packer, Aaron Jones was considered the heart and soul of the culture of the Packers. In the 2024 offseason, the Green Bay Packers front office moved on from that culture.
#Packers release RB Aaron Jones.
📰: https://t.co/jsqyHJAYzi pic.twitter.com/qeRFbyStnX
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) March 11, 2024
After a historic tenure with the Packers, including entering the top 5 in franchise totals of yards and touchdowns on the ground, Aaron Jones is on the move. Unfortunately for Green Bay, less than 24 hours later he was signed to the Minnesota Vikings.
Aaron Jones contract details, per source:
Original GB deal: $11M base, $1M incentives
Final GB offer: Little less than $4M base, $2M incentives
Vikings: $6M base, $1M incentives
Jones wanted to retire in GB but didn’t want to take another hometown discount of that magnitude.
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) March 12, 2024
After contract disputes with the Green Bay Packers, Aaron Jones signed with the Vikings for a surprisingly low 1-year deal, likely as a spite to the Packers. In his 11 games versus the Vikings, Aaron Jones put up 847 yards and five touchdowns. Now looking to bring that same production versus the Green Bay Packers.
Zadarious Smith
Edge rusher Zadarious Smith experienced a very similar end to his tenure with the Green Bay Packers to Aaron Jones. After not accepting a pay cut proposition, the Green Bay Packers released him.
Packers are releasing LB Za’Darius Smith, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 14, 2022
In his two healthy years with the Green Bay Packers Zadarious Smith pooled together 26 sacks and over 100 tackles, putting himself among the elites in the NFL. After being released in the 2022 offseason, he signed with the Minnesota Vikings. In his short 1 season stay with the Minnesota Vikings, Smith put together 10 sacks in 16 games, including one sack against former teammate Aaron Rodgers. Smith was later traded to the Cleveland Browns.
I just want to say “Thank you!” to Skol Nation for an amazing season & experience! Thank you to all of my Teammates, Coaches & the entire Minnesota Vikings Organization! 💜 pic.twitter.com/LAVAy5jptS
— Za’Darius Smith (@zadariussmith) March 9, 2023
Brett Favre
After a 16-year, hall-of-fame-worthy, career with the Green Bay Packers, Brett Favre was traded to the New York Jets for a conditional mid-round pick (much like his successor Aaron Rodgers). After his single injury-plagued season with the Jets, Favre returned to the NFC North to join the Minnesota Vikings.
In his career as a Green Bay Packer, Favre re-invigorated the franchise with two Superbowl appearances, one Superbowl win, three consecutive MVPs, and over 440 touchdown passes. In his first year with the Minnesota Vikings in 2009, Favre had the best pass rating of his career with 33 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. Favre beat the Green Bay Packers twice in that season and led the Vikings to a 12-4 record. That record was good for the one seed in the NFC, eventually losing on the brink of the Superbowl against the eventual champion New Orleans Saints.
Favre had his jersey retired for the franchise in 2015 after a complicated falling out with the Green Bay Packers, that included an early retirement and refusal to release him.
Many Others
There is a multitude of players that have gone from the Green Bay Packers to the Minnesota Vikings. This includes wide receiver Greg Jennings, safety Darren Sharper, lineman Dean Lowry, and corners Parry Nickerson and Chandon Sullivan just to name a handful. Typically history tends to side with the Packers’ side of their career, likely because the Minnesota Vikings have yet to win a Super Bowl.
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