More often than not, Kevin O’Connell does good work with quarterbacks. Can that general assessment apply to Jaren Hall?
The former Vikings quarterback is currently unemployed, set adrift within the uncertainty of NFL free agency. In time, perhaps, Mr. Hall will find a spot on a team’s practice squad or maybe on a 53-man roster. So far, the 2025 season has been pretty modest for Hall, though. Why haven’t the Vikings sought out a reunion?
The Vikings Quarterback Who Got Away
Take the Vikings’ leaders at their word: the hope was to bring Hall back.
After all, the team sunk a draft pick into the former BYU passer. Wouldn’t it be prudent to keep investing in someone who inspired enough optimism to demand a 5th? Hall is far from the NFL’s most impressive athlete. Standing at 6’0″ and weighing 207 pounds, Hall moves well but isn’t someone with an imposing build. Even worse, Hall doesn’t have great arm strength.
Where he inspired some optimism was elsewhere.
The quarterback demonstrated good touch on several of his throws, a reality that showed up during the 2024 preseason. He runs well. And then there are the intangibles. He appeared to be someone who works hard and who strives to improve. Again, Minnesota didn’t want to exile him. Instead, there was the goal of bringing him back as a practice squad player.
Instead, Hall decided to give a different team a shot, venturing over to Seattle.
Over the remainder of 2024, Jaren Hall journeyed back and forth between Seattle’s practice squad and 53-man roster. Eventually, the Seahawks would decide to move on, doing so after welcoming Sam Darnold to town during free agency back in March and then drafting a passer in the 2025 NFL Draft (Jalen Milroe, chosen in the 3rd).
Suddenly in need of work, the Viking scorned didn’t receive much attention as an NFL free agent.
Further adding to the irony of Hall’s NFL journey is that Indianapolis recently brought him to town for a workout, as Tom Pelissero reported. The Colts are among the most feared teams in the NFL, largely due to Daniel Jones playing so well.
With there being a need for depth, the Colts opted to sign Brett Rypien, the man who Minnesota signed before moving on from Jaren Hall. Rypien has twice been chosen over Hall, leading to the question of why teams want the brainy veteran over the upside within the less-established passer.
The Vikings are moving ahead with a somewhat beleaguered quarterback room. Both of J.J. McCarthy alongside Carson Wentz have been trying to heal injuries ahead of the Week 7 game. The only other passer to be within the Vikings’ orbit is rookie Max Brosmer, an undrafted talent.
Seeing another injury occur could involve a reunion with the 2023 draft pick. Plugging in someone who could be signed for cheap and who has existing knowledge of the scheme has its appeal. There’s a very real possibility, though, that Minnesota has decided that there’s no future relationship with the former depth passer, which is to say nothing of what the man himself wants for his football career.
Jaren Hall is 27. Hopefully, he can land on his feet somewhere while establishing himself as a strong depth piece.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
