{"id":160748,"date":"2026-03-07T09:31:21","date_gmt":"2026-03-07T09:31:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=160748"},"modified":"2026-03-07T09:31:21","modified_gmt":"2026-03-07T09:31:21","slug":"%f0%9f%94%a5-surprise-return-a-former-packers-fan-favorite-has-confirmed-his-return-for-another-season-and-hes-completely-open-to-a-reunion-with-green-bay-fans-are-rejoicing-at-the-possibi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=160748","title":{"rendered":"\ud83d\udd25 SURPRISE RETURN: A former Packers fan-favorite has confirmed his return for another season, and he\u2019s completely open to a reunion with Green Bay. Fans are rejoicing at the possibility of seeing this beloved player back in a Packers uniform, sparking excitement for the upcoming season."},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"article-paragraph\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/truesport.azontree.com\/_next\/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.igallery.blog%2Fimages%2F77b3bb33d09556ee27b8495b060edb2e%2F2026%2F0304%2FX9lPHQTdfatjf2d5tB9ha1d216bazv5fg6syqxl2.webp&amp;w=3840&amp;q=75\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"my-6\">\n<div class=\"w-full overflow-hidden py-4 ap-[after_first_image]\">\n<div class=\"w-full\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paragraph\">\n<p>The Green Bay Packers fanbase is buzzing with excitement over the latest developments surrounding\u00a0<strong>Aaron Jones<\/strong>, the beloved former running back and one of the franchise\u2019s all-time favorites.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paragraph\">\n<div>\n<div id=\"div_adsconex_banner_responsive_1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The veteran has officially confirmed his plans to return for the 2026 NFL season, his 10th in the league, after the Minnesota Vikings informed him they will release him in a cap-related move later this month.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paragraph\">\n<div>\n<div id=\"div_adsconex_banner_responsive_2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>According to NFL Network\u2019s Tom Pelissero, Jones is fully healthy and eager to keep playing. At 31 years old, the three-time Pro Bowler remains determined to continue, currently ranking 12th in Packers franchise history in rushing yards and 4th in rushing touchdowns.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paragraph\">\n<blockquote><p>Sources: Vikings have informed running back Aaron Jones and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave that, barring a trade, they will be released at the start of the league year this month.<\/p>\n<p>Jones\u2019 release will save the Vikings $7.75 million against the cap, Hargrave\u2019s $10.9 million.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/s5DdCTOWTX\">pic.twitter.com\/s5DdCTOWTX<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter)\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AdamSchefter\/status\/2028142706757656921?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 1, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div>\n<div id=\"js_adsconex_parallax_1\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div id=\"div_adsconex_inpage_1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>In 2025 with the Vikings, before the release news, he recorded 712 rushing yards, 412 receiving yards, and 9 total touchdowns in 16 games.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paragraph\">\n<p>The news has sparked widespread speculation about a potential reunion with the Packers, especially as the team did not tender restricted free agent Emanuel Wilson and is looking for a proven pass-catching back behind Josh Jacobs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paragraph\">\n<div>\n<div id=\"div_adsconex_banner_responsive_3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Reports from Packers Wire, Dairyland Express, and SI on Packers indicate that the team is \u201ccompletely open\u201d to bringing Jones back, potentially on a veteran minimum or short-term incentive-laden deal.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paragraph\">\n<div>\n<div id=\"js_adsconex_parallax_2\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div id=\"div_adsconex_inpage_2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>His experience, reliability in the passing game, vision in zone schemes, and ability to serve as a mentor for younger backs make him an intriguing low-risk option.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paragraph\">\n<p>Jones, a fifth-round pick by the Packers in 2017, spent his first seven seasons in Green Bay, becoming a cornerstone of the offense and one of the most beloved players of the Matt LaFleur era. He delivered countless highlight-reel runs, two 1,000-yard rushing seasons, and unforgettable playoff moments.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paragraph\">\n<div>\n<div id=\"div_adsconex_banner_responsive_4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Though he signed with the Minnesota Vikings in 2024 free agency, his connection to the city, the fans, and the organization has never faded.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paragraph\">\n<p>In a heartfelt recent statement reflecting his deep emotions and loyalty, Jones expressed:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paragraph\">\n<div>\n<div id=\"div_adsconex_banner_responsive_5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>\u201cGreen Bay has always been my home. I love this city, I love the fans, and I love the Packers so much that if the opportunity arises, I want to come back and finish my career here\u2014where it all began, where I lived the greatest moments of my life.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paragraph\">\n<div>\n<div id=\"related-content-block-metaconex\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>This sentiment has fueled hopes among fans for a storybook ending: Jones signing a symbolic one-day contract to retire as a Packer, much like other franchise legends have done.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paragraph\">\n<p>While he may not return to his 2020 peak form, his presence could provide veteran stability in the backfield, especially in third-down and red-zone situations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paragraph\">\n<div>\n<div id=\"div_adsconex_banner_responsive_6\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>No official announcement has come from the Packers yet, but the hype is real. Social media is flooded with \u201cCOMING HOME\u201d graphics featuring Jones in his No. 33 jersey, along with emotional calls like \u201cBring him home!\u201d, \u201cAaron Jones reunion incoming!\u201d, and \u201cRetire as a Packer!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paragraph\">\n<div>\n<div id=\"div_adsconex_banner_responsive_7\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Whether this reunion becomes reality remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Aaron Jones holds a special place in the hearts of Green Bay Packers fans. If he returns, it would be more than just a roster move\u2014it would be a touching chapter in one of the NFL\u2019s great player-team love stories.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Green Bay Packers fanbase is buzzing with excitement over the latest developments surrounding\u00a0Aaron Jones, the beloved former running back and one of the franchise\u2019s all-time favorites&#8230;. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":160749,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-160748","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>\ud83d\udd25 SURPRISE RETURN: A former Packers fan-favorite has confirmed his return for another season, and he\u2019s completely open to a reunion with Green Bay. Fans are rejoicing at the possibility of seeing this beloved player back in a Packers uniform, sparking excitement for the upcoming season. - NEWS USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=160748\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"\ud83d\udd25 SURPRISE RETURN: A former Packers fan-favorite has confirmed his return for another season, and he\u2019s completely open to a reunion with Green Bay. Fans are rejoicing at the possibility of seeing this beloved player back in a Packers uniform, sparking excitement for the upcoming season. - NEWS USA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Green Bay Packers fanbase is buzzing with excitement over the latest developments surrounding\u00a0Aaron Jones, the beloved former running back and one of the franchise\u2019s all-time favorites....\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=160748\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"NEWS USA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-03-07T09:31:21+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Packers-News-Premium.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"880\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1168\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"MrThanh\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"MrThanh\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=160748\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=160748\",\"name\":\"\ud83d\udd25 SURPRISE RETURN: A former Packers fan-favorite has confirmed his return for another season, and he\u2019s completely open to a reunion with Green Bay. Fans are rejoicing at the possibility of seeing this beloved player back in a Packers uniform, sparking excitement for the upcoming season. - NEWS USA\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=160748#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=160748#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Packers-News-Premium.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-03-07T09:31:21+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-03-07T09:31:21+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/850fd1b8bcb1d322b7f0a04b3d2f18ec\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=160748#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=160748\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=160748#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Packers-News-Premium.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Packers-News-Premium.png\",\"width\":880,\"height\":1168},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=160748#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"\ud83d\udd25 SURPRISE RETURN: A former Packers fan-favorite has confirmed his return for another season, and he\u2019s completely open to a reunion with Green Bay. Fans are rejoicing at the possibility of seeing this beloved player back in a Packers uniform, sparking excitement for the upcoming season.\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/\",\"name\":\"NEWS USA\",\"description\":\"Your Daily Dose of Sports News and Updates\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/850fd1b8bcb1d322b7f0a04b3d2f18ec\",\"name\":\"MrThanh\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8c8f2d90ff2a21a61a5e6bc0619622a5021fc65353885d9d7b3db1c8c7c1ca8d?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8c8f2d90ff2a21a61a5e6bc0619622a5021fc65353885d9d7b3db1c8c7c1ca8d?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"MrThanh\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?author=6\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"\ud83d\udd25 SURPRISE RETURN: A former Packers fan-favorite has confirmed his return for another season, and he\u2019s completely open to a reunion with Green Bay. Fans are rejoicing at the possibility of seeing this beloved player back in a Packers uniform, sparking excitement for the upcoming season. - NEWS USA","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=160748","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"\ud83d\udd25 SURPRISE RETURN: A former Packers fan-favorite has confirmed his return for another season, and he\u2019s completely open to a reunion with Green Bay. Fans are rejoicing at the possibility of seeing this beloved player back in a Packers uniform, sparking excitement for the upcoming season. - NEWS USA","og_description":"The Green Bay Packers fanbase is buzzing with excitement over the latest developments surrounding\u00a0Aaron Jones, the beloved former running back and one of the franchise\u2019s all-time favorites....","og_url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=160748","og_site_name":"NEWS USA","article_published_time":"2026-03-07T09:31:21+00:00","og_image":[{"width":880,"height":1168,"url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Packers-News-Premium.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"MrThanh","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"MrThanh","Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=160748","url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=160748","name":"\ud83d\udd25 SURPRISE RETURN: A former Packers fan-favorite has confirmed his return for another season, and he\u2019s completely open to a reunion with Green Bay. Fans are rejoicing at the possibility of seeing this beloved player back in a Packers uniform, sparking excitement for the upcoming season. - NEWS USA","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=160748#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=160748#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Packers-News-Premium.png","datePublished":"2026-03-07T09:31:21+00:00","dateModified":"2026-03-07T09:31:21+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/850fd1b8bcb1d322b7f0a04b3d2f18ec"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=160748#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=160748"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=160748#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Packers-News-Premium.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Packers-News-Premium.png","width":880,"height":1168},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=160748#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"\ud83d\udd25 SURPRISE RETURN: A former Packers fan-favorite has confirmed his return for another season, and he\u2019s completely open to a reunion with Green Bay. Fans are rejoicing at the possibility of seeing this beloved player back in a Packers uniform, sparking excitement for the upcoming season."}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/","name":"NEWS USA","description":"Your Daily Dose of Sports News and Updates","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/850fd1b8bcb1d322b7f0a04b3d2f18ec","name":"MrThanh","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8c8f2d90ff2a21a61a5e6bc0619622a5021fc65353885d9d7b3db1c8c7c1ca8d?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8c8f2d90ff2a21a61a5e6bc0619622a5021fc65353885d9d7b3db1c8c7c1ca8d?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"MrThanh"},"url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?author=6"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/160748","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=160748"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/160748\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":160752,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/160748\/revisions\/160752"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/160749"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=160748"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=160748"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=160748"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}