Yet Another Ex-Vikings QB Hangs Up the Cleats

“From growing up in this community to representing my hometown, to having the opportunity to play in the NFL, it has all been a blessing. What I’ll carry most isn’t the milestones, but the people– teammates, coaches, family, and a community that supported me every step of the way.”

Minnesota found Hall in Round 5 of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Hall closed the message, “My heart is full as I close this chapter and finish my football career. I’m thankful to everyone who’s been part of the journey. The game has given me more than I could ever give back.”

Career with Vikings

Before J.J. McCarthy arrived in Eagan with significant franchise quarterback hype, the Vikings had already invested in another young quarterback: Hall.

Hall joined the team in 2023, fitting former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s “lottery ticket” strategy: a 5th-Round quarterback with experience, composure, mobility, and enough talent to catch Kevin O’Connell’s staff’s attention. While he never generated the buzz of a top prospect, Hall quietly became the team’s emergency backup during Kirk Cousins’ final season in Minnesota.

For a brief period, this plan seemed viable.

Hall performed well in training camp and preseason. Teammates praised his calm demeanor, and the Vikings appeared to trust him more than they typically would a late-round quarterback. He demonstrated quick decision-making, ball security, and effective offense management, continuing the experiment.

Then, everything changed when Cousins tore his Achilles tendon midway through the 2023 season.

Minnesota urgently needed a quarterback solution, and Hall was thrust into a playoff hunt before the team truly understood his capabilities. His first start in Atlanta began with promising moments. He looked poised in the pocket, delivered accurate throws, and for a fleeting moment, Vikings fans wondered if the front office had unearthed another hidden gem. The optimism then vanished almost instantly.

Hall suffered a concussion in that game, sidelining him for weeks as the season devolved into the Joshua Dobbs roller coaster. By the time Hall returned late in the year, the offense was struggling, the pressure immense, and there was no margin for error.

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Jaren Hall (16) hands the football to running back Abram Smith (41) during second-quarter preseason action against the Arizona Cardinals at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Aug. 26, 2023. Hall operated Minnesota’s offense throughout the exhibition matchup while continuing his rookie development during training camp and preseason competition for the Vikings. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.

His final significant appearance against Green Bay was unsuccessful. The game’s speed overwhelmed him, the offense stalled repeatedly, and all the developmental prospect buzz surrounding him evaporated. From that point, the outcome felt inevitable.

Minnesota drafted McCarthy months later, signed Sam Darnold, and completely overhauled their quarterback room for 2024. Hall had no realistic path to making the roster. The Vikings released him during final cuts, Seattle claimed him, and his brief tenure in Minnesota faded almost as quickly as it began.

Yet, for one unusual stretch in 2023, Jaren Hall was the Vikings’ entire Plan B.

The Scene Thereafter

Then, everything turned ever more rotten for Hall. It was as if the “what if” of his upside in Minnesota served as his peak.

He did nothing in Seattle, and in fact, never took another regular season snap. The Seahawks released him in April 2025, right after the draft, when the club onboarded Jalen Milroe from Alabama and already had Drew Lock in line for the QB2 job behind Darnold.

Fast forward to the 2026 offseason, and Hall signed with the UFL’s Birmingham Stallions. Two weeks later, he was dropped by the Stallions, which would turn out to be his final hurrah as a professional or semi-pro football player.

What Could Have Been

Believe it or not, Hall arrived at the absolutely perfect time in Vikings history. The team’s QB1, Cousins, was on his way out as the franchise quarterback and even suffered the gruesome, aforementioned injury. Hall was right there to snatch the job by the throat.

BYU quarterback Jaren Hall (3) reacts after throwing an interception against the Idaho State Bengals during first-quarter action at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah, on Nov. 6, 2021. Hall showed visible frustration after the turnover during BYU’s home matchup as the Cougars attempted to regain momentum early in the contest against Idaho State. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Swinger-USA TODAY Sports.

But he got hurt when he was given his big chance, and when he healed, he didn’t quite have the chops during a pivotal regular season game of 2023. As it turned out, he just wasn’t cut out for the NFL, evidenced by his retirement this week.

The stars aligned, though. Minnesota was desperate for a young, unsung passer to step up in 2023 — a guy who could’ve stuck around for the long haul.

That was not Hall.