Will Aaron Rodgers be on 49ers radar in coming years?

It’s a story seen before. But there will soon be speculation the San Francisco 49ers would want to lure in Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers at some point in the future.

There are a few elements linking the context between the San Francisco 49ers and the Green Bay Packers’ future Hall of Fame quarterback, Aaron Rodgers.

Yes, before too long, you’re going to start hearing about the idea Rodgers, 36 years old, should join the Niners after his career in Green Bay comes to a close.

Where have we heard a story like this before? You know, the one involving a Northern California native pegged for Canton, who just happened to grow up idolizing the 49ers? If you’re thinking now-Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady, you’re correct. Once San Francisco lost Super Bowl LIV and pundits began criticizing the Niners’ own quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo, talk of Brady becoming the guy in Santa Clara was all the rage before he landed in Florida.

Now it’s going to be Rodgers’ turn.

Appearing on The Rich Eisen Show, Hall of Fame Packers quarterback Brett Favre shared thoughts he must have had when Rodgers was selected by Green Bay back in 2005, ultimately forcing Favre out of his own job.

“I think he will play somewhere else,” Favre told Eisen. “I guarantee you (the Love pick) got the gears going in Aaron’s mind. All (Rodgers) needed was a reason (to play elsewhere).”

The Love pick, of course, was Green Bay’s effort to trade up to No. 26 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft to grab Utah State quarterback Jordan Love. With Rodgers still aiming to play into his 40s, just like Brady, it had to be viewed as quite the shocker.

Especially considering the Packers are in win-now mode anyway. They were a loss to the 49ers away from competing in Super Bowl LIV, albeit a completely one-sided loss, and it isn’t as if Rodgers has shown any signs of clear-cut regression.

But that’s a Packers problem. Where do the Niners fit into all of this?

For whatever reason, Garoppolo has continued to be the subject of “is he the right guy?” conversations ever since the Super Bowl. Just ask Forbes.com’s Vincent Frank:

Fox Sports’ Colin Cowherd also suggested a would-be union between Rodgers and San Francisco, ultimately pushing Garoppolo out of the picture.

Garoppolo’s 3,978 regular-season passing yards last year ranked fourth best among single-season 49ers quarterbacks in franchise history. And while his fourth-quarter meltdown in Super Bowl LIV wasn’t pretty, and some would rightfully expect more in those moments from a $137.5 million quarterback, there isn’t exactly any substantial reason to expect the Niners to want to move on.

Except for the same storyline you read and heard about with Brady.

This might not happen right away. Just like Farve before Rodgers, Love will have to wait to get his chance. Perhaps a year, maybe two. Rodgers is signed through 2023, too, so that adds a wrinkle to the equation not experienced with Brady last offseason.

Either way, prepare yourself for the discussion. And you should expect the 49ers to be listed as one of those possible destinations unless Garoppolo winds up winning a Super Bowl and tossing 10 touchdowns during the game to silence the critics.