- The New York Jets quarterback criticized people he believes have wronged him
- Aaron Rodgers wants people to go back years, reveal vax status before they talk
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New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers delivered an anti-vax tirade on ESPN's “The Pat McAfee Show” on Tuesday, proclaiming that people should reveal their vaccination status before voicing their opinions.
“I think what we need to do, Pat, is the same people who are criticizing me or making up conspiracies about my injury or whatever – before they talk, let's go back to 2021 and let's make people say their vax status for starters ,” Rodgers said.
“Then all these comments will be placed in the appropriate window,” Rodgers continued.
“Everyone could know at that moment that they have their puppeteers making them puppeteers to say this certain thing about this man and they're still upset about the fact that I believe in medical freedom.”
Rodgers stated in the middle of the tangent that he suspected ESPN would drop his comments due to their controversial nature. The network broadcast them entirely live.
Aaron Rodgers is out for the season due to a torn Achilles tendon he suffered in his first game as a Jet
Despite only playing a few minutes in 2023, Rodgers has found a way to stay in the news
Rodgers has been open about his disdain for the coronavirus vaccine since it became available to NFL players in 2021. To this day, Rodgers claims he has not been vaccinated against COVID-19.
In October, Rodgers called Travis Kelce “Mr. Pfizer' after Taylor Swift's boyfriend appeared in ads for the drug company.
Rodgers has also admitted that he deliberately lied to the media by telling them he had been “immunized” against COVID-19 so he would no longer be asked about his vaccination status.
Questioning the legitimacy of COVID-19 treatments and vaccines has been a calling card of conspirators since the pandemic was at its peak in 2020.
Rodgers and tennis star Novak Djokovic are perhaps the two most notable sports figures who are anti-COVID vaccine.
Djokovic was deported from Australia and barred from participating in the 2022 Australian Open due to his unvaccinated status.
Rodgers missed part of the 2021 season when he tested positive for the coronavirus as an unvaccinated player.
“So let's make sure that we ask the right questions of these people before they start spouting so that we can actually put each of these specific comments into perspective,” he added on Tuesday's show.
Rodgers was also fined nearly $15,000 for not following the NFL's COVID guidelines in 2021
On the New York Jets' first offensive possession of the season, Rodgers tore his Achilles tendon.
But because of his relationship with McAfee and bizarre comments like Tuesday's, Rodgers has found a way to stay in the spotlight without downplaying it.
Rodgers flirted with a comeback for most of this season's long run, seriously bucking the trend of a torn Achilles tendon, before admitting earlier this month that it was unlikely to happen.
Rodgers will be a few months shy of 41 years old the next time he throws an NFL pass.