The fallout from allegations that Aaron Rodgers lied about his vaccination status continues. The Green Bay Packers quarterback came under fire in early November after he tested positive for COVID-19, months after telling reporters he was “immunized.”
During an August press conference, Rodgers spoke about the National Football League’s guidelines ahead of the 2021 season.
“You know, there’s a lot of conversation around it, around the league, and a lot of guys who have made statements and not made statements, owners who have made statements,” he said at the time. “There’s guys on the team that haven’t been vaccinated. I think it’s a personal decision. I’m not going to judge those guys. There are guys that’ve been vaccinated that have contracted COVID. It’s an interesting issue that I think we’re going to see played out the entire season.”
After news broke that Rodgers had contracted coronavirus in November, he claimed that he underwent his own protocol and treatments to “stimulate my immune system to create a defense against COVID” following his own “research” into the COVID-19 vaccine.
“I didn’t lie in the initial press conference,” the football player claimed on The Pat McAfee Show on November 5. “And at the time my plan was to say I’ve been immunized. It wasn’t some sort of ruse or lie … I found an immunization protocol that could best protect me and my teammates. And it was a long-term protocol that involved multiple months.”
Infectious disease epidemiologist Tara C. Smith subsequently told The Washington Post: “People like Rodgers and others who are publicly doubting vaccines take the opposite tack and just find research that already confirms their preexisting biases. And that’s not how science works. … Sometimes treatments can reduce the severity of illness or reduce the length of time you are sick, but vaccination prevents you from becoming sick in the first place.”
During his lengthy appearance on the SiriusXM show, Rodgers claimed that the NFL was aware of his vaccination status, and he was following the guidelines as an “unvaccinated person” despite attempting to appeal the league’s ruling with “500 pages of research.”
According to Rodgers, he was forced to wear a yellow wristband during practice and events with the team to identify his unvaccinated status, is not allowed to leave the hotel or eat with the team during road games, must work out on his own in the weight room and cannot use the sauna.
“Some of the rules are not based in science at all. They’re based purely in trying to out and shame people,” he argued. “Personal health decisions should be private. The shaming and the outing … Everyone has their own story. This shamming, cancel society, that is wrong.”
In addition to missing at least one game of the season, Rodgers has faced backlash and lost a partnership with a health care company. Scroll through for a breakdown of the controversy:
Rodgers will pay $14,650 for breaking COVID-19 protocols. Though the NFL was aware of his unvaccinated status, he spoke to reporters without a mask multiple times. He also attended a Halloween party despite the rule that unvaccinated players can't gather with more than three teammates outside a team facility. His team, the Green Bay Packers, will have to pay $300,000 for not disciplining him or reporting his violations. Rick Scuteri/AP/Shutterstock
Rodgers claimed that he is allergic to an ingredient in the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines and cited blood clot concerns for his reason for not getting the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. (The J&J shot was briefly pulled due to side effects in adult women younger than 50 years old before the CDC recommended resuming the administration of the shot.) Rodgers also cited fertility issues around vaccines as a concern. According to the CDC, “there is no evidence that COVID-19 vaccination causes a loss of fertility.” Jed Jacobsohn/AP/Shutterstock
Ahead of week 9 in the NFL season, Rodgers was placed on the COVID-19/reserve list on November 3 after he tested positive for the coronavirus. He said on November 5 that he was feeling better after experiencing symptoms on November 2. AJ Mast/AP/Shutterstock
The NFL announced on November 3 that the league was “reviewing” possible breaches from Rodgers of COVID-19 protocol, including attending press conferences without a face mask and the alleged lack of face masks in facilities. The NFL is also looking into a Halloween party attended by several Packers players. The league also disputed Rodgers’ claims that an NFL doctor told him “it would be impossible for a vaccinated person to catch or spread COVID.” "No doctor from the league or the joint NFL-NFLPA infectious disease consultants communicated with the player,” the NFL said in a statement to Pro Football Talk. “If they had, they certainly would have never said anything like that." Stephen B Morton/AP/Shutterstock
After a nine-year partnership, the Wisconsin-based health care organization announced on November 6 that Rodgers is no longer working with the company. "Prevea Health remains deeply committed to protecting its patients, staff, providers and communities amidst the COVID-19 pandemic," Prevea's statement shared via Twitter read. "This includes encouraging and helping all eligible populations to become vaccinated against COVID-19 to prevent the virus from further significantly impacting lives and livelihoods." Mike Roemer/AP/Shutterstock
Rodgers was unable to play in the Packers’ November 7 game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Backup quarterback Jordan Love stepped in and Green Bay lost 13-7. The earliest Rodgers can be cleared to return is November 13 after a 10-day quarantine. While that makes him eligible to take on the Seattle Seahawks on November 14, he wouldn’t be able to practice with the game at all before the week 10 matchup. The Packers have yet to name a QB for week 10. Ed Zurga/AP/Shutterstock
Rodgers joined "The Pat McAfee Show" again on November 9 and explained that while he stands by what he said during his first interview, he understood why people feel "misled" by his past remarks. "I take full responsibility for those comments. I’m excited about feeling better, I’m excited about moving forward," he said at the time. As for the backlash he received, he recognized that everyone has different views. "I respect everybody’s opinion,” the athlete shared. “I’m human, stuff can definitely hurt your feelings. I shared an opinion that is polarizing. … In the end, I have to stay true to who I am and what I’m about and I stand behind the things that I said." He concluded, "I’m an athlete, I’m not an activist. So I’m going to get back to doing what I do best, and that is playing ball." Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
Rodgers can return to the locker room on November 13 after quarantining for 10 days. He said during his November 9 interview that he will "hopefully" be playing November 14, as long as his body is ready. "There's a possibility, but a small possibility [that I won't play that day]," he shared. "There's a health hurdle that I have to [clear] ... as far as movement, sweating, getting into it, making sure that my body, especially [my] heart is fine with physical exertion. ... I've been doing some walking and some yoga and I'll just amp it up this week." Aaron Gash/AP/Shutterstock
After saying he had "COVID toe" during a November 2021 interview, Rodgers clarified his remarks during a press conference. “I’m glad you asked just so I could show you the lesions of my foot here, so if I have enough room on this camera, let me see if I can,” he said on November 25, lifting his foot up to the camera. “Oh, oh, there’s no lesions whatsoever. Oh, what a surprise! No, that’s actually called disinformation when you perpetuate false information about an individual. I have a fractured toe.” YouTube
After the San Francisco 49ers knocked the Packers out of the playoffs in January 2022, Rodgers claimed that viewers watched the broadcast just to actively cheer against him. "There were a ton of people tuning in rooting against us for one reason, and one reason only," he said during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show three days after the game. "It's because of my vaccination status and them wanting to see us lose so they could pile on and enjoy and revel in the fact that my vaccination status was some sort of reason why we haven't had success in the playoffs." Aaron Gash/AP/Shutterstock
Months after the initial controversy, Rodgers' vaccine stance made headlines again when he was asked about it during an appearance on Barstool Sports' "Pardon My Take" podcast. "How many people do you think you killed?" cohost Eric "PFT Commenter" Sollenberger asked the athlete. "What's your count?" Dan "Big Cat" Katz chimed in to add: "How many grandmothers? Let's just do grandmothers." Though he initially smiled at the pointed question, Rodgers told the cohosts that he wasn't amused by their jokes. "I know you guys are f–king around, but I don't find that part funny," he said. "I really don't." John Salangsang/Shutterstock
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