Green Bay Packers president and CEO Mark Murphy once called Aaron Rodgers a “complicated fella.”
The 37-year-old quarterback did nothing to downplay the label during a 45-minute explanation of his vaccination status on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Friday.
Rodgers said he wanted to “set the record straight” and “tell his side of the story” while still “in the crosshairs of the woke mob” after it was revealed he tested positive for COVID-19 while unvaccinated, even though he claimed to be “immunized” in late August.
Rodgers claimed he isn’t “anti-vax” but is instead a “critical thinker” who won’t lay down to the “woke culture or crazed group of individuals.”
Several times, Rodgers called the situation a “witch hunt” and claimed people are trying to “cancel” him or “shame” others into getting the vaccine.
Rodgers said he used “a lot of time and energy” doing his own “research” on the vaccines. He said he was allergic to an ingredient in the two M-RNA vaccines, and he declined to take the Johnson and Johnson vaccine based on anecdotal evidence.
Rodgers declined to get into the homeopathic and alternate methods he used before the season.
Rodgers said he believes in “bodily autonomy” and “natural immunity.”
Rodgers bashed the NFL’s COVID-19 protocols at every turn but provided no scientific evidence against any of the protocols. He said he has followed all the protocols except wearing a mask during press conferences, which he doesn’t agree with and therefore doesn’t need to comply with, at least in his eyes.
Rodgers said he attempted to present his case to the NFL but the league’s doctors thought he was a “quack.”
Rodgers claimed the media was lying about him. He also openly wondered why vaccinated people were still getting and spreading COVID-19, a question his medical team should have been able to answer in a few sentences.
Rodgers said he felt symptoms on Tuesday night and felt poor on Wednesday but was feeling good on Friday. He said he consulted with podcast host Joe Rogan on remedies, including Ivermectin, an anti-parasite medication that is not recommended for treatment of COVID-19 by the FDA and has not been studied long-term, including for any potential sterility side effects.
Rodgers said his teammates, the Packers organization and the NFL all knew his vaccination status, and he knew his own vaccination status when he said he was “immunized.”
Rodgers claimed to have read through pages and pages of multiple studies during his research.
Rodgers said the situation should create a “conversation” and not a “controversy” but also said if he had the flu he would be playing on Sunday.
Rodgers said he was excited for Jordan Love to play but said it would be “weird” to watch a Packers game away from the stadium.
Rodgers did say he felt, “good, really good.” He is quarantining for 10 days and can return on Saturday, Nov. 13.