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Mister Rodgers’s neighborhood was not a happy place on Monday.
Aaron Rodgers took the opportunity of a live interview with The Pat McAfee Show to eviscerate a “cowardly” Anthony Fauci, “gutless” ESPN, and other enemies, real or imagined.
This was Michael Corleone at the end of The Godfather settling all family business. It was gonzo but wildly entertaining sports TV. When McAfee & Co. tried to gently steer the 42-year-old football legend to safer topics, he ran right over them. ProFootballTalk wrote the four-time MVP took a “flamethrower” to Fauci and ESPN. But they weren’t alone. Here are seven targets who took fire from Rodgers’s blunderbuss:
Dr. Anthony Fauci
Back in 2021, Rodgers was publicly roasted for refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine. Turnabout’s fair play. Rodgers immediately took aim at Fauci, calling him an “absolute coward” for pleading the Fifth Amendment more than 100 times before the U.S. Senate last week. “Are you kidding me? You got a pardon, and you plead over 100 times? What are you scared of, Tony?” asked Rodgers. “I thought you were the science?—‘I am science.’ And you get up there, and you can’t answer a question? What are we doing?”
ESPN
Rodgers was similarly displeased with ESPN’s coverage of his vaccination status and other controversies in recent years. What a coincidence. He used ESPN’s own air to call out McAfee’s business partner as a “gutless organization” with “no integrity,” while the host squirmed uncomfortably. According to Rodgers, now that he’s been vindicated in the COVID debate and reconciled with his family, ESPN’s reporters have nothing left to bash him over. “I just don’t care anymore,” he said. “I cared a little bit. Now, I don’t care at all.”
Dianna Russini, Mike Vrabel
Continuing his anti-ESPN broadside, Rodgers asked why the Worldwide Leader hasn’t been much interested in covering the alleged affair between their former NFL insider and the Patriots coach. “There was another scandal this offseason, too, involving a voter for MVP, for Coach of the Year. How much time did your network spend on that?” he asked. McAfee’s boys cheerfully tried to change the subject, pleading, “Go back to Fauci.”
Michael Rubin, Tom Brady
Without mentioning them by name, Rodgers scornfully said he wasn’t interested in attending “weird-ass” parties on the East Coast and “wearing white.” Clearly, this was a dig at the Fanatics founder’s star-studded, annual “White Party” at his oceanfront Hamptons estate, which Brady attended this year, in addition to various other Fanatics-friendly events in recent months.
Old Girlfriends
The longtime bachelor got married last year. But Rodgers was previously romantically linked previously to Danica Patrick, Olivia Munn, and Shailene Woodley. Without naming names, Rodgers said he’s relieved his new wife doesn’t ask him to post romantic Instagram messages on her birthday or Valentine’s Day. “I don’t like doing that shit. And I never have to do that ever again, thankfully.” Alrighty, then.
Hub Arkush
Back in 2022, the veteran football journalist said he wouldn’t vote for Rodgers as 2021 NFL MVP because he was “the biggest jerk in the league.” Again, without naming names, Rodgers blasted “that bum in Chicago,” who refused to vote for him due to his unvaccinated status.
The Jets
Rodgers sneered at another “team” he played for, indicating it was an unhappy experience. That would most likely be Gang Green, where Rodgers suffered a year-ending Achilles tear during the first game of the 2023 season. Rodgers went 6-12 as starter for the Jets in 2023-2024.
A smiling Rodgers also handed out some flowers. He praised his still mysterious wife, calling himself an “idiot” for his past relationships. He gave ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith props for apologizing to Kyrie Irving over his previous COVID criticisms.
Said Rodgers: “I have to give flowers to Stephen A. Smith, my old friend Stephen A. Because he was man enough to actually admit and apologize to Kyrie Irving. So I have to give a shoutout to my guy Stephen A. You are not a coward. And I appreciate you.”
When asked about Rodger’s “coward” comments, a Steelers spokesman said: “Discussions around culture and politics can bring differing perspectives, and our players are entitled to their own personal views.”
ESPN declined to comment on Rodgers’s McAfee appearance at Steelers training camp in Latrobe, Pennsylvania
