Aaron Rodgers says ‘his piece’ on family, Fauci, Russini and football in exclusive interview
Recapping Aaron Rodgers’ decision to retire after this NFL season
USAT’s Chris Bumbaca talks about the recent news that Aaron Rodgers will not return to the NFL after this season, calling it a career after 22 years.
Sports Pulse
LATROBE, PA – Aaron Rodgers is gearing up for a Last Ride with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but rest assured the quarterback is not hitting the campaign trail and running for office.
Call him polarizing or a lightning rod. Or worse. Not fazed.
“I don’t give a (crap) about anything that people think about me unless they’re in my corner and I would ask them for advice,” Rodgers told USA TODAY Sports.
The star quarterback and vaccine skeptic would not plead the Fifth Amendment when asked whether he is concerned about hits to his image. That would be a flat no, period.
Yet Rodgers undoubtedly struck some nerves when he went on ESPN during “The Pat McAfee Show” on Monday and mocked Dr. Anthony Fauci by pleading the Fifth to an opening question, then called the former infectious disease advisor – a hero to many during the pandemic – a “coward” for invoking the Fifth during a recent Congressional hearing.
“I don’t care about the criticism from people like that,” Rodgers said. “Most people have made up their mind about me, so it doesn’t matter what I say. It’s not going to change their mind because most people aren’t listening to the content of your words. They’re wanting to attack your character because they think you’re MAGA or they think you’re whatever tag they put on you – conspiracy theorist, anti-science. They’ve already made up their mind about me before this.”
As we sat in the shade on a bench outside the locker room following a training camp practice on Tuesday, Rodgers, 42, reflected on myriad topics as he gears up for a 22nd and final NFL season. He mentioned that the chance to reunite with coach Mike McCarthy was the reason he returned after contemplating retirement and was nostalgic about their experience of winning Super Bowl 45 together with the Green Bay Packers. He shed light on reconnecting with his parents and older brother. And he expressed optimism about the Steelers developing into a title contender.
For all of that, though, Rodgers maintained that he is compelled to get a few things off his chest. Or sling a few darts, if you will.
Aaron Rodgers on Mike Vrabel-Dianna Russini drama
That was the mindset attached to his appearance with McAfee, when he not only blasted Fauci but had pointed comments about the Mike Vrabel-Dianna Russini drama. He criticized ESPN for not engaging in deeper coverage of the scandal that involved the New England Patriots coach and one of the network’s former reporters (who was more recently with The Athletic), and questioned the integrity of voting for annual awards, given that Russini was a member of the 50-person Associated Press panel that determines the NFL Coach of the Year and other league honors.
“For me, it’s just about leveling the playing field with a little get-back, based on the hypocrisy that I’ve seen for so many years, especially from some of the big networks,” Rodgers said. “And I don’t care. You don’t have to listen to me. You don’t have to agree with me. I mean, I’m not doing it for the likes.
“I’m just, I’m saying my piece. This is my last year. If you like it, great. If you don’t like me, great. Doesn’t bother my day-to-day.”
So there. The Last Ride will come with some Last Words from Rodgers.
Of course, depending on where else this goes, it could make the Steelers and the NFL a bit nervous, given their desires to float apolitically as a matter of principle to try to avoid turning off large segments of the fan base. And remember, there are also politics in play, real or perceived, when considering some or all of the networks referred to by Rodgers, one of the NFL’s highest-profile players, are NFL partners.
After Rodgers’ comments on the ESPN-distributed show on Monday, the Steelers released a down-the-middle statement from team spokesman Burt Lauten that provided cover for the quarterback but distance for the team.
“Discussions around culture and politics can bring differing perspectives, and our players are entitled to their own personal views,” Lauten said. “With respect to that, I am certain there are a variety of opinions on many topics within our locker room.”
Of course, another topic that Rodgers’ broached – voting for NFL awards – hit home. Rodgers won his fourth NFL MVP Award for the 2021 season by a landslide yet is likely still salty that longtime Chicago-based writer Hub Arkush publicly declared at the time that he wouldn’t vote for the quarterback because of Rodgers’ misleading comments about his vaccination status, which led to him missing a game during the pandemic-affected 2020 season. That Russini was a voter, at least in recent years, for awards that include MVP, Coach of the Year and other season honors, didn’t sit well with Rodgers.
“This is not a little thing,” he said. “The fact that there’s voting involved … it makes other people in the business look bad.”
Aaron Rodgers family reunion
Then there’s the family business. In July, Rodgers posted photos on Instagram of himself posing with his parents, Ed and Darla, and his older brother, Luke, for the first time since he launched the social media account in 2017. The reconciliation, Rodgers acknowledged recently to NFL Network, was inspired by his wife, Brittani, who was not shown in the photos.
While he wouldn’t delve deep into the family matters – the apparent rift became public when his brother, Jordan, spoke of the strained relationship in 2016, as a contestant on The Bachelorette – Rodgers said the timing was right to reveal that part of his personal journey.
“I feel like it was part of the full-circle nature of this last season for me,” he said. “There’s been a narrative out there. There’s not been a lot of information that’s truthful about it. And I think that the personal life should stay personal and private.
“But I feel like it was part of the full-circle to just one time post something, and never again. So that that narrative can finally be put to rest.”
Chasing another ring
Sure, this Last Ride for Rodgers is deeper than using his huge platform to air grievances or set the record straight. He wants to win big again, too.
After a drubbing from the Houston Texans in the AFC wild card round provided a pitiful end to last season – Rodgers’ first with the Steelers and Mike Tomlin’s last – there’s something to be said, too, about chasing the ring again.
“Using the term, ‘chasing the ring’ is usually applying to, like, old guys, like LeBron (James) going to Philly and me still hanging around,” Rodgers said. “But if you’re not doing that, what are you doing?
“I mean, I was chasing the ring when I was in the first year starting, but our team wasn’t the team in ’08 that was probably championship-caliber. I think you know expectations are high here, which they always were in Green Bay. I think we’ve got the team that can do it.”
Imagine that. Rodgers riding off into the sunset in championship glory. Now that would be some kind of a last word.
Follow Bell on X: @JarrettBell