Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers did not mince words when talking about Dr. Anthony Fauci during a recent Senate hearing. Fauci, who was a key figure in the U.S. government’s strategy against COVID-19, repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment during intense questioning about the pandemic response.
Rodgers, who has previously been in the spotlight for choosing not to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in 2021, made a witty remark during his appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” this Monday. He joked that he would “plead the fifth” if asked about what could be his final season in the NFL.
He humorously equated himself to Fauci, saying, “I’m going to plead the fifth… like that absolute coward, Tony Fauci. Are you kidding me? You got a pardon and you pleaded [the fifth] over 100 times. What are you scared of, Tony?”
Rodgers didn’t stop there, taking a jab by saying, “I thought you were the science, and he gets up there and can’t answer a question.” His comment alluded to Fauci’s past assertion of himself as a representation of scientific expertise during the pandemic.
At the contentious Senate hearing on Capitol Hill, Fauci took the Fifth Amendment over 100 times, sidestepping questions concerning COVID-19. The scene grew more bizarre as he even resisted answering simple inquiries, such as what color tie he was wearing or what day it was, raising eyebrows among some attendees.
Rodgers went on to call out ESPN for its coverage on the former four-time MVP and his stance on the vaccine at the time — and mentioned that “there’s been a lot of silence” by the Worldwide Leader after Fauci’s hearing.
“How much did the network spend on that — on my responses every week, on my vaccination status, on Taylor and Travis’ wedding? Did they do even a minute on Tony Fauci?”
McAfee chimed in and said that he didn’t hear anything.
“Then there was another scandal this offseason too, involving a voter for MVP, for coach of the year,” Rodgers said, seemingly referring to the scandal involving former NFL insider Dianna Russini and Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel, broken and covered extensively by Page Six.
“How much time did your network spend on that?” Rodgers said.
That’s when McAfee’s co-hosts said “let’s go back to [talking about] Fauci.”
Rodgers then cut off McAfee to continue his victory lap and roast of Fauci.
“No seriously, what are they gonna say about me now?” Rodgers said. “Now that you can’t talk about the COVID stuff because obviously it was made in a lab in China, that’s not even questionable anymore. Tony Fauci is an absolute criminal. I’m on good terms with my family. What are you going to say now?
“There’s been a lot of science, but I will say this. I gotta give flowers to my old friend, [ESPN personality] Stephen A. Smith, because he was man enough to actually admit and apologize to [Dallas Mavericks point guard] Kyrie Irving… You are not a coward, [Stephen A].”
Smith issued an on-air apology to Irving for criticizing him over his refusal to comply with New York’s mandatory COVID vaccinations while he was playing for the Brooklyn Nets — and explained that his perspective shifted on the matter after watching the Fauci Senate hearing.
“Other than that, I feel like there has been a lot of silence,” Rodgers said, referring to ESPN’s lack of coverage on the subject. “They can talk about Rex Ryan’s foot fetish, but please dont talk about anything else right now, dont talk about any scandals… Talk about Taylor and Travis’ wedding. What do the insiders know about that? But don’t talk about s–t that actually has to do with our business and righting wrongs of the past.”
Rodgers tested positive for COVID-19 in November 2021 after famously saying he was “immunized” against the virus — not vaccinated — and opted to receive an alternative treatment from his personal doctor.
The NFL and NFLPA agreed the treatment was not enough to be considered vaccinated, and Rodgers was later fined by the league for violating COVID protocol.
At the time, McAfee took a lot of heat for his friendship with Rodgers and the quarterback’s then-weekly appearance on his show.
“[Rodgers’ vaccination status] was a talking point of COVID, I believe, around the entire globe and the only reason I know that is because I was called a murderer because I was platforming Aaron Rodgers, who was making the decision that was best for himself,” McAfee said.
“So as soon as I saw all this stuff start happening with Fauci, I knew, boy you were certainly having a time because your name was slandered.”
McAfee applauded Rodgers for “standing on your truth throughout the entirety of that thing” during the pandemic.
“I feel great about it,” Rodgers said. “I told you I would be on the right side of history.
“All the bulls–t over the years, just keep it 100. I’m not taking this f–king victory lap, but seriously, come on. What are we talking about?”