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Aaron Rodgers says he didn't lie about vaccine, is in 'crosshairs of a woke mob'

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers described the backlash he has received this week for not being vaccinated as putting him in the "crosshairs of the woke mob," referencing cancel culture and what he called a "witch hunt" across the league about vaccination status. He also defended his decision not to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Speaking Friday on the Pat McAfee Show, the reigning league MVP said he's doing "really well" after testing positive for COVID-19. Because he's not vaccinated, he will not play Sunday against the Chiefs. Jordan Love, the team's first-round pick in 2020, will start in his place. Rodgers later acknowledged he's experienced mostly mild symptoms, which means he'll need to test negative twice, 24 hours apart, and be symptom free, before he'll be cleared to return. The earliest that could happen is still Nov. 13, the day before the Packers play Seattle.

"Big thanks to everybody that reached out, checked on me the last couple days," Rodgers said. "I feel really good."

Asked on Aug. 26 if he was vaccinated, Rodgers told reporters, "Yeah, I've been immunized. ... 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."

Asked about this Friday, Rodgers said he was truthful in August. Rodgers said he's a "critical thinker" and doesn't believe in giving in to "woke culture," rather making choices that are best for his body.

"I didn't lie in the initial press conference," he said, adding that teammates have known of his vaccination status all season.

He said he had an allergy to an ingredient in the vaccines produced by Moderna and Pfizer, so the vaccine produced by Johnson & Johnson was the only option. Then he mentioned blood clots associated with people who took the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. According to the CDC, those blood clots affect women at a rate of about seven cases per 1 million.

Rodgers added that the next significant step in his life is becoming a father, and that was consideration when determining whether to get vaccinated.

"My desire to immunize myself is what was best for my body," he said. "I have followed every single protocol to a T, except that one that makes absolutely no sense to me." (Unvaccinated players must adhere to a policy that requires people who are unvaccinated to wear masks indoors. Rodgers has not previously been fined for any protocol violations.)

Earlier this year, Rodgers sought an exemption to the league's COVID-19 rules after receiving homeopathic treatment, but the NFL, NFLPA and their joint medical and public health advisors declined it, a source confirmed to The Athletic. Rodgers said he gathered more than 50 pages of research on the efficacy of vaccines, and he has "consulted" with Joe Rogan, a podcast host, for medical advice.

No league doctors spoke directly with Rodgers, the source told The Athletic's Lindsay Jones.

Rodgers also said the league sent in a "stooge" before the season to "shame" the Packers for being 19th in the league in vaccination rate.

"The right is gonna champion me and the left is gonna cancel me," Rodgers said. "I don't give a shit about either of them ... Politics is a sham."

Kickoff between the Packers and Chiefs on Sunday is slated for 4:25 p.m. ET in Kansas City.

(Photo: Christian Petersen / Getty Images)

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