NFL strongly refutes Aaron Rodgers’ vaccination claim

During his lengthy interview on The Pat McAfee Show on Friday, Aaron Rodgers said that someone from the NFL told him that it was impossible to get COVID after receiving a vaccine, which is not something anyone in the scientific community ever believed or said publicly.

“In that process, we had many conversations,” said Rodgers. “I enjoyed the conversations with the league, it was good sharing. But one, in particular, stood out when I knew I was not going to win this. I had a meeting, and one of the main docs said ‘It’s impossible for a vaccinated person to get COVID or spread COVID.’ And at that point, I knew I was definitely not going to win the appeal. And it was very shortly after that denied. And we know now that information is totally false that was given to me.”

In response, the NFL strongly denied that this conversation ever took place.

From the NFL on Aaron Rodgers regarding the claim a doctor said vaccinated can't get/spread COVID: "No doctor from the league or the joint NFL-NFLPA infectious disease consultants communicated with the player. If they had, they certainly would have never said anything like that."

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) November 5, 2021

“No, it’s not true,” NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy said in an emailed statement. “No doctor from the league or the joint NFL-NFLPA infectious disease consultants communicated with the player. If they had, they certainly would have never said anything like that.”

Rodgers is expected back in a Green Bay Packers uniform on Saturday when his quarantine protocol period is over. We’ll see if we hear any clarifying statements from him between now and then.

Rodgers lost a sponsorship deal over the weekend with a health organization due to his stance about vaccines, though it appears that he will remain a spokesperson for State Farm.

[PFT, NPR]