Aaron Rodgers’ interview on “The Pat McAfee Show” went a bit off-topic Monday when the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback decided to bring up Dr. Anthony Fauci and the Dianna Russini scandal.
McAfee asked Rodgers a fairly mild question about the quarterback’s mindset as he enters into his final NFL season. Rodgers took the opportunity to go after Fauci, who invoked the Fifth Amendment more than 100 times during a Senate hearing on COVID-19 origins last Wednesday.
“I’m going to plead the fifth like that absolute coward Tony Fauci. Absolute coward,” Rodgers said. “You got a pardon and you pleaded over 100 times? What are you scared of, Tony? I thought you were the science. And how much time did the network spend on my responses every week, on my vaccination status, on Taylor and Travis’ wedding? Did they do even a minute on Tony Fauci?”
Rodgers then pivoted to the offseason controversy regarding Russini’s relationship with New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel, suggesting that ESPN had been too fixated on that story. He went on to proclaim himself vindicated over his previous COVID comments, and questioned what his critics would say about him now.
“There was another scandal this offseason involving a voter for MVP, for Coach of the Year. How much time did your network spend on that?” Rodgers asked. “What are you going to say about me now? You can’t talk about the COVID stuff. Tony Fauci is an absolute criminal. I’m on good terms with my family. What are you going to say now?”
"I'm pleading the Fifth 😂😂
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) August 3, 2026
You've gotta be kidding me" ~ @AaronRodgers12 #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/kg3y0uMxxR
Rodgers has long voiced skepticism about the COVID vaccine, so none of this is particularly new from him. The fact that he brought it up unprompted certainly suggests he was looking for a reason to take what he sees as a victory lap.
As he enters his final NFL season, Rodgers is, as he noted, on better terms with his family, and is also happily married. Clearly, that has him feeling even more unfiltered than usual.
