Aaron Rodgers calls Anthony Fauci 'a coward' on 'The Pat McAfee Show'

Aaron Rodgers has said when he’s done playing football you won’t hear or see him again.

He’ll go into the darkness.

“I’m gonna be out of the light,” he reinforced again during an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” at the Pittsburgh Steelers training camp.

But he’s not out of football yet. And with a platform, Rodgers apparently is going to get everything off his chest before he heads off into the sunset.

That was clear when he was handed a microphone and an unfiltered platform on McAfee’s show on Aug. 3 as his comments harkened back to his rants several years ago about COVID-19.

It started when McAfee asked him about his mindset heading into his 22nd year playing in the NFL and second with the Steelers.

That’s when things went sideways.

“I’m going to plead the Fifth,” Rodgers replied, clearly having that answer prepared as the former Green Bay Packers quarterback said in reference to Dr. Anthony Fauci invoking the Fifth Amendment right during a Senate committee hearing last week on Capitol Hill. Republicans were questioning him about the origins of COVID-19.

Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, was a leading voice during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Fauci, 85, who appeared under a subpoena by Republicans, invoked the Fifth Amendment 111 times against incriminating himself during a contentious hearing. Former President Joe Biden had given Fauci a pardon before leaving office. However, the pardon doesn’t apply to what happens after it was issued.

Rodgers called Fauci an “absolute coward” for taking that approach.

“Are you kidding me?” Rodgers said. “You got a pardon and you pleaded over 100 times. What are you scared of? I thought you were science?”

“I feel great about it..

I told you I would be on the right side of history”@AaronRodgers12#PMSLivehttps://t.co/dEWpmSNxSPpic.twitter.com/ldRjSrWNAB

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) August 3, 2026

This isn’t the first time that Rodgers has called out Fauci on a national platform.

Two years ago he took a shot at Fauci when he claimed he was defying science in his what proved to be an unsuccessful effort to return in the same season from an Achilles injury.

“If science is Dr. Fauci, you’re damn right I’m defying it,” Rodgers said in fall 2023.

Five years ago, Rodgers became one of the leading voices for those against COVID vaccines and spoke out against the country’s and NFL’s response to the pandemic, often appearing on McAfee’s show to air his grievances. Rodgers said during training camp while with the Packers in 2021 that he was immunized when asked about his vaccination status. After he tested positive for COVID, his status came to light and a firestorm surrounding him ensued. He hasn’t shied away from the topic in the years since to go after those who he feels wronged him during this time.

A few years ago, Rodgers said he wanted to team with then-presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to debate Fauci and NFL tight end Travis Kelce over vaccines.

Kelce took part in commercials promoting Pfizer COVID vaccines.

Kennedy is a former presidential candidate who broached Rodgers to be his running mate. Kennedy, now in President Donald Trump’s cabinet as the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has often stirred up controversy for statements and conspiracy theories around vaccines and the pandemic.

In his interview with McAfee on Aug. 3, Rodgers later accused Fauci of being “an absolute criminal.” Fauci is not accused of any crime.

The 42-year-old Rogers later says he’s on “the right side of history” for his takes on COVID.

“I feel great about it..

I told you I would be on the right side of history”@AaronRodgers12#PMSLivehttps://t.co/dEWpmSNxSPpic.twitter.com/ldRjSrWNAB

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) August 3, 2026

Fauci wasn’t the only target of Rodgers on McAfee’s show.

The four-time NFL MVP went after the network that he was appearing on. McAfee’s show airs on ESPN, though the network doesn’t have control over it.

“Then there was another scandal this offseason involving a voter for MVP, Coach of the Year,” Rodgers said referencing former NFL reporter Dianna Russini. “How much did your network spend on that?”

Russini, a former ESPN football reporter, was working at The Athletic at the time of a scandal with New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel.

Russini has since resigned from her position at the publication after several photos of the two together surfaced.

Later in the interview, while talking about being “free” this season, Rodgers said “I told you I was going to bring it.”

“There was a lot of conjecture, I’m the darkness guy, I’m the COVID endanger guy,” Rodgers told McAfee. “I really, I used to not even care. I care even less. I’m going out. I’m not going to be out there doing a podcast. I’m gonna be out of the light so I might as well get a couple in. I don’t get to do this show as much as I would like. Especially any time I get to go after the gutless organization you have to be connected with.

“I just don’t care anymore. I cared a little bit. Now I don’t care at all.”

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Aaron Rodgers calls Anthony Fauci ‘a coward’ on ‘The Pat McAfee Show’