Report: Jets’ Aaron Rodgers Will Not Be Selected as Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s VP

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The political ambitions of New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers will have to wait.

According to multiple reports, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is expected to name Nicole Shanahan as his running mate in his presidential campaign.

The New York Times‘ Rebecca Davis O’Brien first reported on March 12 that Rodgers was among the people Kennedy approached about the possibility and noted the QB was “at the top of his list” along with former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura.

It didn’t take long for Rodgers to get a taste of life in the political arena.

Two days after the New York Times story, CNN’s Pamela Brown and Jake Tapper reported on a conversation the four-time MVP allegedly had with Brown in 2013. He “began attacking the news media for covering up important stories” and claimed the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was a “government inside job,” per the report.

In a post on X later that day, Rodgers said he never denied the events at Sandy Hook, though he did not directly address CNN’s reporting:

As I’m on the record saying in the past, what happened in Sandy Hook was an absolute tragedy. I am not and have never been of the opinion that the events did not take place. Again, I hope that we learn from this and other tragedies to identify the signs that will allow us to…

That the 40-year-old was even floated as a VP contender symbolizes how he has grown more outspoken on off-field issues.

The New York Times‘ Ken Belson and Emily Anthes once detailed how he had become a particularly vocal figure in the movement questioning the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine and in some cases raising unfounded conspiracy theories.

Kennedy has expressed similar views as part of a much wider fight against vaccines far predating his presidential campaign.

In the wake of the report on Rodgers’ views on the Sandy Hook shooting, Kennedy praised the Jets signal-caller as “battle tested” in an interview with Fox News (via ABC News).

“He’s been hammered by the press, he’s stood up for things he believes in and I like that part of his character,” RFK Jr. said. He is a critical thinker and I think we need that at the time.”

Kennedy also described Rodgers as “somebody who I think will help me get the country healthy again.”

Yet it wasn’t to be and Rodgers will now have his focus entirely on the 2024 NFL season.