Aaron Rodgers would succeed in politics because he refused to get COVID vaccine, former NFL rival says

"Aaron would be a good one because of all the stuff he went through with the vax, not taking it, kind of standing up for the people who didn't want to get it," Urlacher said. "A lot of guys who played in the NFL didn't have a choice because they were younger and if they didn't get the shot, they'd probably just cut them." 

Rodgers incited controversy over his vaccination status in November 2021, when he tested positive for COVID and had to miss multiple games for the Packers. Rodgers had previously said he was "immunized" when asked by reporters if he got the vaccine during training camp in August. 

But while many fans turned against Rodgers after that, Urlacher believed it was a moment that may have also garnered support. 

After testing positive for the virus in November of that year, Rodgers clarified that he used the term "immunized" to describe a homeopathic treatment regimen and not a vaccine. Rodgers also said at the time he was allergic to polyethylene glycol, which is an ingredient in the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, and he was also concerned about potential adverse reactions to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

During an interview on "The Pat McAfee Show" that November, Rodgers apologized for "misleading" people about his vaccination status. 

"I made some comments that people might have felt were misleading," he said. "And to anybody who felt misled by those comments, I take full responsibility for those comments."

However, Rodgers also firmly defended his decision not to get the vaccine. 

"I'm an athlete, I'm not an activist. So I'm going to get back to doing what I do best and that's playing ball," Rodgers said. "I shared my opinion. It wasn't one that was come to frivolously. It involved a lot of study and what I felt was in my best interest for my body. But further comments I'm going to keep between myself and my doctors, and I don't have any further comments about any of those things after this interview."