Aaron Rodgers Throws Postgame Jab at Chiefs' All-Pro Tight End
Rehabbing quarterback Aaron Rodgers took a shot at Travis Kelce, but it wasn't the type of shot that the Kansas City tight end is promoting in recently-released television ads.
Making his weekly scheduled appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, Rodgers gave a quick review of the New York Jets' 23-20 heartbreaking loss to the Chiefs. While assessing the team's performance, the future Hall-of-Fame field general referred to Kelce by a creative nickname that made show host Pat McAfee burst out into laughter.
"Our defense played well. [Chiefs' quarterback] Pat [Mahomes] didn't have a crazy game. Mr. Pfizer [Kelce], we kind of shut him down," said Rodgers.
The opinionated Rodgers was making reference to Kelce's recent appearances as a spokesman for the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer.
In the ultimate sign that financial profits are a priority of America's healthcare industry, Pfizer has enlisted Kelce to market its flu shot and COVID vaccine to NFL fans through television commercials.
"He's doing commercials for Pfizer, so I'm sure he's owning it," said Rodgers.
In an ad that aired during the Sunday Night Football broadcast of the Jets vs. Chiefs matchup, Kelce encourages viewers to accomplish "two things at once" by taking the two aforementioned shots at the same time.
Prior to the start of Sunday's game, the NBC cameras showed a quick on-field interaction between Rodgers, who was on crutches following Achilles surgery, and Kelce, who was active for the primetime affair. Rodgers wouldn't reveal what the two star players spoke about during their brief chat, but he did hint that it was a pleasant encounter.
"I think some things need to be left on the field," said Rodgers. "I've known him for a long time, and it was just a quick chat."
Kelce's pro Big Pharma embrace, however, naturally struck a chord with the principled Rodgers, who has publicly supported vaccine choice and individual medical autonomy. Rodgers declined to take the unproven COVID vaccine and has been outspoken against the NFL's COVID era mandates.
It isn't the first time Rodgers has taken a swing at a pharmaceutical company. Posting a photo of Novak Djokovic from his visit to the US Tennis Open, the strong-willed quarterback drew a red line threw the Moderna billboard that appeared in the background on his Instagram story.
He also applauded Djokovic for the 24-time tennis major champion's stance against COVID vaccine mandates, tagging the Serbian-born athlete as "#Novaxdjokovic." Djokovic, who refused to be jabbed, was not permitted to compete at the 2022 US Open due to unnecessary US travel restrictions.
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