Fox sports analyst and retired Steelers quarterback, Terry Bradshaw, berated Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers for deceiving the public about getting vaccinated against COVID-19.
In August, Rodgers said he was "immunized," but the truth surfaced after he tested positive for COVID-19.
He subsequently missed the Packers' loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
Fox NFL analysts Jimmy Johnson, Howie Long, and Michael Strahan expressed their disappointment in Rodgers while on-site at the Naval Academy in Annapolis on Sunday.
But Terry Bradshaw did not hold back in his criticism.
The moment @AaronRodgers12 lost Terry Bradshaw. “You lied to everyone." pic.twitter.com/sJVxxTtQrU
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) November 7, 2021
"I'd give Aaron some advice," began Bradshaw. "It would've been nice if he had just come to the naval academy and learned how to be honest."
He then addressed the disgraced quarterback and said:
"You lied to everyone."
Alright then Terry!! You tell him. I just don't get lying about it. Just say you're not getting vaccinated. You might get some flack for it but at least you're being honest and not hiding behind carefully chosen words.
— Carolyn Mendoza-Canales (@FaerieTxn) November 7, 2021
Bradshaw also criticized Rodgers for his use of the livestock dewormer drug Ivermectin–which the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) did not authorize for treating or preventing COVID-19.
Bradshaw continued:
"Unfortunately, we've got players that pretty much think only about themselves and I'm extremely disappointed in the actions of Aaron Rodgers."
As a long time Aaron Rodgers' fan, and an even longer time fan of Terry Bradshaw…
Terry's right.
— Pipes (@Pyfferrj) November 7, 2021
Glad to hear Terry speak up. All Aaron had to do was admit he did not want the vaccine and then follow team protocols thereafter.
— Permaculture Gardener (@sadfly46) November 7, 2021
Man, good for Terry Bradshaw. It's nice to see an NFL figure of his status who doesn't mince words about stuff like this. That's real honesty and courage that you don't always see these days.
— Another_Bob (@BobGree14200728) November 7, 2021
DAMN! Terry Bradshaw speaking some truth (and looking dapper ,too)
— Wrangler:⚖️ pace yourselves, it's a long ride 💛💙 (@arcillahumeda) November 7, 2021
Terry Bradshaw routinely shows that compassion, honesty, humility make a great athlete into a great man. #KaaronRodgers should listen up.
— Ross Smith (@rossqsmith) November 7, 2021
Good for #TerryBradshaw - he is 100% right about @AaronRodgers12 — if Rodgers had any integrity, he would have been forthcoming about #vaccine
— loti (@loti83052528) November 8, 2021
The three-time NFL MVP player refused to apologize and own up to his mistake when he contracted the viral pathogen.
Instead, he lashed out at critics who denounced him for being unvaccinated, and was consequently lambasted for his misguided defense.
Lying to follow a different path & put all your. Teammates in danger, is a sign that Aaron Rodgers is not the leader you want for any team!
Terry got it right! pic.twitter.com/a5znf21dKH
— S Robertson Women's Rights ARE Human Rights🌊🌊 (@shereades) November 7, 2021
On Friday, Rodgers said on SiriusXM's The Pat McAfee Show:
"I believe strongly in bodily autonomy and the ability to make choices for your body, not to have to acquiesce to some woke-culture-crazed group of individuals who say you have to do something."
I couldn't care less about his decision to not get vaccinated. What bothers me is that he lied about it, and as a result, didn't follow established protocol. He put his teammates and opposing teams at risk. Non-vax are much more likely to get it and much more likely to spread it.
— 🇺🇲 Jeffrey 🏴☠️ (@JAKinator85) November 8, 2021
Aaron Rodgers simply should have told the truth and followed protocol. The fact he did not follow protocol for non vaccinated should really be unacceptable to all around him. Fines will be meaningless at this point
— Tim magill (@Timmagill12) November 8, 2021
Former Raiders star Howie Long also criticized Rodgers for being "selfish" for jeopardizing his team by missing out on critical games and simultaneously putting the health of his teammates at risk.
Long said:
"I agree with Aaron when he says, 'What I do with my body is a personal decision."
"But it ceases to be a personal decision when you take part in being a part of a football team in a building with coaches, players, trainers...and you risk taking something home to your wife, children, grandchildren."
"... Possibly putting your teammates in jeopardy is selfish."
The Huffington Post noted the Fox NFL analysts also work for the same network that enables anti-vaxxer, Tucker Carlson.
Rodgers is not eligible to return to the field until a day before the Packers take on the Seattle Seahawks on November 13.
