Half a decade may have passed since the world came to a standstill, but the pandemic continues to cast a shadow. Few figures remain as closely tied to that chapter as former U.S. infectious disease chief Dr. Anthony Fauci. After his private COVID-era writings became public, it was argued they revealed inconsistencies in his positions on the virus’s origins, school closures, and mask mandates. With questions mounting, Fauci finally appeared before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs last week. But rather than address many of the committee’s questions directly, he repeatedly invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, doing so 111 times. 

And that left veteran NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers furious. He was on The Pat McAfee Show when he decided to mock Fauci’s hearing. This was barely surprising, considering he has been a skeptic on vaccinations and the way the government responded to the virus. And now, his team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, has shared its statement about what Rodgers said.

“Discussions around culture and politics can bring differing perspectives, and our players are entitled to their own personal views,” Steelers spokesperson Burt Lauten said in the statement. “With respect to that, I am certain there are a variety of opinions on many topics within our locker room.” 

The Steelers did not defend or criticize Rodgers. They simply said he had the right to share his personal views while making it clear that his comments did not represent the team. The response came after his training camp interview quickly took attention away from football, and the Steelers likely did not want to get involved in the controversy.

Get The Huddle Newsletter. The day's biggest NFL stories — rivalries, matchups, expert analysis, power rankings, and insider draft news.

What did Rodgers say?

“I’m gonna plead the fifth, like that absolute coward, Tony Fauci,” Rodgers said on the show. “Absolute coward. Are you kidding me? You got a pardon, and you pleaded over 100 times at the White House. What are you scared of, Tony? I thought you were the science. ‘I am science.’ And you get up there, and you can’t answer a question?

“And how much time did the network spend with that? How much time did they spend on my responses every week? On my vaccination status? On Taylor and Travis’ wedding? Did they do even a minute on Tony Fauci? Nah, I bet they didn’t.” 

While Fauci repeatedly used the Fifth Amendment, it is important to know that it was well within his rights. However, Rodgers questioned why it was needed in the first place, considering Joe Biden granted him a preemptive federal pardon.

Earlier, former President Joe Biden had granted Anthony Fauci a preemptive federal pardon covering any potential federal offenses dating back to 2014. But that legal shield had its limits. It did not extend to any statements Fauci might make after the pardon. He would face consequences if any new crime was committed, like making false statements under oath. 

Dr. Anthony Fauci’s previous statement

In 2021, while responding to criticism from Republican lawmakers, Fauci said they were effectively criticizing science because he represented science. He argued that attacks against him could damage public trust in scientific institutions.

The ones who criticized his policy of lockdowns and other restrictions were called a group of “fringe epidemiologists”. 

However, over 3,000 pages of emails were obtained by Buzzfeed News, CNN, and The Washington Post, dated from January to June 2020. Those emails suggested many inconsistencies about the origin of the virus and public health mandates. 

Dr. Anthony Fauci served as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the chief medical advisor to the president, becoming the public face of the U.S. government’s COVID-19 pandemic response. Rodgers’ resentment toward Fauci stems from the health policies, public scrutiny, and medical debates that emerged during the height of the pandemic. 

During the 2020 and 2021 seasons, NFL players navigated rigorous daily testing, contact tracing, mandatory masking, and isolation rules that altered their professional and personal routines. Players who opted against vaccination faced even stricter operational restrictions. These included separate dining rules, daily testing requirements, and travel limitations. Of course, it created palpable tension across locker rooms and the broader sports landscape. 

For Rodgers, backlash over his health decisions defined the pandemic era. 

Why is Aaron Rodgers so upset with Dr. Anthony Fauci?

Before the 2021 season, the quarterback famously told reporters he had “immunized” himself against COVID-19. This led many to believe that he received an approved vaccine. Yet midway through the season, a positive test for the virus sidelined Rodgers for a crucial matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. The media later revealed that he had chosen alternative treatments over a conventional vaccine.

That triggered massive media scrutiny. It came even though he made it clear that he was allergic to polyethylene glycol, one of the ingredients in Pfizer and Moderna’s vaccines. It resulted in a $300,000 fine for the Green Bay Packers and a $14,650 fine for Rodgers. 

He even had to apologize for his “immunized” comment but had made it clear that the COVID protocols were a “witch hunt.”

Nevertheless, the Steelers have made it clear they will allow their quarterback to voice his opinions without organizational interference. But as training camp heats up, the front office will undoubtedly hope the spotlight shifts back from the microphones to the football field.