Aaron Rodgers, the New York Jets quarterback, has decided to step away from his regular appearances on “The Pat McAfee Show” for the remainder of the NFL season. Rodgers, who has been a weekly guest on the show, has faced intense scrutiny in recent times for controversial comments he made, particularly regarding late-night host Jimmy Kimmel.
The controversy escalated when Rodgers suggested that Kimmel’s name might appear on documents linking him to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Kimmel responded with a threat to sue, and ESPN criticized Rodgers’ comments as “dumb and factually inaccurate.”
Pat McAfee, the former punter and host of the show, addressed the situation, expressing his desire to move on from the controversy. He acknowledged that the way the season ended on the show had generated a lot of noise and expressed relief that he would no longer have to deal with the fallout.
While McAfee acknowledged Rodgers’ status as a Hall of Famer and a four-time MVP, he also recognized that some of Rodgers’ thoughts and opinions had stirred up controversy. McAfee emphasized that the show’s goal was to be a conversation show and not primarily a platform for political discussions.
Aaron Rodgers Won’t Appear On McAfee Show Anymore This Season, Pat Announces | Click to read more 👇 https://t.co/hmTfgLQ7KV
— TMZ Sports (@TMZ_Sports) January 10, 2024
We’ve given a lot of people who have been waiting for us to fail a lot of ammo the last week..
Let’s chat about sports #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/S7J3FGprv0
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 10, 2024
The “Aaron Rodgers Tuesdays” segment had been a regular feature on McAfee’s show, with Rodgers providing his insights and opinions. Rodgers had been compensated for his recurring appearances, which had garnered significant viewership. However, in recent weeks, the segment had shifted focus towards non-sports topics, leading to the decision to step away and refocus on sports-related content.