Being an NFL star comes with perks like immense wealth, lucrative brand deals, and contract leverage. However, the flip side is dealing with a lot of hate, something Aaron Rodgers and Travis Kelce are all too familiar with.
In a survey of 3,000 NFL fans conducted by Action Network, Rodgers was named the “most annoying player off the field.”
As reported by Ben Mendelowitz, Rodgers took the top spot, with 27% of respondents finding him the most irritating personality in the league.
“Off the field, no one irritates fans quite like Aaron Rodgers. The quarterback topped the list as the most annoying player, with 27% of respondents naming him the most frustrating NFL personality,” Mendelowitz said.
“The sentiment cuts across different age groups and fan bases, but older generations are especially vocal about their dislike for Rodgers. In fact, 43% of Chicago Bears fans – perhaps predictably, given the Packers-Bears rivalry – named Rodgers their least favorite player.”
It’s no surprise that Bears fans harbor such feelings, especially after Rodgers famously shouted “I still own you!” at them during a game in 2021 while still a member of the Green Bay Packers.
His 24-5 career record against Chicago undoubtedly helps fuel that animosity.
Coming in second on the list of players fans love to hate is Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.
“Following closely behind was Travis Kelce, with 17% of fans finding the Kansas City Chiefs tight end just as irksome,” Mendelowitz said.
“Kelce’s high-energy persona might not sit well with some, especially younger fans, as the 18-24 age group ranked him the most annoying player (21%).”
Needless to say, there are plenty of football fans who are sick and tired of the whole Kelce-Taylor Swift romance. That certainly has a lot to do with his high annoyance score.
Like Kelce, Rodgers has faced his own share of controversies over the years. His time in Green Bay was marked by drama, particularly in his relationship with former head coach Mike McCarthy.
According to Rob Reischel of Forbes, Rodgers’ passive-aggressive jabs at McCarthy strained their relationship, ultimately leading to the coach’s firing in 2018 – on Rodgers’ 35th birthday no less.
This earned Rodgers the label of “Coach Killer.” (In fairness, the two seem to have made up and are – at least to the public eye – on good terms.)
The top-five “most annoying players” according to the poll goes as follows…
#1. Aaron Rodgers, QB, New York Jets: 27%
#2. Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs: 17%
#3. Odell Beckham Jr., WR, Miami Dolphins (in case you forgot!): 10%
#4. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs: 8%
#5. Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys: 5%
While we’re on the subject of annoyance, the poll also found out who are considered the NFL’s most annoying visiting fans…
#1. Dallas Cowboys: 20%
#2. Philadelphia Eagles: 9%
#3. Las Vegas Raiders: 8%
#4. Green Bay Packers: 7%
#5. Pittsburgh Steelers: 6%
What are your thoughts on the poll?
Do you consider Rodgers and Kelce the two most annoying players in the NFL?
What does YOUR top-five look like???