After the bad news of Aaron Rodgers’ Corona infection, there is unrest and excitement in the NFL. In an in-depth conversation on the “Pat McAfee Show”, the star quarterback lets his guard down for the first time and explains his decision against vaccination.

Munich – Star quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ vaccination status continues to be the big topic in the NFL.

After his positive Corona test, the 37-year-old will definitely not be on the field on Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs. On the “Pat McAfee Show”, Rodgers spoke out for the first time about the discussions and made a sweeping statement.

Extensive research reveals allergy

“First and foremost, I want to clear up some of the obvious lies about myself,” begins Rodgers, who is video chatting into the live broadcast. “First of all, I didn’t lie. There was a real witch hunt going on at the time about who was vaccinated now and who wasn’t. It was my plan from the beginning to say that I was immunised. “

He is not anti-vaccination, Rodgers emphasises, he just takes a critical look at his health, the autonomy of his body is close to his heart: “Health is not a universal quantity for everyone. In the offseason, I did a lot of research on the topic, similar to how I prepare for a game in the NFL.”

Through this research and conversations with medical professionals, Rodgers then found out that only one vaccine was an option for him, he said. The Packers quarterback is allergic to one component of the mRNA vaccines: “The only option was Johnson and Johnson.”

Then in the spring of 2021, reports of side effects and the short-lived withdrawal of doses led to the decision to immunise and not vaccinate, explains the reigning NFL MVP.

NFL was informed of action

“It was nothing the NFL wasn’t informed about, they knew exactly what I was doing,” Rodgers said. When he returned to Green Bay, he even asked the league to recognise his immunisation and submitted relevant studies – ultimately to no avail.

“My doctors felt that the risk of long-term consequences would be greater with a vaccination than with a Corona infection,” Rodgers said, explaining his decision. The World Health Organisation (WHO) sees things differently – it is appealing to people worldwide to get vaccinated.

Several leading scientists have recently tried to allay concerns about long-term effects of the Corona vaccine. “What many people apparently understand by long-term effects, namely that I am vaccinated today and next year a side effect occurs, does not exist, has never existed and will not occur with the Covid 19 vaccination,” clarified Carsten Watzl of the German Society for Immunology, for example;

Rodgers obviously sees things differently, but also says: “I made this decision in the best conscience for my body. I am not saying that you should or should not get vaccinated. Do what is best for your body.”

Another reason for not vaccinating was Rodgers’ desire to become a father. Especially in the area of fertility, he said, there is a lack of adequate long-term studies that could guarantee risk-free vaccination against the coronavirus. “There are still a lot of things we don’t know yet. “

Rodgers casts doubt on Corona protocol

Despite his best efforts, the playmaker must thus continue to comply with the “draconian requirements” of the Corona Protocol, which he insists he has consistently held them to. “There is nothing scientific about these measures in my opinion, they only serve to expose us.”

In addition to daily tests and wearing a mask, Rodgers must do many activities alone, such as not being able to sit with his teammates at meals and not being allowed to leave the hotel when he travels. “I have to wear a yellow wristband all the time. Basically, I’m communicating to the world, ‘look at me, I’m not vaccinated.'”

“They want to push this propaganda that unvaccinated people are the biggest danger to society. That’s exactly what the media is trying to do: they want to exclude us non-vaccinated people and call us selfish for making a decision that’s best for us.”

The 37-year-old denounces that it was wrong for the NFL not to take alternative medicine into account or show consideration for players with pre-existing conditions. Moreover, he says, the statement that it was a pandemic of the unvaccinated was simply wrong.

“It is quite clear that I contracted the disease from a vaccinated person. If the vaccines are supposed to be so good, why are there still people who get infected with COVID, spread it and tragically die from it? “

Rodgers: all-out attack on the press too

The promise of the vaccines does not convince him, Rodgers underlines, there is still too little information for that, even if he praises the revolutionary production.

“To all the media people who are attacking me: You don’t know my story, now you do. So stop spreading lies about me. I shouldn’t be put through the ring for a personal decision by people who are just trying to push their own propaganda. “

Rodgers wants to continue to focus on dialogue

Lastly, Rodgers can take some positives from the situation. “People who get infected with Corona and make a full recovery have the strongest immune system,” Rodgers explains, drawing on an Israeli study and podcaster Joe Rogan.

In addition, the test sequences would now be reduced, for 90 days they would be omitted upon his return, the 37-year-old reports. “I want to show people that they can control their own bodies. For me, the autonomy of one’s own body is an inalienable right.”

Despite all the accusations that have been raining down on the quarterback in recent days, Rodgers is confident and indirectly asks for the discussions to be defused: “The whole thing should be a conversation, not a scandal. “

Thumbs up from the couch

The important game on Sunday will be watched by Rodgers from his couch.

“I’m happy for Jordan (Love, Rodgers’ backup; editor’s note) and I’ve already spoken to him on the phone. It will still be an unusual situation that I’m not on site. It’s only the third time I’ve watched a game of my team on TV.”

It is unclear whether Rodgers will be back on the field against the Seahawks on November 14. The playmaker must spend at least ten days in quarantine after learning of the infection, with no extension required if he tests negative.