Aaron Rodgers' father on QB's approach to COVID-19 vaccines: 'I'm proud of him'
Aaron Rodgers' father said Thursday that he is proud of the stance his son has taken on COVID-19 vaccines, despite the widespread criticism it has drawn.
Ed Rodgers told USA TODAY Sports that he supports the Green Bay Packers' quarterback's decision to pursue alternative forms of treatment in lieu of getting vaccinated. He also believes the backlash generated by his son's appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show" last week has been overblown.
"I think some of the people that are haters, I think if they listen to the show, I think he stated things very eloquently and very directly and succinctly," Ed Rodgers said. "I don't know. I'm not sure why people think he misled anybody.
"I think he tried to probably treat himself naturally, like a lot of folks do. And there's a lot of great natural things out there, which help mitigate the virus. So I'm proud of him. I'm proud that he went that route."
The elder Rodgers also said he believes "there's a lot of things that aren't so good about the vaccine," which has been proven to be safe and effective.
According to statistics from The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, unvaccinated individuals are six times more likely to contract COVID-19 than their vaccinated counterparts – and 11 times more likely to die from the disease.
Aaron Rodgers' vaccination stance has dominated headlines after he tested positive for COVID-19 last week.
When asked in August if he was vaccinated, the reigning league MVP had said he was "immunized." But after his positive test, it became clear that he had not received the shot, because the league's COVID-19 protocols differ in their treatment of vaccinated and unvaccinated players.
The quarterback later explained his stance during an appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show," claiming that he is allergic to an unspecified ingredient in the two mRNA vaccines and has reservations about the safety of the third. He also made several false or misleading claims about the vaccines and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ed Rodgers said he has not spoken to Aaron about his decision to not get vaccinated, either prior to his positive test or after. ("He's a grown man. He's making his own decisions," he said.) But he does agree with his son that "people should have a choice on what they do with their body."
"I don't really want to stick my foot in a lot of stuff," said Ed Rodgers, who is a chiropractor in Chico, California. "The main thing (is) I just support him. I'm proud of him. I trust his judgment and decisions. I think that's what I would've done."
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The relationship between Aaron Rodgers and his family has been the subject of media scrutiny in recent years. In late 2016, Bleacher Report revealed that Aaron Rodgers had distanced himself from members of his immediate family, including his parents. The outlet reported that he had not spoken to his family in two years.
When asked Thursday if father and son had mended their relationship in the time since, Ed Rodgers was succinct. "I'll just say that things are progressing," he said.
Ultimately, Ed Rodgers said he is speaking out to show support for his son, who he thinks is receiving unfair criticism for his vaccination stance.
"I really don't want to talk about anything else. That's kind of what I wanted to get across," Ed Rodgers said. "I really think he's done great, and I hope he continues to stand strong."
Contact Tom Schad at tschad@usatoday.com or on Twitter @Tom_Schad.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Aaron Rodgers' dad 'proud' of Packers QB's stance on COVID-19 vaccines
