By Greg Rosenstein and Zack RosenblattMar 13, 2024
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Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a candidate in the next election for United States president, recently approached New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers about serving as his running mate on an independent ticket, according to The New York Times.
Kennedy is still considering a short list of candidates, and it is not clear whether Rodgers has formally been offered the position. Kennedy told The Times he and Rodgers have been talking “pretty continuously” for the past month.
Former WWE wrestler and Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura is also reportedly being considered for the role, per The Times.
Kennedy — a son of former Senator Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of former U.S. President John F. Kennedy — initially ran as a Democrat. In October, he announced he would instead run as an independent.
Rodgers signed with the Jets last offseason after 18 seasons with the Green Bay Packers. He suffered a torn Achilles just four plays into the season opener against the Buffalo Bills and missed the rest of the season. The 40-year-old said last week on a podcast he was hopeful he’ll be able to play “two, three or four more years” in the NFL.
Rodgers has come under scrutiny off the field in recent years for comments regarding his COVID-19 vaccination status, and most recently, for suggesting that late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel’s name would appear on documents linking him to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Kimmel threatened Rodgers with court action after the comment in January. The quarterback later clarified the statement on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show.”
“I’m not calling him (a pedophile) and neither should you,” Rodgers said. “Let me make that crystal clear. I don’t take any excitement or joy out of anybody doing that. So don’t do that in my name. Don’t do that at all. Those are serious accusations meant for people who are on the list.”
Kennedy, 70, has also expressed skepticism regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. He has become one of the leading voices in the campaign to discredit their use and has said that the government is using the vaccine as a way to exert control over the population.
“The minute they hand you that vaccine passport, every right that you have is transformed into a privilege contingent upon your obedience to arbitrary government dictates,” Kennedy said at a rally against vaccine mandates in Washington in February, per The Times.
The Jets had no comment when asked by The Athletic about the report. A message for Aaron Rodgers for comment was not immediately returned.
The New York Times reports that Kennedy is expected to officially name his running mate in the coming weeks.
