Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is reportedly eyeing New York Jets’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers as his pick for vice president, and the internet has plenty to say about it.
On Tuesday, the New York Times published an article that indicated Kennedy spoke to Rodgers about being his running mate, despite the four-time NFL MVP still being under contract with his team through 2025.
Kennedy confirmed to the paper that he had in fact approached Rodgers about appearing on the presidential ticket, and said that they had been talking “pretty continuously” over the last month.
According to the outlet, Rodgers has “welcomed the overtures” from the ex-Democrat, and expressed similar views about vaccination, the COVID-19 pandemic, and public health.
Hiking with @AaronRodgers12 and his amazing Achilles ⛰️ pic.twitter.com/zBbJWUdOS7
— Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) February 21, 2024
The public was first alerted to Rodgers association with Kennedy in March of last year, when the aspiring politician tweeted a photo of the pair posing in Santa Monica, California.
“My dad said it best: ‘Moral courage is a rarer commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence. Yet it is the one essential, vital quality for those who seek to change the world which yields most painfully to change,’” he captioned the snap.
The Jets’s quarterback, who tore his Achilles tendon on his fourth play with the team after leaving the Green Bay Packers, appeared to endorse Kennedy in April 2023.
If Aaron Rodgers runs for VP that puts Zach Wilson third in line for the presidency.
— Julius Sharpe (@juliussharpe) March 12, 2024
Rodgers shared an Instagram reel from a podcast interview with RFK Jr., where host Aubrey Marcus extolled his “integrity,” “courage” and “wisdom.”
“I believe he’s going to win. … I believe he’s going to continue to continue the legacy of his uncle, John F. Kennedy, and his father Robert Kennedy, and we talk about that a bit on this podcast,” Marcus said in the clip.
Rodgers reposted the reel to his 2.3 million followers, adding two flexed-arm emojis, two red heart emojis, and the hashtag #kennedy2024.
In October, the former Packers’ star left no room for interpretation about who he was endorsing in the 2024 presidential election.
“I believe in medical freedom and informed consent, and I’m voting for Robert Kennedy Jr.,” he said during an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show.”
Aaron Rodgers retiring from football to be the Vice President to RFK Jr. with this video as their campaign ad would be the most Jets thing to ever happen pic.twitter.com/4I2FsUrg6Q
— GhettoGronk (@TheGhettoGronk) March 13, 2024
The pair were last seen together in a Feb. 20, photo that showed them with three dogs on what appeared to be trail in California.
“Hiking with Aaron Rodgers and his amazing Achilles,” Kennedy posted.
Social media had quite a reaction to RFK Jr. considering Rodgers, who has a guaranteed $35 million salary if he stays with the Jets this season, as his running mate.
Aaron Rodgers when asked why he’s running for VP
“After signing with the Jets, this was my only opportunity to go to the White House” pic.twitter.com/NXYHpO4fuf
— Greg Ehrenberg (@gehrenbergdfs) March 13, 2024
“If Aaron Rodgers runs for VP that puts Zach Wilson third in line for the presidency,” one person tweeted on Tuesday.
“So, if I am to understand this correctly, the Jets have devoted their entire franchise to the cause of making it work around Aaron Rodgers, and he just might be running for vice president,” ESPN’s Mike Greenberg posted in response. “This is going to be the greatest 30 for 30 of all time.”
“Aaron Rodgers quitting the Jets to run for VP for the crackpot independent candidate married to Cheryl Hines is by far the best way to conclude CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM, kudos to Larry David for drawing this up,” someone added.
According to an X, formerly Twitter, poll by Outkick’s Clay Travis, 94% of the 40,000 who responded said they would prefer Rodgers as Vice President of the United States, over current VP Kamala Harris.
“John Adams called the vice presidency “the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived or his imagination conceived,” an X user tweeted. “This makes Aaron Rodgers the most qualified candidate in human history.”
“By the way – a 40 year old Aaron Rodgers coming off an Achilles tear campaigning for the vice presidency six days a week would still be the best quarterback the #Jets have had in decades,” Greenberg added.
The New York Jets if Aaron Rodgers runs for Vice President
— Jason Gendron (@JasonGendron16) March 13, 2024
Kennedy is expected to declare his selection for vice president in the next few weeks, and he has reportedly approached several other potential candidates, including former Minnesota governor and professional wrestler Jesse Ventura.
The New York Times reported that the website kennedyrodgers.com was registered on hosting site GoDaddy.