Pat McAfee opens up on why Aaron Rodgers won't appear on show for remainder of NFL season
It’s been a whirlwind of a week for Pat McAfee, who has found himself in the crosshairs of an Aaron Rodgers-Jimmy Kimmel feud based on comments made by the New York Jets quarterback on his show last Tuesday.
Rodgers alleged connections between the late-night talk show host and convicted sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein. He intimated that Kimmel would appear on the list of associates tied to Epstein, who committed suicide inside the Metropolitan Correctional Center in August 2019. Rodgers notably made the statement on an ESPN broadcast, which is owned by The Walt Disney Company, who also owns ABC, which airs “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” McAfee, the former NFL punter, has also been outspoken of some of his bosses at ESPN, accusing them of trying to sabotage his show.
When it comes to Rodgers, the 40-year-old has appeared on McAfee’s show every Tuesday during the NFL season. That is over for the remainder of this season, McAfee announced Wednesday.
“Aaron Rodgers is a Hall of Famer. He’s a four-time MVP. He’s a massive piece of the NFL story whenever you go back and tell it. He will be a huge part of it,” McAfee said. “We are very lucky to get a chance to chat with him and learn from him. Some of his thoughts and opinions do piss off a lot of people. I’m pumped that that is no longer every single Wednesday of my life, which it has been for the last few weeks.
“On Friday I obviously threw us into the fire as well. I forever stand by that. Everything else, though, just can’t do that and not what we want to be known for.”
Pat McAfee going Aaron Rodgers-less for rest of NFL season
Though many interpreted McAfee in that Rodgers would never appear on his show again, he clarified his words on X, saying Rodgers’ appearances end once his team’s season ends — as it’s always been.
“Our fans know that ART ends shortly after Aaron’s team’s season ends.. that’s how it’s been,” McAfee wrote. “He’ll make random surprise welcomed pop ins during big events or offseason adventures but, it’s always been a season thing. I never said he’ll never be on the show again. I hope he chooses to still chat with us. We’ve been lucky the last 4 years to ride the wave of a season with a 4X NFL MVP (2 of which during The ART Era) and get his thoughts along the way.. in real time.”