Aaron Rodgers as Vice President of the United States?
Former Cal quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been a controversial figure in recent years, and he added another storyline to his career narrative this week.
The New York Times reported that controversial independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. approached Rodgers about being his running mate.
Here is the lead to that story:
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has recently approached the N.F.L. quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the former Minnesota governor and professional wrestler Jesse Ventura about serving as his running mate on an independent presidential ticket, and both have welcomed the overtures, two people familiar with the discussions said.
Mr. Kennedy confirmed on Tuesday that the two men were at the top of his list. It is not clear if either has been formally offered the post, however, and Mr. Kennedy is still considering a shortlist of potential candidates, the people familiar with the discussions said.
Mr. Kennedy said that he had been speaking with Mr. Rodgers “pretty continuously” for the past month, and that he had been in touch with Mr. Ventura since the former governor introduced him at a campaign event last month in Arizona.
A representative for Mr. Rodgers did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Mr. Ventura could not immediately be reached for comment.
The involvement of Mr. Rodgers — who is expected to start for the New York Jets this fall, at the height of campaign season — or of Mr. Ventura could add star power and independent zeal to Mr. Kennedy’s outsider bid.
Being paired with Ventura as the other possible vice presidential candidate simply adds to the unusual candidacy of Kennedy, whose controversial views have been documented.
Rodgers has received public pushback for a number of his radical stances that he has shared publicly. He did not get vaccinated when it was mandated by the NFL in 2021, and he has many of same political views as Kennedy.
Here is another excerpt from the New York Times report:
Mr. Kennedy, 70, an environmental lawyer and scion of a storied Democratic family, has in recent years become prominent for his vaccine skepticism and his promotion of conspiracy theories about the federal government and public health apparatus. Mr. Rodgers, too, has increasingly embraced the role of celebrity provocateur and contrarian for his stances on vaccines, public health and the coronavirus pandemic.
Kennedy is expected to name a running mate soon. He has already been turned down for several people.
Cover photo of Aaron Rodgers by Vincent Carchietta, USA TODAY Sports
Follow Cal Sports Report on Twitter: @jakecurtis53
Find Cal Sports Report on Facebook by going to https://www.facebook.com/si.calsportsreport
