Aaron Rodgers Ends Regular Appearances on 'Pat McAfee Show' for 2023 Season

Aaron Rodgers wrapped up his routine appearances on sportscaster Pat McAfee's ESPN talk show Tuesday, following a season of controversial comments including a comment regarding TV show host Jimmy Kimmel and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's associates list.

"Our fans know that ART [Aaron Rodgers Tuesdays] ends shortly after Aaron's team's season ends.. that's how it's been," McAfee, a former NFL punter and kicker, posted Wednesday evening on X, formerly Twitter.

"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."

Rodgers weekly appearances on The Pat McAfee Show had become appointment television for many sports fans, even after tearing his Achilles tendon in the first game of the season. While most often his commentary was on the NFL, his cultural commentary made headlines. During his appearance on January 2, the New York Jets star hinted that Kimmel's name would be included in the unsealed documents.

The newly released court filings name several of the late financier's friends, acquaintances and business associates, with a number of celebrities and public figures appearing. However, being named in the papers does not mean a person was involved in Epstein's sex trafficking operations.

"A lot of people, including Jimmy Kimmel, are really hoping that [list] doesn't come out," Rodgers said before the first batch of documents was unsealed on January 3.

More than 4,553 pages were released in three batches, but Kimmel's name was not included. He has also refuted the allegations made by Rodgers and denied any link with Epstein.

Newsweek has reached out to Rodgers and McAfee via Instagram and Kimmel by email for comment.

How did McAfee handle the controversy?

In his post on X, McAfee addressed the controversy along with Rodgers' status on the show.

"We are a sports show that tries to inform folks of what's going on and have a good time with good vibes... Everyday," he host wrote.

"I haven't polled our crowd but I'm rather certain that nobody's wanting to come hangout with us to hear us talk about politics.

"I certainly don't love that I've found myself in political wars and public beefs because of something that a guest has said on our show."

The 36-year-old expressed relief that the quarterback's paid segment, which he dubbed "Aaron Rodgers Tuesday," is over for now. McAfee previously came under fire for allowing Rodgers to share conspiracy theories on the show.

McAfee apologized to Kimmel on January 3, explaining that he does not want the show "associated with anything negative, ever."

"We like our show to be an uplifting one, a happy one, a fun one," the former kicker said. "Some things obviously people get very p***** off about, especially when they're serious allegations."

What happened with Rodgers and Kimmel?

Following Rodgers' comments, Kimmel hit back on social media, calling him an "A******."

"For the record, I've not met, flown with, visited, or had any contact whatsoever with Epstein, nor will you find my name on any 'list' other than the clearly phony nonsense that soft-brained wackos like yourself can't seem to distinguish from reality," Kimmel wrote on X.

"Your reckless words put my family in danger. Keep it up and we will debate the facts in court."

Kimmel also addressed the feud on Monday's episode of his late-night talk show, Jimmy Kimmel Live. In the blistering seven-minute monologue, the 56-year-old dubbed the quarterback "Karen Rodgers"—a reference to the viral "Karen" meme that mocks entitled, middle-aged white women.

He also blamed Rodgers for the surge in social media trolling that he and his family have received following The Pat McAfee Show appearance, while calling conspiracy theorists harassing him online "delusional."

Kimmel suggested Rodgers' remarks were in retaliation for jokes he'd made about him in the past. In an interview with McAfee in February 2023, Rodgers claimed the rise in UFO sightings was a distraction from earlier rumors of the Epstein list's release.

"He's particularly upset I think because I made fun of the fact that he floated this wacko idea that the UFO sightings that were in the news in February were being reported to distract us from the Epstein list," Kimmel told Monday's audience, accusing Rodgers of having a "Thanksgiving Day parade-sized ego."

"He decided he would insinuate that I am a pedophile," he continued. "This is how these nuts do it now. You don't like Trump, you're a pedophile. It's their go-to move."

In his appearance on The Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday, Rodgers replied to Kimmel's monologue, believing the pair's differing views on the COVID-19 vaccine are what sparked the feud.

Kimmel poked fun at Rodgers in 2021 after the quarterback claimed he was allergic to an ingredient in the mRNA vaccine used to combat the virus. Instead, Rodgers devised his own treatment plan to fight COVID-19, after previously telling the media he was "immunized," suggesting he was vaccinated.

He later confessed to misleading the press and public, saying: "I take full responsibility for those comments."

"The history of this—whatever this is between Jimmy and I—this goes back to COVID times," Rodgers told McAfee on Tuesday. "He mentioned on his show jokes about my immunization."

Rodgers said Kimmel's jokes about unvaccinated people irked him—particularly suggestions that "they don't deserve treatment"—along with the talk show star's praise of former Chief Medical Adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci and his comments about ivermectin users.

Rodgers previously took the medication after testing positive for the virus in 2021. Ivermectin is typically used to kill parasites in animals, with no evidence that it affects COVID-19 symptoms.

"I'm not calling him [a pedophile], and neither should you," Rodgers added, trying to discourage social media users from attacking Kimmel.

Correction 1/11/24, 2:30 p.m. ET: This article was updated to correct Rodgers' status on the show as ending his routine weekly appearances.