Claim: Aaron Rodgers publicly called Dr. Anthony Fauci an “absolute coward” over his Senate testimony; Fauci’s lawyer has responded.
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Aaron Rodgers appeared to be on the verge of walking away from football before agreeing to a $25 million deal to return to the Pittsburgh Steelers for the 2026 season. So naturally, when the veteran quarterback joined ‘The Pat McAfee Show’ on Monday, August 3, the conversation quickly turned to what could be his final NFL season.
But when Rodgers was asked about his expectations for the year and whether he had already begun thinking about the end of his career, his answer caught plenty of people off guard.
“I’m gonna plead the 5th. Like that absolute coward Tony Fauci,” Rodgers said. “Absolute coward. “Are you kidding me? You got a pardon, and you pleaded over 100 times at the White House? What are you scared of, Tony? I thought you were the science. I thought, ‘I am science,’ and you get up there, and you can’t answer a question? What are we doing?”
This came after Dr. Anthony Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment in response to all questions during a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs subcommittee last month. Fauci, of course, served as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases from 1984 to 2022, leading the federal government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Regardless, since then, The Athletic has reported that Fauci’s lawyer has responded to Rodgers’ comment about his client. But is that really the case?
Our Verdict: True
Just one day after Rodgers made the comments, David Schertler, Fauci’s attorney, fired back at the Steelers quarterback in an email, dismissing his remarks about his client.
“Aaron Rodgers doesn’t know what he’s talking about. He should stick to football.”
The Athletic reported that Republicans at the hearing argued Fauci “can’t have it both ways,” questioning his decision not to testify while protected by a pardon. That protection, though, did not extend to Wednesday’s hearing. Legal experts warned that even a single inaccurate statement under oath could potentially expose Fauci to prosecution for perjury. As a result, he opted for the safer course by declining to answer.
Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy was also asked about the controversy and made it clear that he wanted to keep the focus on football. “My job is to keep it about football,” McCarthy told reporters. “These are grown men. They all have different opinions. There’s no question about that. But at the end of the day, my job is to keep it about football, keep the focus on winning.”
McCarthy added that the Steelers have a strong locker room and pointed to the team’s player council, which had held its second meeting the previous day, as evidence that the team remains in a good place.
Steelers spokesperson Burt Lauten offered a similar stance in a statement to The Athletic, acknowledging that discussions involving culture and politics can produce differing viewpoints. He emphasized that Steelers players are entitled to their personal opinions and suggested that there are likely a range of views on various issues within the locker room.
Our fact-checking sources:
- The Pat McAfee Show, August 4, 2026. Aaron Rodgers Joins The Pat McAfee Show Ahead Of His Final NFL Season
- The Athletic, August 4, 2026. Fauci’s lawyer fires back: ‘Aaron Rodgers doesn’t know what he’s talking about’
- The Athletic, July 30, 2026. Fauci, Assailed by Republicans, Took the Fifth. Here’s What We Know