David Schertler, an attorney representing Dr. Anthony Fauci, has responded to recent comments made by NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers, stating that Rodgers "doesn't know what he's talking about" and "should stick to football."
Rodgers' remarks, made during an appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show," included calling Fauci an "absolute criminal" and an "absolute coward." The quarterback also invoked a conspiracy theory about Fauci's wife and Ghislaine Maxwell, a convicted sex trafficker.
These statements came in reaction to Fauci invoking the Fifth Amendment more than 100 times during a U.S. Senate committee hearing concerning the COVID-19 pandemic response. Rodgers criticized Fauci for refusing to answer questions, even basic ones such as the color of his tie, and suggested that Fauci was fearful.
Rodgers, who has previously faced scrutiny for not being vaccinated against COVID-19, also commented on media coverage of his vaccination status compared to Fauci's pandemic response. He also suggested the virus originated from a lab in China.
During the same show, Rodgers questioned ESPN's coverage of other league scandals. While McAfee attempted to steer the conversation back to football, he later acknowledged Rodgers' stance on the issues.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, when asked about Rodgers' comments, indicated that he focuses on football matters within the team, noting that players are entitled to their opinions but the team's goal is to "keep it about football."