It sounds like a bad fever dream from a 2024 sports ticker, but it actually happened. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., running as an independent, told the New York Times that Aaron Rodgers was at the very top of his list for a running mate. People lost their minds. Jets fans were already on edge after the Achilles tear, and suddenly their quarterback was being sized up for a suit in the West Wing.
Kinda wild, right?
But honestly, if you followed Rodgers at all during his "immunized" era, it wasn't that shocking. He and RFK Jr. were basically two peas in a pod when it came to distrusting big pharma and the "establishment." They even went hiking together. They shared podcasts. For a few weeks in March 2024, the prospect of an Aaron Rodgers vice president run was the biggest story in both political and sports circles.
How Close Did We Actually Get?
The short answer: Closer than you'd think, but football won out.
According to reports from the time, Rodgers and Kennedy were in "pretty continuous" communication for about a month. This wasn't just a passing thought. Kennedy was looking for someone who could help him get on the ballot in states that required a running mate's name to be filed early. He needed a lightning rod. Rodgers, with his massive platform and "do your own research" energy, fit the bill perfectly.
Rodgers eventually broke his silence during the Jets' OTAs in May. He admitted there were really only two options on the table. He could either retire from the NFL and jump into the political shark tank, or he could stay under center in New Jersey.
🔗 Read more: Men's Sophie Cunningham Jersey: Why This Specific Kit is Selling Out Everywhere
"I wanted to keep playing," he told reporters. He chose the turf over the trail.
Basically, the Jets owed him a ton of money, and he still felt he had something to prove on the field after his 2023 season lasted exactly four snaps. Choosing to be the Aaron Rodgers vice president pick would have meant walking away from a $112.5 million contract extension. That's a lot of "integrity" to leave on the table.
Why RFK Jr. Wanted a Quarterback
Politics is mostly about attention. RFK Jr. knew that. By floating Rodgers and Jesse Ventura—the former wrestler and Minnesota governor—he guaranteed himself weeks of free primetime coverage.
- Ballot Access: Many states have archaic rules. You can't just be "The Candidate." You need a VP to even gather signatures.
- The Podcast Demographic: Rodgers pulls in the Joe Rogan crowd. This is the exact demographic RFK Jr. needed to peel away from both Trump and Biden.
- Anti-Establishment Branding: Both men framed themselves as outsiders fighting a corrupt system.
It wasn't all sunshine and hikes, though. The moment the news leaked, the "vulture" side of the media started circling. CNN dropped a report alleging that Rodgers had previously shared conspiracy theories about the Sandy Hook shooting in private conversations years ago. Rodgers responded on X, calling the tragedy "absolute" and denying he ever thought it didn't take place, but the damage was done. It was a brutal preview of what a real political campaign would look like for a guy used to being criticized for his completion percentage, not his moral character.
The Nicole Shanahan Pivot
When the dust settled on March 26, 2024, Kennedy didn't pick the quarterback. He didn't pick the wrestler, either. He chose Nicole Shanahan, a tech attorney and the former wife of Google co-founder Sergey Brin.
💡 You might also like: Why Netball Girls Sri Lanka Are Quietly Dominating Asian Sports
Why her? Well, she had something Rodgers didn't: hundreds of millions of dollars.
Shanahan had already helped fund a $7 million Super Bowl ad for Kennedy. Running an independent campaign is incredibly expensive. While Rodgers had the "fame," Shanahan had the "fuel." She was also significantly more prepared for the policy-heavy side of a campaign than a guy whose primary job involves reading a Cover 2 defense.
What This Taught Us About Rodgers
Even though he didn't run, the Aaron Rodgers vice president saga changed how people see him. It solidified his transition from "elite athlete who is a bit quirky" to "political figure who happens to play football."
Some fans loved it. They saw him as a brave truth-teller. Others were exhausted. They just wanted him to throw a touchdown to Garrett Wilson without a monologue about the "pharmaceutical-industrial complex" following in the post-game presser.
It’s worth noting that Rodgers hasn't exactly closed the door on politics forever. In the Netflix docuseries Aaron Rodgers: Enigma, which dropped in late 2024, he’s seen talking to RFK Jr. about his future. Kennedy asks him point-blank if he’s thought about going into politics once he hangs up the cleats. Rodgers doesn't say no. He just says he's trying to "beat back Father Time" for now.
📖 Related: Why Cumberland Valley Boys Basketball Dominates the Mid-Penn (and What’s Next)
Actionable Insights: What This Means for 2026 and Beyond
If you're wondering if we'll ever see "Rodgers" on a ballot, keep these things in mind:
- Watch the Retirement Timing: Rodgers is deep into his 40s now. The moment he retires, the political recruitment will start again. He has high name ID and an obsessed following.
- The Media Strategy: Notice how Rodgers uses platforms like The Pat McAfee Show. He has bypassed traditional sports media entirely. This is the same playbook modern politicians use to avoid "gotcha" questions.
- Ballot Muscle: The RFK Jr. experiment showed that celebrities are the ultimate shortcut for third-party candidates to gain legitimacy (and signatures).
The bridge between sports and politics is shorter than it’s ever been. We’ve seen it with Herschel Walker, Tommy Tuberville, and Steve Garvey. Rodgers is smarter and more articulate than most of them, which makes him either a dream candidate or a formidable opponent, depending on which side of the aisle you're sitting on.
For now, he’s still a Jet. But the "VP" tag is a shadow that’s going to follow him until the day he finally walks out of the tunnel for the last time.
Next Step for You: Keep an eye on the Jets' performance this season. If the team continues to struggle or if Rodgers faces more injuries, the "what's next" conversation—including his political aspirations—will likely reignite well before the 2028 election cycle begins.