Tony Romo Under Fire for Defending Aaron Rodgers During Packers vs. Seahawks Broadcast

“Did Tony Romo just make Aaron Rodgers out to be the victim?”

Maxim Video

Nov 15, 2021

Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo and Green Bay Packers Quarterback Aaron Rodgers in 2015
(Getty Images)

Some NFL fans were incensed by Tony Romo’s supportive comments of Aaron Rodgers in the wake of the ongoing COVID-19 vaccine controversy that has embroiled the Green Bay Packers quarterback.

pic.twitter.com/7vAZi9xZMO
— sportsvids1 (@sportsvids1) November 14, 2021

Rodgers made two scrutinized appearances on SiriusXM’s The Pat McAffee Show recently. During the first, the Packers QB claimed to be “immunized” against COVID-19 using a vaccine-less protocol rejected by the NFL.

Rodgers also questioned the vaccine’s efficacy and implied that ivermectin isn’t being used in treatment because it’s not financially lucrative (experts currently have insufficient evidence to recommend its use in COVID-19 patients.)

"I acknowledge that I made some comments that people might have felt were misleading.. to anybody who felt misled by those comments I take full responsibility" ~@AaronRodgers12 #PatMcAfeeShowLIVE pic.twitter.com/i9F7ojd8w8
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) November 9, 2021

After receiving wide pushback, Rodgers returned to McAfee’s show and said the following:

“I acknowledge that I made some comments that people might have felt were misleading,” Rodgers said. “To anybody who felt misled by those comments I take full responsibility.”

Romo was apparently a big fan of Rodgers’ updated statement. The former Dallas Cowboys quarterback-turned-NFL analyst expressed sympathy for Rodgers while calling his winning return to play against the Seattle Seahawks.

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— MaximBet (@MaximBetUSA) November 15, 2021

“I’m glad he did that; I’m glad he took responsibility for that. I’m glad that he said that he misled people,” Romo said.

“And I think the biggest thing, you know it’s a polarizing issue, but I can promise you he felt the weight of it the last few weeks, it’s something that he’s not thinking about anything else, and it’s been, make no mistake, a very challenging week for him.”

Twitter users who disagreed that Rodgers “took full responsibility” for his statements then turned their anger on Romo.

https://twitter.com/Shaddow13/status/1460028710287855618

“‘I’m glad he took responsibility.’ ─Tony Romo Ummm No Tony, Aaron Rodgers did not take responsibility,” one Twitter user wrote.

I can’t belive @CBS has their commentators Jim Nantz and Tony Romo on air literally doing PR and image rehabilitation for Aaron Rodgers. Y’all can’t be serious. They dedicated an entire 5 minutes praising Rodgers for his nothing ass statement. What a sham. @CBSSports #SEAvsGB
— Gerren Peterson (@GerrenPeterson) November 14, 2021

“I can’t belive [sic] @CBS has their commentators Jim Nantz and Tony Romo on air literally doing PR and image rehabilitation for Aaron Rodgers,” said another. “They dedicated an entire 5 minutes praising Rodgers for his nothing ass statement.”

Did Tony Romo just make Aaron Rodgers out to be the victim?
— Greg Vorse (@GregVorse) November 14, 2021

“Did Tony Romo just make Aaron Rodgers out to be the victim?” another chimed in. BroBible rounded up a handful of other Twitter reactions:

Listening to Jim Nantz and Tony Romo explain the Aaron Rodgers situation was embarrassing and another example why we shouldn’t expect network broadcast crews to properly discuss controversial issues related to the sport and League that they cover.
— Rocky Lum (@RockyLum) November 14, 2021

It's early in the broadcast, but Jim Nantz and Tony Romo don't appear to be committed to being critical in any fashion about #AaronRodgers and his off-the-field behavior.
I'm not surprised.
We'll see if anything changes as the game moves along.#GBvsSEA #NFLonCBS #NFL
— Dan Meyer (@MeyersMusings) November 14, 2021

@tonyromo You just said you were glad that @AaronRodgers12 came out and said that he misled everyone. That’s the opposite of what he said. You’re great in the booth, but if you can’t talk about the shitstorm Rodgers caused himself with any objectivity then don’t talk about it.
— Scotty_2_hotty (@2_hotty) November 14, 2021

@Realrclark25 As it relates to the Aaron Rodgers situation, Tony Romo and Jim Nantz sounded like lawyers trying to convince the jury that their client is innocent when the client is caught on high def 4K camera robbing the bank.
— Johnnybronx23 (@JohnnyBronx23) November 14, 2021

Meanwhile, Rodgers was quite emotional after leading the Packers to a 17-0 win over the Seahawks.

“A lot of emotions for sure,” Rodgers said per ESPN. “Good to be back with the guys, good to be back at home, good to be on the field, really. The most emotions from the whole night was probably walking off the field after the game.”

Rodgers had previously been sidelined for 10 days due to a COVID-19 infection, during which time the Packers lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 7-13.

It definitely got me a little misty. It was good to feel those types of emotions and good to be back with the guys.”