Fact Check: Did Aaron Rodgers join the Republican Party before final NFL season?
CANONSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA: Days after announcing plans to retire following the upcoming NFL season, a rumor began circulating on social media claiming that veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers has registered as a Republican. The viral claim quickly sparked debates, criticism, and speculation among NFL fans online.
The rumor gained traction across X, Facebook, and Instagram after a post listed several quarterbacks allegedly registered with the Republican Party. However, a closer look at the origins of the claim tells a different story. Here is what we found while examining the viral rumor surrounding Rodgers’ political affiliation.
Claim: Aaron Rodgers has registered as a Republican
As the 42-year-old quarterback prepares for what could be his final NFL season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, social media users began discussing his alleged political ideology after a viral post surfaced online.
The rumor originated from a post on X that listed multiple NFL quarterbacks, including Rodgers, as registered Republicans. Screenshots of the post were widely reshared across Facebook and Instagram, where the claim accumulated millions of views and reactions.
Several users criticized Rodgers over the alleged registration, while others defended the quarterback and questioned the authenticity of the post. The discussion quickly spread beyond football circles and into broader political debates online.
Fact Check: The claim originated from a satire account
The claim is false. There are no public records, official announcements, or verified statements from Aaron Rodgers confirming that he has registered as a Republican.
Further investigation showed that the rumor originated from Football Crave, a sports parody account on X that clearly identifies itself as “satire” in its bio.
Rodgers has previously shared his frustration with the American political system but has not publicly aligned himself with either major political party.
Speaking in 2024, Rodgers said, “Politics, I've said from the beginning, is an absolute sham. And if we've seen anything, whether what they did to Bernie Sanders in 2016, that we saw in the (John) Podesta emails or the fact that nothing really ever changes..."
He continued, “All they talk about is what they're gonna do, and then life doesn't actually get better for any of us, whether it's a Republican or a Democrat. And we're still doing the same f****** two-party system."
"Not letting Bobby get in or anybody else. It’s certain colors in some states. There’s certain people you gotta submit it to in other states. It’s a certain amount of votes in certain states. It’s a f****** joke."
Aaron Rodgers says upcoming NFL season will be his last
Rodgers confirmed earlier this week that the upcoming NFL season will likely mark the end of his career.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, the quarterback said he intends for the 2026 season to be his final year in the league. When asked directly if this would be his last season, Rodgers replied, “Yes. This is it.”
The veteran quarterback spent more than four months deciding whether to return for a 22nd NFL season before signing a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The contract marked his return to Pittsburgh for what is expected to be his final campaign in the NFL.
