New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers braved the cold on Sunday to support his teammates from the sidelines in his first public appearance since claiming that Jimmy Kimmel would be on Jeffrey Epstein's associate list.
A list of financier Epstein's disgraced associates from court documents was released this week and ahead of publication, Rodgers, 40, claimed that late presenter Kimmel could be among the names on the list.
The NFL star made the claims during his weekly appearance on The Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday, prompting the seething comedian to threaten legal action.
But the four-time MVP appeared to have settled his bitter feud with Kimmel as he watched the Jets' season finale in freezing New England on Sunday.
New York traveled to snowy Gillette Stadium in Foxborough to face the New England Patriots to end their season, where temperatures dropped to 35°F.
Aaron Rodgers was seen for the first time since accusing Jimmy Kimmel of being on the Epstein list during his weekly appearance on The Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday
The Jets quarterback braved the cold to support his teammates in the game against the Patriots on Sunday
Rodgers claimed that late host Jimmy Kimmel could be among the names on the list
Rodgers hasn't played since Week 1, when he tore his Achilles tendon after just four snaps in his debut for the New York Jets.
But despite his failed attempt at a miraculous comeback in the playoffs – New York's postseason hopes ended in December – the signal-caller was regularly on the sidelines to continue to support his teammates.
However, this week's appearance comes with more controversy than most for the veteran following his heated exchange with Kimmel.
Rodgers escalated their argument, sparked by a condom taunt from Kimmel over the NFL player's unvaccinated status in 2021, on the McAfee Show earlier this week.
The former Super Bowl winner's “joke” came when he began outlining a conspiracy theory about the colors of the NFL's Super Bowl emblems and predicting the teams that will play the big game this season.
The panel was stunned by the NFL star's lengthy explanation, and co-host AJ Hawk interrupted to jokingly ask if it was the Epstein list.
The former Super Bowl winner took the opportunity to strongly condemn his longtime nemesis, saying, “There are a lot of people, including Jimmy Kimmel, who hope this list doesn't get published.”
It prompted a profanity-laden retort from the beaming TV host, who responded to “Find my name on a 'list' other than the clearly false nonsense that soft-brained lunatics like you can't seem to distinguish from reality,” the comedian ranted.
The 40-year-old watched the Jets' season finale in cold New England on Sunday
The four-time MVP appeared to have settled his bitter feud with Kimmel on Sunday
The former Super Bowl winner was seen chatting with Patriots head coach Bill Belichick
New York traveled to a snowy Gillette Stadium, where temperatures dropped to 35°F
“Your reckless words have put my family in danger. “Keep it up and we will continue to discuss the facts in court.”
McAfee then joked that the former Green Bay Packers quarterback was “in his wine cellar” waiting for the court documents to be released.
“I tell you what, when this list comes out, I will definitely be popping a bottle,” Rodgers said.
McAfee himself addressed the outrage on Wednesday, claiming that the New York Jets quarterback was “just talking to Kimmel,” with whom he has long had tensions.
But loud Front Office Sports“Michael McCarthyESPN has distanced itself from Rodgers' comments, admitting that he should never have made them in the first place.
Mike Foss, the network's senior vice president, is quoted as saying: “Aaron made a stupid and factually inaccurate joke about Jimmy Kimmel.” It should never have happened. We all realized that at that moment.'
However, Foss believes Rodgers will continue to appear on the series in the future. “The show will evolve. It wouldn't surprise me if Aaron's role evolved with it.”