Aaron Rodgers Declines VP Offer from Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

NFL star Aaron Rodgers has chosen to remain in football, rejecting an offer to run as Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s vice president in the 2024 independent presidential election. Kennedy had considered Rodgers as a potential running mate, but the quarterback ultimately decided to stick with his football career.

NFL star Aaron Rodgers has declined an offer to run as Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s vice president in the 2024 independent presidential election, choosing to remain in football.

Rodgers' name had been linked to Kennedy's campaign earlier this year, with Kennedy confirming that the quarterback was among the candidates under consideration to join him on the ticket. However, shortly after Rodgers emerged as a potential running mate, Kennedy tapped California lawyer Nicole Shanahan as his VP nominee.

Rodgers has mulled retirement in the past, but this time he considered stepping away from football for a political career. However, he ultimately decided to continue playing, citing his desire to bounce back from an Achilles injury suffered in the Jets' 2023 season opener.

"I love Bobby (Kennedy), we had a couple of really nice conversations, but there were really two options: It was retire and be his VP or keep playing," Rodgers told reporters after Jets' organized team activities. "But I wanted to keep playing."

Kennedy's campaign had been enthusiastic about the prospect of having Rodgers as his running mate, believing that his star power and popularity could help attract voters. However, Rodgers' decision to remain in football ends those aspirations.

Rodgers is now hoping to have a successful season with the Jets in 2024, after a disappointing 2023 campaign marred by injuries. The Jets acquired Rodgers in a blockbuster trade in April 2023, and are hoping that he can lead them to their first playoff appearance since 2010.

Kennedy, meanwhile, will continue his campaign as an independent candidate, facing an uphill battle against the Democratic and Republican nominees. He has been critical of both major parties, and is running on a platform that includes ending the war in Ukraine, reducing government spending, and promoting environmental sustainability.

Rodgers' decision to remain in football will undoubtedly disappoint Kennedy's supporters, but it is a decision that makes sense for the quarterback. He is one of the most talented players in the NFL, and he still has several years of football left in him. His focus now will be on helping the Jets achieve their goals on the field, rather than pursuing a political career.