The COVID-19 pandemic left few corners of the sports world untouched, and the NFL was no exception. But while the league enforced strict protocols, a new claim from Cam Newton suggests that some players and staff found a loophole—one that involved fraudulent vaccination cards.
During a recent appearance on the Pat McAfee Show, Aaron Rodgers stirred the pot by alleging that many in the NFL used fake vaccination cards to bypass league rules. Now, Newton has stepped forward to corroborate those claims, offering a firsthand account from his time with the New England Patriots.
Cam Newton's bombshell revelation
On the latest episode of his 4th & 1 podcast, Newton didn't hold back. Reflecting on the 2020 season, he asserted that "multiple" players, coaches, and even executives had lied about their vaccination status to stay with their teams.
"If we're being honest, going back to 2020, there were multiple players, coaches, and executives that fraudulently got their COVID shot," Newton said. "Yes, I said it."
He went on to describe a culture of complicity, where fake cards were obtained for a price. "You're like, Cam, what do you know? It's like, man, I knew multiple people in that locker room didn't get the Covid shot," he explained. "But they got a card that they paid for. Boy, nurses was making big bank. But that card and that little [stamp]…. Man, folks was trying to get in that club. 'Hey, man, you got your vaccination card? Yeah, yeah, I got it…'"
Rodgers' original comments
Rodgers, now with the Pittsburgh Steelers, made waves last week when he revisited the pandemic era on McAfee's show. After criticizing Dr. Anthony Fauci's testimony before a Senate committee, Rodgers suggested that fake vax cards were rampant across the league.
"A lot of people had probably fake vax cards back in the day," Rodgers said. "I remember seeing some of the vax cards. It was like written in crayon. I'm like, alright, so we're going to pass that off [as legitimate], but we [unvaccinated] are going to be second-rate citizens over here. I got to wear a yellow armband, train in the back, can't be around more than three people. What a crock of s—t."
Rodgers' frustration was palpable, and Newton's confirmation adds weight to his claims. The two quarterbacks have now both painted a picture of a league where enforcement was inconsistent and some were willing to bend—or break—the rules.
A league divided
The pandemic was a trying time for everyone, and the NFL was no exception. While some players adhered to protocols, others like Rodgers faced restrictions that they felt were unfair. The revelation of fake cards, if true, would underscore a deep divide in how the league handled the crisis.
Newton's comments also echo a broader sentiment that has been building among some athletes. The topic has even drawn support from figures like Danica Patrick, who sided with Rodgers in his feud with Fauci. Meanwhile, ESPN reportedly has its own concerns about Rodgers and the Steelers missing the Super Bowl.
What this means for the NFL
While the pandemic may be in the rearview mirror, the echoes of those days still linger. Newton's admission is a reminder that the league's protocols were not always followed to the letter, and that some players were willing to go to great lengths to avoid them.
As the NFL moves forward, the question remains: how much did these actions affect the integrity of the game? For now, the comments from Newton and Rodgers have opened a new chapter in the ongoing debate over pandemic-era policies.
For more on this story, check out Fauci's lawyer firing back at Rodgers and how Mike McCarthy reacted to Rodgers' fiery appearance.
