New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ interactions with the media previously has garnered attention.
It showed up around COVID-19 protocols in 2020 with Rodgers’ “immunized” claim, his pushback on media, who criticized him, and more.
Rodgers appeared on Joe Rogan’s podcast and Pat McAfee’s show and bashed media in those venues and press conferences. Rodgers also told ESPN’s Adam Schefter, “Lose my number” after Schefter requested a comment from him.
With Rodgers heading to the New York Jets this year, many wonder how his interactions with the New York media will go.
Rodgers’ interactions with New York media haven’t been an issue so far unless you ask about his bedroom furniture.
On a preview call for NBC’s Sunday Night Football franchise Wednesday reporter Melissa Stark, analyst Cris Collinsworth, and play-by-play voice Mike Tirico all had some interesting thoughts in response to AA’s question about their interactions with Rodgers.
Stark said their interactions with Rodgers have been quite different than the adversarial Rodgers v. media ones sometimes seen elsewhere.
She said he’s shown tremendous interest in talking to the NBC team.
“We sort of see a different side of Aaron Rodgers,” she said. “Because in our production meetings, and the guys can speak to this, Aaron Rodgers sort of comes across one way in the media, he certainly thinks his way, he’s very unique, uses very unique words, and is introspective. When we are in these production meetings with him, he does all of that, but he wants to hang around and talk.”
Stark said that came across in their interactions with him ahead of the Aug. 3 preseason Hall of Fame game featuring the Jets and the Cleveland Browns.
“The guys had a nice interview with him during the Hall of Fame Game, he had the headset on. He’s very engaging, he’s very smart, and he’s very clever. He’s very fun to interview, I think. So, I’m excited about it.”
Stark also said she lives in New Jersey and has seen incredible excitement amongst Jets’ fans since the acquisition of Rodgers.
Collinsworth said Rodgers is enjoyable to talk to but can be intimidating at times.
“Have you ever had, like, a really hard class, and if they decide that you get called on in class…and the teacher’s going to figure out just how much you know? It’s kind of like interviewing Aaron,” he said.
“You better bring something to the table that perks him up and gets his attention. Because he’s going to bring back something from some book written in ancient Egypt. And a couple of times, I’ve found myself going ‘Hey, Aaron, I’m a simple guy, I watch football, that’s all I am, I don’t know what you’re talking about here.'”
But he said he has also noticed a seemingly happier Rodgers.
Tirico said he always finds conversations with Rodgers “eye-opening.”
He said he thinks some of that is from Rodgers building up familiarity with him over time.
“He’s just a deep-thinking, introspective guy, who, when there’s a comfort level with who’s at the table, he opens up and says a lot more than many do. And most of it is incredibly interesting. And I always like to add something like ‘What book are you reading right now?’, because he always gives you some book that has some unique twists to it.”
Tirico also said he loves seeing what Rodgers has brought to the Jets, and he’s looking forward to calling that Week 4 game.
NBC’s Sunday Night Football schedule starts with the NFL season opener (the Chiefs hosting the Detroit Lions) on Thursday, Sept. 7, with their first Sunday game the Dallas Cowboys at the New York Giants on Sept. 10.
