NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers pops up as Vice President candidate

A popular figure could take centre stage during the US presidential election in news nobody saw coming.

NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers is on the short list of running mates for independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr, it has been confirmed.

A campaign rep for Kennedy confirmed to The New York Post that he “did share with the New York Times that he’s considering Aaron Rodgers and (Minnesota governor) Jesse Ventura as running mates.”

Rodgers even considering taking Kennedy up on his offer has huge implications for the New York Jets franchise and the NFL.

Rodgers shares similar political beliefs as the presidential candidate, especially about vaccines and public health policies.

Kennedy had posted an image of the two hiking together last month and Rodgers spoke highly of Kennedy during an appearance on “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast recently.

The Jets have not publicly commented on the report, nor has Rodgers.

As expected, the news was met with widespread chortling.

New York radio station WFAN’s afternoon crew were among those to laugh at the situation.

Aaron Rodgers of the New York Jets pictured earlier this year. Picture: Billie Weiss/Getty Images

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Picture: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images.

“There’s no way this is true,” Tiki Barber quipped as Shaun Morash read the New York Times report that broke on Wednesday.

That quickly sent Evan Roberts into a tailspin as he tried to understand how Rodgers could quarterback the Jets while simultaneously running for public office.

“We could be living in a world where Aaron Rodgers can’t play in the AFC title game because he’s being sworn in by Kamala Harris to replace her,” Roberts said.

“Like, I don’t know man, I kind of have to have my quarterback available. Just being honest.”

Morash responded: “This is the most Jets story of all time. If he’s ‘welcoming overtures,’ even if it’s at five per cent, he’s not all-in on quarterbacking the Jets.”

The NFL Network crew had a field day with the Aaron Rodger V.P. news...

"As long as he's not Surgeon General..." - @AndrewSicilianopic.twitter.com/JXWAx5gNUb

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 12, 2024

The news was met with a variety of reactions online, including from former Jet Damien Woody who appeared to be critical of what was happening.

“Man we are an unserious country,” he posted on X along with a hand-smacking face emoji.

NFL Network’s “free agent frenzy” crew of Andrew Siciliano, Ian Rapoport, Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero reacted with laughter as the story broke.

“The good news, the election is on a Tuesday, that’s normally players’ day off,” Pelissero joked. “So he’d be available to watch the results roll in.”

Siciliano chimed in later, “As long as he’s not Surgeon General.”

This story originally appeared on nypost.com and has been republished with permission