Cam Newton backs up Aaron Rodgers' wild claim that NFL stars used fake Covid vaccine cards to avoid strict rules

Former quarterback Cam Newton has supported Aaron Rodgers’ remarkable claim that NFL stars faked their Covid vaccines to circumvent league rules.

Rodgers – whose vaccination status became a major talking point during the pandemic – made the allegation during a recent appearance on the Pat McAfee show, when he also took aim at Dr. Anthony Fauci.

The NFL introduced strict protocols in a bid to stop the spread of Covid-19. All team employees were required to take the vaccine or face restrictions.

But Rodgers, 42, told McAfee: ‘A lot of people had probably fake vax cards back in the day… 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.’ 

His comments were largely lost in the storm created by his attacks on Dr Fauci’s handling of the pandemic and his criticism of ESPN for its coverage of the Mike Vrabel-Dianna Russini scandal.

Rodgers recently went on an astonishing 13-minute tirade on ESPN’s The Pat McAfee Show

‘There were multiple players, coaches, and executives that fraudulently got… [a] shot,’ he said

But during an appearance on his 4th & 1 podcast on Monday, former Panthers and Patriots quarterback Newton echoed Rodgers’ claims.

‘If we’re being honest,’ he said. ‘Going back to 2020 [2021], there were multiple players, coaches, and executives that fraudulently got their COVID shot. Yes, I said it.’

He explained: ‘I knew multiple people in that locker room didn’t get the Covid shot… 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…”‘

Newton did not initially take the vaccine and in August 2021 he was barred from the Patriots facility for five days ‘due to a misunderstanding about tests conducted away from NFL facilities.’ He was released shortly after.

Rodgers, meanwhile, sparked huge controversy in 2021 when he claimed to have been ‘immunized’ against the Covid virus, only to later confirm he had not been vaccinated.

Last week, former White House chief medical adviser Fauci hit back at Rodgers after the quarterback’s scathing verbal assault.

The quarterback took aim at Dr. Anthony Fauci, who pleaded the fifth over 100 times at a hostile Covid-19 Senate hearing last week

Rodgers eviscerated Fauci in the wake of his decision to continuously plead the Fifth Amendment in the hostile Senate hearing. 

In a 13-minute monologue, he labeled the 85-year-old an ‘absolute criminal’ and an ‘absolute coward’.

On Tuesday, Fauci’s attorney, David Schertler, responded to Rodgers delivering a swift shutdown to the veteran quarterback’s comments.

‘Aaron Rodgers doesn’t know what he’s talking about,’ Schertler told The Athletic on Fauci’s behalf. ‘He should stick to football.’

The Daily Mail has contacted the NFL for comment on Newton’s claims.