After a viral video surfaced showing 40-year-old New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers appearing to eat a booger on the sidelines during the Jets’ Sunday Night Football loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Rodgers has now addressed the incident directly. The four-time NFL MVP set the record straight during his weekly appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, where he categorically denied indulging in what fans thought was an unusual sideline snack.
When asked about the viral moment, Rodgers laughed off the speculation and firmly stated that not only did he not eat a booger in that moment, but he has never eaten a booger in his entire life—a claim that has left many skeptical, given the improbability of someone keeping track of such a thing for 40 years.
“I’ve been alerted to this,” Rodgers began, acknowledging the video that had fans buzzing. “In the moment, I was actually thinking, ‘Man, I hope the camera isn’t on me right now,’ because I knew it looked bad. It actually kind of looks like I did it.”
Despite the incriminating appearance, Rodgers was adamant in his defense. “I’ve actually never eaten my boogers, that’s one thing I’m very proud of,” he said with a grin. “It’s a tough look to try and defend because, yeah, that video—it’s a little incriminating.” The quarterback clearly found humor in the situation, but wanted to set the record straight once and for all.
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For Rodgers, this is just another odd chapter in a season filled with unexpected challenges. After joining the Jets with much fanfare and Super Bowl expectations, the team has struggled mightily, currently sitting at 2-5.
Rodgers himself has been sidelined for most of the season with an Achilles injury, leaving his highly anticipated Jets debut cut short.
Given the team’s struggles, fans are looking for any potential solution to turn things around—even if it involves a tongue-in-cheek “booger-fueled” resurgence.
Though the viral clip added a lighthearted distraction for the embattled Jets fanbase, it’s clear that Rodgers and the team are under mounting pressure. The Jets are now riding a four-game losing streak, and their hopes of salvaging the season are fading fast.
With a critical game against the New England Patriots looming, the Jets are desperate to snap the skid and avoid falling to 2-6—a record that would all but end their playoff hopes.
Rodgers’ playful response to the “booger-gate” controversy provides a moment of levity in what has otherwise been a frustrating season for Gang Green. But whether Rodgers’ sense of humor—and his sideline hygiene—can help turn the Jets’ season around remains to be seen.
The Jets are hoping that even without Rodgers under center, they can rally behind backup quarterback Zach Wilson and get their season back on track.
But if the team’s fortunes continue to plummet, it will be a long road for both the Jets and their veteran quarterback, who is expected to make a full recovery from his Achilles injury and return to action next season.
For now, Rodgers is keeping things lighthearted as he rehabilitates and watches from the sidelines, booger-free.
