Aaron Rodgers is known for being selective with his interviews, but his recent decision to skip a postgame chat with Charissa Thompson on Thursday Night Football caught the attention of Erin Andrews, who didn’t hesitate to call him out for it.
Last week, Rodgers helped the New York Jets deliver a crushing blow to the New England Patriots, marking their biggest win over the Patriots in 25 years. It was a statement game for Rodgers, who is on the comeback trail after last season’s Achilles injury. Following the impressive victory, Rodgers did take time to speak with Amazon Prime’s sideline reporter Kaylee Hartung, where he expressed that he “felt like his old self” on the field. However, what stood out was his decision to bypass the main postgame desk, where Thompson, Tony Gonzalez, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Andrew Whitworth, and Richard Sherman were waiting for him.
On the latest episode of the Calm Down podcast, hosted by Erin Andrews and Charissa Thompson, the two broadcasters praised Rodgers’ performance on the field. However, the conversation soon turned to his apparent snub of the postgame show. Andrews, in particular, voiced her disappointment that Rodgers chose not to join the panel after the game, especially given their personal friendships.
“I’d rather it have been up there on the desk,” Andrews said, referencing the interview Rodgers gave to Hartung. “I was really looking forward to seeing two of my really good friends yukking it up. I didn’t love it.”
Though Andrews’ comment was made with some humor, she later admitted that it felt like more than just a missed opportunity—it felt personal. She explained that as reporters, they often form close bonds with athletes, and when those athletes, who they consider friends, pass up the chance to chat on their shows, it can sting.
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“I get really sensitive when our people—it’s not that they don’t make the time, but I’ve made jokes to Tom Brady about it,” Andrews continued, recalling a time when Brady once skipped a postgame interview with her after a standout performance. “I told him, ‘Remember the game where you threw for 400 yards and ran right past me on postgame, and I had just reapplied lip gloss? Are you insane?’ It’s just rude.”
Andrews’ playful but pointed remarks didn’t stop there. She took aim at Rodgers, who she said should have made the effort to join the postgame panel, especially since Thompson, like Andrews, considers him a friend. “Or now Aaron, when I talk to you, ‘How dare you not go up on that desk with Charissa.’ It does get personal.”
Despite the lighthearted tone of the conversation, the message was clear: for sports reporters like Andrews and Thompson, interviews aren’t just professional obligations. When athletes they know well, like Rodgers, skip out on postgame interviews, it feels like a personal slight, especially in an era where those moments help form deeper connections with both the audience and the athletes themselves.
Rodgers has yet to respond publicly to Andrews’ comments, but the incident highlights the unique dynamics between athletes and the media in modern sports, where the lines between friendship and professional duty can sometimes blur.
As Andrews and Thompson continue their coverage of the NFL season, it’s likely the two will be keeping a close eye on whether Rodgers finds time for a visit to the Thursday Night Football desk in the future.
