Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Considers Asking Aaron Rodgers To Be His VP Candidate

Before starting this column about Aaron Rodgers possibly being the next Vice President of the United States, I am reminded of a joke I want to use in this space because, let's face it, these next few paragraphs are bizarre and make a mockery of one of the great names in American political history.

So, anyway, I was thinking of using a good U.S. vice president joke.

But I can't recall any good United States vice presidents.

Badum-tsss.

And that's the legacy Rodgers will have to consider in the coming days and months because independent presidential candidate (he says) Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is not only considering Rodgers as his vice presidential pick, but has the New York Jets quarterback at the top of his list, according to the New York Times.

Kennedy Confirms Rodgers On List

And, I know what you're going to say next: It's the New York Times.

Fake News.

Except Kennedy Jr. apparently confirmed to the newspaper that both Rodgers and former wrestler and Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura are indeed at the top of his shortlist of candidates.

Like, this is really a thing.

It's serious. 

There's actually a kennedyrodgers.com website that has been registered in case the idea blossoms into a full-fledged campaign. So the next move here is waiting for Rodgers, who has been quite open about his support of Kennedy Jr., to say whether he'd actually be interested in the post if it were offered.

Maybe Rodgers will wave this off. Dismiss it for the ridiculous idea it is. After all, he has plenty of experience in reading defenses. But politicians need to read the mood of the entire country. They have to lead a nation to prosperity, which is a tad more difficult than leading an offense to the end zone.

So maybe Rodgers gets that. And politely declines.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 18: Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. hosts a fireside chat with rapper and producer Eric B. at The Gentleman's Factory on February 18, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by John Nacion/Getty Images)

What If Rodgers Thinks This Is Cool?

But maybe, because it would be sort of on brand for the very different person Rodgers is, the guy would want to do it.

Then all sorts of bizarre things would break loose.

Firstly, we'd have to figure out if running for VP would cause Rodgers to quit his day job with the Jets. Rodgers recently made it clear he was very motivated about playing for the Jets for "two or three or four more years."

So how would running for the second-highest office in the land jibe with playing an NFL season? The height of the presidential campaign ahead of the November election coincides with the NFL season. And Rodgers cannot take weekends off from the Jets.

So, the only way for him to consider this would be to quit playing.

Yeah, the sound you hear ringing in your ears is the laughter among Bills, Dolphins and Patriots fans.

Aaron Rodgers and the Jets are set for Hard Knocks. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images).

A Kennedy Decision Coming Soon 

The Times reported Kennedy is expected to name his running mate in the coming weeks, "ahead of deadlines in states that require him to have a vice-presidential pick to petition for ballot access."

The paper also reported Kennedy had approached a half-dozen people about their potential interest in being his running mate. And only Rodgers and Ventura have not already turned him down.

So the shortlist is, like, very short.

Now let's get crazy. Ok, crazier: Suppose Rodgers wants to do it.

So he has to go to Jets owner Woody Johnson, whose team has signed Rodgers to a contract that includes $75 million guaranteed, and tell him he's stepping away to campaign part-time. Or he's leaving the team to do the politics thing full time.

Johnson moved heaven and earth so his team could trade for Rodgers. He approved it. He went on the recruiting visit and sat in the Rodgers home in the spring of 2023. He's also a prominent donor to former President Donald J. Trump and was his ambassador to Britain.

How do you think that conversation would go?

Maybe Rodgers could break the ice with a good US vice president joke.