The COVID-19 pandemic ushered in an interesting and controversial era for the Green Bay Packers and the NFL in general. The 2020 NFL season was held without fans in the seats for much of the year and the league adopted strict rules regarding health and vaccination. Many players spoke out against these measures as they disagreed with the vaccines and other measures that were taken.
Of course, former Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was among the most outspoken of these critics. His comments about being “immunized” prior testing positive for COVID catapulted him to the forefront of the conversation surrounding the vaccine. As it turns out, though, he was not the only quarterback on the Packers’ roster that year who was against it.
Former Green Bay Packers Quarterback Kurt Benkert Claims He Was Cut Over a Vaccine
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Before the 2021 NFL season, the Packers signed former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kurt Benkert to their practice squad. Benkert endeared himself to fans by interacting with them on social media and even attending one family’s Fourth of July cookout.
Benkert’s time in Green Bay. however, was only limited to one season. Despite signing a future’s contract after the 2021 campaign, he was released prior to the 2022 season.
On Tuesday, Benkert insinuated that the reason the Packers did not want him back was because he would not get vaccinated:
What about being told you’d get cut from the team if you didn’t get vaccinated? https://t.co/bPOK0aw7ri
— Kurt Benkert (@KurtBenkert) June 25, 2024
To be fair, Benkert has also stated, on at least one occasion, that his departure from Green Bay was the result of his butting heads with head coach Matt LaFleur. Another time, he said it was because the Packers’ front office and leadership team did not like his social media activity.
Other Green Bay Packers Players Were Not Vaccinated, but Still Remained on the Team
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As stated previously, Rodgers was not vaccinated either. Obviously, he was not released as a result. In fact, he got a three-year $150 million contract extension after the 2021 season. When the Packers did decide to part ways with him, it was to make way for Jordan Love, not because of his views on the vaccine.
De’Vondre Campbell was another Packers player who never got the vaccine. Like Rodgers, he also signed a lucrative contract with Green Bay after the 2021 season. Also, like Rodgers, the reason he and the team eventually parted ways had nothing to do with his vaccination status. He was released due to a decline in his play and his general unhappiness with the team in 2023.
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