5 NFL players who have publicly opposed the COVID vaccination protocol

The NFL’s COVID vaccination protocol has been a statistical success and has provided endless fodder for the media from a public relations perspective. According to the AP, 94.1% of players are vaccinated, while 100% of team and league personnel are vaccinated.

But it’s the other 5.9% that make the loudest noise. The NFL’s COVID protocol imposes stiffer penalties and longer quarantine time before returning to the team and team facilities. Regardless, the policy that heavily incentivizes players to vaccinate has not sat well with all NFL players. Some have spoken out publicly via the media or on their Twitter accounts.

The following lists 5 NFL players who made waves by speaking out against the NFL’s COVID protocol.

NFL players who refused to get vaccinated

#5 - Cole Beasley, WR, Buffalo Bills

Cole Beasley has been a household name. But after his comments regarding the NFL’s COVID protocol, he was the voice of the players who opposed the protocol. In a tweet, he wrote:

“Everyone — Hi, I’m Cole Beasley and I’m not vaccinated! I will be outside doing what I do. I’ll be out in the public. If your scared of me then steer clear, or get vaccinated. Point. Blank. Period. I may die of covid, but I’d rather die actually living.”

Whether he likes it or not, Beasley will forever be linked to this small piece of NFL history. He recently deleted his Twitter account so he may find a different sort of freedom, one away from the noise of social media.

#4 - Montez Sweat, DE, Washington Football Team

In June, the Football Team brought in an immunologist who helped create the Moderna vaccine to come to speak to the team and address any questions or concerns they might have about the COVID-19 vaccine. Despite her credentials and expertise on the matter, Montez Sweat was still skeptical:

"I'm not a fan of it," Sweat said [. . .] of the vaccine. "I probably won't get vaccinated until I get more facts and that stuff. I'm not a fan of it at all.”

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins

#3 - Leonard Fournette, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

“Playoff Lenny” is also “No Jab Lenny.” The Buccaneer’s starting RB also tweeted out earlier this year his thoughts on the vaccine:

“Vaccine I can’t do it . . .”

His tweet was deleted shortly after that. In September, head coach Bruce Arians later disclosed that every Buccaneers player, coach, and personnel are 100% vaccinated.

#2 - DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Arizona Cardinals

The star wide receiver of the Arizona Cardinals was one of the first notable NFL players to voice their concerns and displeasure with the NFL vaccination protocol. In a tweet, Hopkins stated his thoughts on the matter:

“Never thought I would say this, but being put in a position to hurt my team because I don’t want to partake in the vaccine is making me question my future in the NFL.”

He would delete that tweet soon after.

#1 - Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers

Of the 5.9% (of apparently unvaccinated NFL players), you cannot get a bigger voice against the vaccine than the reigning league MVP. Aaron Rodgers made waves on and off the field when he had to sit out the superstar matchup between the Green Bay Packers and the Kansas City Chiefs because of testing positive for COVID-19.

Because he was unvaccinated, his time to return was longer and he was forced to sit out. If he doesn’t produce two negative tests 24 hours apart and clear hurdles by Sunday, Week 10, he could miss another game against the Seattle Seahawks.

Rodgers took his shots off the field and called out all the critics who took their shots at him when appearing on his regular stint with The Pat McAfee Show.