Aaron Rodgers Takes Shot at NFL Medical Chief After Jalen Hurts News

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts will miss the rest of the 2026 season after doctors found blood clots in his lungs. The team announced the diagnosis on Monday, shocking fans across the country. What made the news even more surprising was that Hurts had played in a game in London just days before. Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was asked about the situation and hinted that he wasn't shocked, pointing to his own long-running disagreements with the NFL's top medical official.

Doctors first found a small blood clot near Hurts' left calf using an ultrasound scan. They reviewed the results and said he was safe to play in the London game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. But later tests showed a much more serious problem — blood clots had formed deep inside his veins and had traveled to his lungs. This condition is known as deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary emboli, and it can be life-threatening if not treated quickly.

The NFL Players Association, which is the group that represents pro football players, has called for a full investigation into how the situation was handled. They want to know why Hurts was cleared to play when early signs of a clot were already there. Both the Eagles and the NFL have defended the doctors' decisions, saying they followed proper medical steps. Still, many people inside and outside football are asking hard questions about player safety.

Rodgers spoke carefully when asked about the situation, saying he didn't know all the details. But he made it clear that he has had disagreements with the NFL's chief medical officer, Dr. Allen Sills. 'This guy in charge of all things medical at the NFL office, he and I haven't always seen eye-to-eye about things,' Rodgers said. He added that because of that history, he couldn't say he was very surprised by what happened.

Rodgers' biggest public fight with the NFL over medical rules happened in 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic. He had described himself as 'immunized,' but it later came out that he had never received the COVID-19 vaccine. Instead, he worked with doctors he chose on his own and followed a different treatment plan. The NFL and the Players Association did not accept his plan as equal to vaccination under the league's rules.

Because he was considered unvaccinated under NFL rules, Rodgers had to follow stricter protocols during the 2021 season. He spoke out publicly against those rules, saying he didn't think they were backed by solid science. He also argued strongly for his right to make his own medical decisions. That battle left him with a deep distrust of the league's medical leadership.

Rodgers did not directly blame Dr. Sills or the Eagles' medical staff for what happened to Hurts. He kept his words measured and admitted there was a lot he didn't know. Even so, his history with the NFL's medical office made his meaning pretty clear to most listeners. His comments added even more attention to an already troubling story about one of football's biggest stars.