Aaron Rodgers reacts to Stephen A. Smith’s apology to Kyrie Irving years after COVID controversy

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Pittsburgh Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers reacted to Stephen A. Smith’s apology for Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving over COVID comments in 2021.

Irving was an outspoken critic of mandatory COVID vaccination in 2021, forcing himself to sit out of games due to New York City’s policy on mandatory vaccinations.

Smith used his platform on ESPN to launch strong criticism of Irving at the time, but his apology to Kyrie five years later led to a reaction from Rodgers, who holds similar beliefs to the NBA star.

Aaron Rodgers hails Stephen A. Smith’s apology to Kyrie Irving​

Rodgers appeared on the Pat McAfee show on ESPN, openly acknowledging Smith’s apology to Kyrie, highlighting how that proves Smith isn’t a coward who refuses to admit his past faults.

“I gotta give flowers to Stephen A Smith, because he was man enough to admit and actually apologize to Kyrie Irving. I gotta give a shoutout to my guy Stephen A. You are not a coward.”


Smith apologized to Irving in retrospect on his show recently, saying that Irving’s standing up for himself was a sign of bravery, not stubborn or selfish as Smith had characterized it in 2021.

What happened between Stephen A. Smith and Kyrie Irving in 2021?​

Irving was forced to sit out most of the 2021-22 season with the Brooklyn Nets because he refused to get vaccinated.

This led to James Harden demanding a trade, as the once title-favorite Nets completely imploded because of Irving’s COVID protest, with both Kyrie and Kevin Durant getting traded by the 2023 trade deadline.

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Smith openly criticized Irving over his vaccine refusal, begging the Nets to trade him from September 2021 onwards. He openly called Irving ‘stupid’ and advocated that the Nets not pay him his guaranteed salary.

Smith also called Irving selfish and said his actions betrayed his close friend Durant, who was forced to single-handedly carry the Nets into playoff contention with Harden traded and Irving sitting out until the mandatory vaccination rule was lifted in February 2022.

By 2025, Smith’s stance on Kyrie had softened. He now believes Irving’s actions at the time were right, showing great personal growth and vindicating Irving after he bore the brunt of that criticism for years.

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