Aaron Rodgers 'didn't expect' backlash to his anti-vaccination comments

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is reportedly "very unhappy" and "upset" with the backlash he's received for an interview he did on The Pat McAfee Show, according to People Magazine.

"He knew some people would disagree with him, but he didn't know that it would become the s---storm it became. People who he thought were friends are turning on him," People reported on Monday. 

Rodgers, 37, missed the Packers' Week 9 game after he was placed on the COVID-19 reserve list following a positive test. While he told media members in August that he's "immunized" against COVID-19, it was reported shortly after his positive test that Rodgers is unvaccinated. He defended that decision during his appearance on The Pat McAfee Show.

In the interview, he blamed the "woke mob" and "cancel culture" for the criticism he was facing. He said he consulted prominent podcast host Joe Rogan about medical treatments, and that he presented that "research" to the NFL to no avail.

Many prominent sports figures -- including NBA all-time leading scorer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Pro Football Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw -- have ripped into Rodgers for his comments in the interview.

Rodgers is eligible to return on Saturday, Nov. 13 so long as he's asymptomatic and tests negative. The Packers will face the Seattle Seahawks the next day on Sunday, Nov. 14.