Aaron Rodgers had barely finished signing his one-year deal when the debate over whether he still deserves a national conversation reignited.
The trigger was a rant on ESPN’s “First Take” on May 19 from Michael Wilbon, who called Rodgers “irrelevant” and took aim at his own network for its incessant coverage of a quarterback he believes no longer warrants it. Two days later, the 16-time world champion Ric Flair, sitting between a pulmonary doctor and a surgeon, watched the clip and decided he had heard enough.
Ric Flair Defends Aaron Rodgers After Mike Wilbon’s Critique
Flair did not ease into his rebuttal. The 77-year-old WWE legend posted directly to X on Thursday afternoon, making his position clear in the first sentence.
“I Am Currently Sitting With Two Doctors — One A Pulmonary Doctor And Another One, A Surgeon. We Are Watching Mike Wilbon Crack On Aaron Rodgers. I Don’t Know Why Anyone Would Call Him The Godfather. You Remind Me Of Paul Finebaum — Another Expert Idiot Who Has Never Worn A Jock Strap In Their Life,” Flair said. “I Hope Aaron Rodgers Passes For 4,000 Yards And Throws 30 Touchdowns, And Then He Calls You Up On The Phone And Says GFY!”
Flair’s specific frustration appears rooted in a fundamental disagreement over who should evaluate players — former athletes who have competed at the professional level, or analysts who have not. His reference to Paul Finebaum, the SEC-focused commentator who draws similar criticism from former players, frames Wilbon as part of a class of media figures whose credibility Flair openly questions.
Wilbon appeared on “First Take” on Tuesday and delivered what became one of the more talked-about media moments of the week. Directing his criticism at ESPN itself rather than at Rodgers, Wilbon said: “He’s irrelevant now. What makes him relevant now? This network talking about him every day, day in, day out, hanging on as if they’re waiting for Patrick Mahomes three years ago. He’s not LeBron James. He’s not Tom Brady.”
Wilbon was careful to distinguish between Rodgers the player and Rodgers the current story, saying he was criticizing ESPN’s coverage rather than the quarterback’s career. He acknowledged Rodgers is a first-ballot Hall of Famer. None of that landed softly enough for Flair.
A few hours after the initial post, Flair followed up with a clarification that broadened his argument considerably. He walked back any suggestion of personal disrespect toward Wilbon while doubling down on the core point.
BE AN NFL GM: PFSN’s Ultimate GM Simulator
“Let Me Clarify — I Didn’t Say I Don’t Respect Mike Wilbon,” Flair wrote. “I Just Disagree With His Opinion. Ryan Clark, Dan Orlovsky — They Have Participated In The Sport On A High Level. Everybody Has An Opinion. It’s Not A Lack Of Respect. And FYI — Stephen A. Smith, Who Has The Most Popular Sports Show In The World In My Opinion, Calls Aaron Rodgers A BAD Man! 4x MVP, I Mean Come On.”
The distinction Flair draws is the same one former players have been making about media criticism for years. Clark, who spent 13 seasons as an NFL safety, and former NFL quarterback Orlovsky are named specifically as voices whose opinions carry weight because they played the game. Wilbon, whatever his standing as a journalist and commentator, cannot claim the same credentials.
For Rodgers, now 42 and entering what he has confirmed will be his final NFL season, the debate is more complicated than either side is willing to acknowledge.
He led Pittsburgh to a 10-7 record and an AFC North title in 2025, and re-signed for one year at a $22 million base salary with incentives up to $25 million. According to PFSN’s NFL QB Impact Metric, Rodgers posted an impact score of 71.1 last season, ranking 29th at his position, which gives some credence to Wilbon’s football argument.
