Ron Rivera has not been shy about his feelings when it comes to people getting the vaccine. The Washington Football Team head coach recently spoke with Albert Breer of SI.com regarding the avalanche of misinformation regarding the COVID vaccine and he did not hold back.
“Gen Z is relying on this,” Rivera told Breer, referring to a phone. “And you got some, quite frankly, fucking assholes that are putting a bunch of misinformation out there, leading people to die.
That’s frustrating to me, that these people are allowed to have a platform. And then, one specific news agency, every time they have someone on, I’m not a doctor, but the vaccines don’t work. Or I’m not an epidemiologist, but vaccines are going to give you a third nipple and make you sterile. Come on. That, to me? That should not be allowed.”
The 59-year-old is immune deficient after battling skin cancer last year, so just being around a bunch of his unvaccinated players could do him quite harm.
A plea about vaccinations from earlier this month worked well as his team continues to increase its vaccination rate, jumping to 84% of its players with at least one shot.
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“It was a good step in the right direction, and we’re continuing to trend up,” Rivera said.
Before his ranting, the team had the 31st rate in the league, believed to be 70%. That would have left them 19 percentage points behind the league average.
Washington had only two players placed on the COVID-19 list last season, and neither was on the 53-man roster at the time.
