Boomer Esiason ‘shocked’ by Aaron Rodgers press conference: ‘Not really what a leader should be doing’

After Aaron Rodgers blamed his game-losing interception on wide receiver Mike Williams, Boomer Esiason was less than impressed with his candor.

Rodgers took to the podium after the New York Jets 23-20 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football and publicly accused Williams of running the wrong route on his late interception that cemented their three-game losing streak. According to Rodgers, he was holding his teammate accountable. According to Esiason, it was an example of poor leadership.

On his Monday morning WFAN radio show with co-host Gregg Giannotti, Esiason expressed surprise over hearing Rodgers essentially throw Williams under the bus during his postgame press conference.

“I’m so shocked that Aaron Rodgers said what he said last night about Mike Williams.” – Boomer Esiason pic.twitter.com/eaJYlziZJD

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 15, 2024

“I don’t ever remember Tom Brady, Peyton Manning or anybody else… I don’t ever remember them ever saying anything publicly behind the podium the way that Aaron did last night,” Esiason said.

“There has to be strong personalities that are gonna will that team to win and stay together in times like this,” the former NFL MVP continued. “That’s why I’m so shocked that Aaron Rodgers said what he said last night about Mike Williams…I’m really shocked by it because that’s not really what a leader should be doing.”

While Rodgers may have displayed poor leadership by calling Williams out, the decision probably won’t cause a divide in the locker room considering the wide receiver might not have much of a role with the Jets going forward. As a matter of fact, Williams might not even be on the Jets roster much longer after he ran the wrong route and caused Rodgers to throw a game-losing interception. Tuesday morning, the Jets acquired Davante Adams from the Las Vegas Raiders and reportedly made Williams available to other teams.

The Jets responded to their loss against the Minnesota Vikings in London by firing their head coach. And they responded to their loss to the Bills on Monday Night Football by trading for Adams, continuing the trend of giving their 40-year-old quarterback what he wants, despite leading the team to a dismal 2-4 start.

[WFAN, via CBS Sports Network]