Aaron Rodgers’s anticipated appearance on ESPN’s ManningCast generated plenty of buzz entering Monday night. So much buzz, in fact, that it apparently carried over in an unexpected way during the broadcast.
After initially going off without a hitch, the injured Jets quarterback’s guest spot alongside Peyton and Eli Manning for the 49ers-Vikings game on Monday Night Football took a turn when Rodgers’s audio suddenly began to distort.
From there, Rodgers’s voice awkwardly grew more and more robotic as he laughed at a Peyton joke and attempted to respond in kind. Instead of entertaining, however, the four-time MVP would end up driving millions of football fans crazy due to technical issues and the incessant buzzing that followed.
Aaron Rodgers is on the ManningCast, and let's just say his microphone is experiencing some real issues.pic.twitter.com/WiHpbkO0x9
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 24, 2023
Fortunately for Rodgers and the sake of the broadcast, the problem would eventually be resolved, allowing the show to carry on as normal.
Still, judging by the social media reaction, the damage caused by Rodgers's audio sounding more like a cashier in a McDonald’s drive-thru had already been done. Here are a few of the best replies to the moment online, including a word from Eli’s former Giants teammate, kicker Lawrence Tynes:
Aaron Rodgers audio appears to have done its own research at sound check.
— Kevin Van Valkenburg (@KVanValkenburg) October 24, 2023
Rodgers audio is finally fixed. Thank you Jesus. That was rough. #ManningCast
— Lawrence Tynes (@lt4kicks) October 24, 2023
Does Aaron Rodgers sound like Darth Vader?
— Matt Williams (@MattWi77iams) October 24, 2023
Or is it my tv?#ManningCast #MNF
Aaron Rodgers microphone on the Manningcast is pure trash. He must not believe in sound quality
— Herb Lawrence (@Ecnerwal23) October 24, 2023
not only is aaron rodgers anti vax he’s also anti sound system
— aaron. (@ayroned) October 24, 2023
All the money Aaron Rodgers makes he can’t use a zoom connection with good audio? Cmon #MNF #ManningCast
— Don Drew (@TheDonDrew) October 24, 2023
Aaron Rodgers left and came back, and this is how his audio sounded 😂. https://t.co/kANjIbtyVl pic.twitter.com/xVtT8nQERb
— Jack Culotta, Jr. (@TalkCulotta) October 24, 2023