NFL Coach Ron Rivera Goes on Explicit Tirade Against Spread of COVID 'Misinformation'

NFL Coach Ron Rivera attacked people who are spreading "misinformation" about the COVID-19 vaccine in a new Sports Illustrated interview Monday, saying they are "leading people to die."

Rivera, the head coach of the Washington Football Team, told the magazine he finds it frustrating that people who spread COVID-19 misinformation are allowed to have a platform.

"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," Rivera said.

He pointed out the science is clear regarding the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine, and he does not understand why people are so hesitant to get vaccinated.

"They talk about all this distrust, well, if half the world wants it and can't get it, what's the problem with us? It frustrates me," he said.

Rivera recounted an instance of one of his players telling him he gets information about the virus from his phone, which Rivera said is a problem, the magazine reported.

The player informed him with "a big smile" that he received the COVID-19 vaccine, to which Rivera told him "right on," Rivera told the magazine.

"That's great," Rivera remembered saying. "Plus with the variant."

However, the player, who Rivera did not name, did not know what the variant was.

"Gen Z is relying on this," he said, referring to those who predominantly receive news from their phone. "And you got some, quite frankly, f**king a**holes, that are putting a bunch of misinformation out there, leading people to die."

Rivera, who has suffered from cancer, received his second dose of the vaccine in February. Still, he continues to wear face masks to be careful, he told the magazine. He said when players test positive for the virus, it "scares the hell out of" him.

"I interact with these guys. I'm close to these guys, and sometimes I forget to put my mask on for extra insurance," he said. "I know I'm vaccinated, and I know it's going to keep me from getting deathly ill, but I can still get it. And who knows? So I have to be careful."

Rivera has been a proponent of the COVID-19 vaccine, urging his players to get vaccinated.

ESPN reported July 31 that after two players were placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list, Rivera spoke to a number of players about vaccine hesitancy and provided them information about how the vaccine was developed.

"There is some deep thought going on from some of these guys," he said. "It's a matter of these guys being educated and understanding, because it's fair when you sit down and talk to these guys and listen to them and listen to their true concerns."

He said July 27 he was "beyond frustrated" by his team's vaccination rate, Sports Illustrated reported.

"I hope we can get to these guys, get them to understand really it's not just for them, but it's for the people around them," he said.

A spokesperson for the Washington Football Team said in a statement to Newsweek that Rivera "covered everything in the article."