Copyright New York Post
The Vikings condemned the racist comments cornerback Isaiah Rodgers received after Minnesota lost to the Eagles, 28-22, on Sunday, saying that the organization was “disgusted.” Rodgers posted screenshots of messages to his Instagram account, which included ones from a fan that had the N-word in them and one that read the cornerback was “worse than Hitler.” When Rodgers wrote the fan back — and they backed down and apologized. Addressing the issue, Rodgers wrote on X that “Racism is real” and called on fans to “keep football, football.” “That’s not even the worst I’ve seen,” he added. “We are disgusted by the racial slurs directed at Isaiah Rodgers following yesterday’s game,” the Vikings said in a statement on Monday. “As we have said previously, there simply is no room for racist words or actions in sports or society. We support Isaiah and all players who, unfortunately, experience this type of ignorant and prejudicial behavior far too often, and we ask our fans to continue to fight to eliminate racism.” Smith, in the middle of his fifth year in the NFL, caught the ire of fans after covering DeVonta Smith on his 79-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter as well as the defender on A.J. Brown when he made a 45-yard catch in the fourth quarter. Smith didn’t shy away from the criticism following the game, telling reporters that he had signed with the Vikings “for a reason” and that “those type of plays I know I can make, so, I put it on me.” The Vikings signed Rodgers to a two-year deal worth up to $15 million during the offseason. He’s shown just how good he can be this year, as he scored two defensive touchdowns, forced two fumbles and three tackles during Week 3 against the Bengals. Smith had spent his first three years with the Colts before spending the 2024 season with the Eagles.
