Hochul Office Posted Rodgers Image During Briefing

New York governor's office shared an old photo of Aaron Rodgers during the debut of White House press secretary Katie Zacharia.

Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Football

Expressive editorial sports illustration of a quarterback in motion, rendered with brush strokes and dark navy and white stadium lighting. — New York Governor Kathy Hochul's press office faced criticism after sharing an old photograph of quarterback Aaron Rodgers during a White House briefing. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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New York Governor Kathy Hochul's press account posted a photo of Aaron Rodgers carrying an American flag while White House press secretary Katie Zacharia conducted her first press briefing. The image of Rodgers, who tore his left Achilles tendon on September 11, 2023, was shared without any written explanation.

Why it matters

The post sparked immediate online criticism regarding past administrative scandals involving the governor's former press secretary, Avi Small. Observers linked the office's social media activity to the June 16, 2025, accusations of inappropriate touching that led to Small's resignation.

Aaron Rodgers played 4 offensive snaps in his 2023 season debut before suffering an Achilles injury. The White House briefing lasted for 14 minutes.

The players

Kathy Hochul

She is the Governor of New York.

Aaron Rodgers

He is a professional football quarterback.

Katie Zacharia

She is the White House press secretary.

Avi Small

He is the former New York governor's press secretary.

The details

The governor's office quoted a White House post announcing the debut of the press secretary shortly before posting the photo. No context was provided for the choice of image, which depicts the quarterback from the same day he sustained a season-ending injury during the 22nd anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

September 11, 2023: Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles tendon.
June 16, 2025: Alleged sexual harassment incident involving Avi Small occurred.
July 4, 2025: Avi Small resigned from his position.
October 9, 2026: Katie Zacharia was named press secretary.
October 13, 2026: The governor's office posted the social media image.

Season Trajectory

The social media backlash reflects a ongoing pattern of public scrutiny following the 2025 sexual harassment scandal involving Avi Small. This scrutiny continues to influence the public perception of the governor's office and its official communications.

The office's posting choice resulted in immediate negative engagement from social media users. This reaction highlights a continued sensitivity regarding the administration's past personnel controversies.

The takeaway

The governor's office faces ongoing challenges in managing its digital presence given previous administrative controversies. Readers should be aware of how official government channels can inadvertently reignite past political tensions.