In a surprising twist, NFL icon Aaron Rodgers shared some pointed criticism towards the stars of the USA’s gold medal-winning men’s hockey team.

Last month, both the American men’s and women’s hockey teams celebrated their triumphs over their longtime rivals, Canada, during the Winter Olympics held in Milan. Their victories brought home the gold, stirring national pride and jubilation.

However, it wasn’t just the on-ice performance that caught Rodgers’ attention; it was the post-victory celebrations that sparked his critique. A particular moment in the locker room seemed to ruffle the quarterback’s feathers.

Shortly after their win, FBI Director Kash Patel made an appearance in the locker room. In a somewhat unconventional twist, he was seen chugging beers alongside the team. Adding to the spectacle, Patel facilitated a phone call with former President Donald Trump, who extended his congratulations to the victorious players under coach Mike Sullivan.

Rodgers, appearing on The Pat McAfee Show this week, did not hold back his disapproval, particularly questioning Patel’s presence.

“Can we get that one guy out of the locker room though and get him working on something else? That’s a bad look. Come on, have some awareness,” Rodgers remarked, clearly indicating his belief that the celebration could have been handled more appropriately.

NFL legend Aaron Rodgers criticized Kash Patel for joining Team USA’s celebrations

The FBI director appeared to chug beers with the gold-medal winners in the locker room 

McAfee came to Patel’s defense, insisting that the FBI director was an avid hockey fan and even played himself in a beer league. 

However, the former-punter-turned-host did appear to suggest that Patel should have been focusing his attention on his job rather than partying with the athletes.

‘I was shown some presentations of some potential happenstances taking place at that exact moment, and then what happens? Especially with what the world has got  going on at the moment,’ McAfee added, seemingly referring to the joint US-Israel strikes on Iran that took place less than a week after the gold medal game. 

Despite his criticism of the celebrations, Rodgers did seem proud of the USA for bringing home the gold medal and of goaltender Connor Hellebuyck being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom during the State of the Union address.

Patel – an amateur hockey player and avid fan – had flown into Italy ahead of the game on a government jet. His journey to Europe, which could have cost taxpayers up to $75,000, sparked a backlash – despite the FBI insisting: ‘It is not a personal trip.’

A video, shared on social media by outlets including ProPublica and the Washington Post, appears to show Patel drinking and spraying a bottle of beer. He then bangs on  a table and celebrates wildly before a gold medal is draped over his neck.

The FBI director had earlier posted pictures from inside the locker room. He posed alongside Sullivan and a number of players including Jack Hughes, who scored the goal that secured gold.

The photos and videos have sparked fury among many Americans, given the FBI’s claims that this was a business trip. His journey to Italy also came at a time when law enforcement was involved in a number of high-profile cases such as the search for Nancy Guthrie and the death of a gunman shot at Mar-a-Lago.

Patel is pictured inside the locker room alongside Team USA hockey stars after the victory 

Patel took pictures with a number of players after they secured Olympic glory in Milan

But Patel later posted on social media: ‘For the very concerned media – yes, I love America and was extremely humbled when my friends, the newly minted Gold Medal winners on Team USA, invited me into the locker room to celebrate this historic moment with the boys – Greatest country on earth and greatest sport on earth.’ 

He had earlier written, alongside a selection of pictures of him enjoying the postgame party: ‘Unity, Sacrifice, Attitude – what it takes to be the best in the world.

‘These men live and breathe it. Now Team USA are gold medal champions, legends standing on the shoulders of giants. Thank you for representing the greatest country on earth, in the greatest game ever created.’

Meanwhile, Trump’s phone call to the men’s team also sparked controversy after the president made a ‘misogynistic’ joke at the expense of the USA women’s team.

Trump invited them to the State of the Union before warning them he’d invite the women’s team, too, otherwise he’d be impeached.

His gag was met with laughter by the US players, something they’ve been roundly criticized for ever since. The US women’s team, who also beat Canada to win gold in Italy, rejected the invitation from Trump and said they had other plans in place that could be rescheduled at short notice.