Aaron Rodgers’ complicated relationship with his family has been a subject of public interest for years, and recent revelations suggest that it continues to weigh heavily on the New York Jets quarterback.
According to a new excerpt from “Out of the Darkness: The Mystery of Aaron Rodgers,” a book by veteran sports columnist Ian O’Connor, Rodgers was reportedly upset by a joke made in reference to his strained family ties, which have been a source of personal turmoil for him.
The New York Post recently highlighted a section of O’Connor’s book that delves into the intricacies of Rodgers’ family dynamics. The quarterback’s rift with his family first gained widespread attention during his brother Jordan Rodgers’ appearance on The Bachelorette in 2016.
During the show, Jordan, who played briefly in the Canadian Football League, candidly mentioned that Aaron would not be part of a family gathering because they “don’t really have that much of a relationship.”
This revelation thrust the Rodgers family’s private matters into the public spotlight, leading to years of speculation and scrutiny. The situation reportedly took a toll on Aaron, who found himself the subject of jokes and comments that hit too close to home.
Craig Rigsbee, who coached Aaron at Butte Community College before his rise to NFL stardom, recalled an incident that occurred at the American Century Championship, a celebrity golf tournament Rodgers attended shortly after the Bachelorette episode aired. According to Rigsbee, someone at the event made a flippant comment, asking, “Hey, are you Jordan Rodgers’s brother?” The question struck a nerve with Aaron, who, as Rigsbee recounted, “was legitimately pissed off and shook his head.”
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Rigsbee suggested that this kind of offhand remark, while seemingly innocuous to some, touched on deeper issues for Aaron. The former coach also hinted at the challenges Rodgers has faced with people in his life who have tried to exploit his success, further straining his personal relationships. “People try to take advantage of you, and pretty soon they do other s–t, and then you get p*ssed off, and it’s a tough thing,” Rigsbee explained. “Then they talk bad about you like, ‘Oh, he’s stuck up,’ or, ‘Oh, he abandoned me.’ No, he’s f–kin’ tired of taking care of your a**.”
Rodgers’ aunt, Valerie, also shared insights with O’Connor about the quarterback’s gradual distancing from his family. She described how Aaron, who was once deeply connected with his relatives, began to change in ways that caused significant pain. “He began to show disappointing signs of no longer being the same Aaron,” Valerie said, reflecting on the growing estrangement.
Valerie elaborated on the emotional toll this separation has taken on the family, noting the profound sense of loss they have experienced. “It goes without saying that his ‘lack of communication,’ with no rational explanation or effort to overcome any misunderstandings, has caused untold pain and grief,” she said. “How devastating to have a son and brother shut you out of his life, seemingly so suddenly, with no apparent reason.”
These accounts paint a picture of a man who, despite his public success and acclaim, grapples with the private pain of fractured family relationships. Rodgers, who has spent much of his career in the public eye, now faces the challenge of balancing his professional achievements with the lingering personal conflicts that continue to affect him deeply.
As he begins a new chapter with the New York Jets, the complexities of his personal life remain a poignant undercurrent in his otherwise illustrious career.
