Aaron Rodgers. Luke Hales/Getty Images

Aaron Rodgers Gets Honest About The Drama With His Family

Originally posted on The Spun | By Matt Hladik | Last updated Dec 17, 2024 12:12 PM ET

By now, Aaron Rodgers' estrangement from his family has been a well-covered topic for several years.

The four-time MVP quarterback rarely touches on his family drama, but did open up in the second episode of the new Netflix documentary "Aaron Rodgers: Enigma," a three-part series. Among the issues Rodgers discussed was his need to "reparent himself" in the midst of the divide.

“At times when you have some dysfunction or some separation in your family life, you have to kind of re-parent yourself and give yourself what you didn’t get or wanted to hear more of when you were a kid, and I think for me, I just wanted to hear, ‘I’m proud of you,’" Rodgers said, via TMZ Sports.

"I had to find a way to be my own parent in those moments and say, 'Hey, f--- being perfect. I'm proud of who you are and what you’ve accomplished on and off the field.' And forgiveness for all the mistakes, because I was just trying to do the best I could and a lot of times it wasn't good enough."

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - OCTOBER 31: Aaron Rodgers #8 of the New York Jets stands on the sidelines during the national anthem prior to an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, at MetLife Stadium on October 31, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images

Rodgers also discussed some of what led to the rift, including religious differences, his desire for what "would be considered an alternative lifestyle," and his rising fame as his NFL career progressed.

Rodgers has also said the feud with his family is not because of his past relationships with Olivia Munn and other partners, but did say in "Enigma" that his younger brother Jordan's appearance on The Bachelorette in 2016 contributed to an already failing relationship.

"They go on a bulls--t show and leave two empty chairs," Rodgers said, referring to the two chairs at the dinner table during his brother's hometown visit. One was supposed to be for Aaron and the other for Munn.

"They all agreed this was like a good thing to do, to leave two empty chairs at a stupid dating show that my brother just went on to get famous—his words, not mine—that he ended up winning."

As deep rooted as these problems are, Rodgers didn't rule out the possibility of reconciliation down the line.

"People ask me, 'Is there hope for a reconciliation?'" Rodgers said. "I say, 'Yeah, of course. Of course.'"

"I don’t want them to fail, to struggle, to have any strife or issues," he added. "I don't wish any ill will on them at all. It's more like this: We're just different steps on the timeline of our own journeys."

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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