Aaron Rodgers and his father have taken the first step towards reconciliation: years of discord
9 august 2024 в 21:02
After almost a decade of estrangement from his father, Aaron Rodgers shared that they took a small first step towards reconciliation.
The quarterback for the New York Jets reportedly had been estranged from his parents, Ed and Darla, and his two brothers, Jordan and Luke, since 2014. He had not seen them since the end of the Green Bay season in 2014.
Last summer, before his debut with the Jets, 40-year-old Ed bought a ticket to see his son at the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament at Lake Tahoe, as reported by the New York Post on August 8.
According to a story in a book written by Ian O’Connor, Aaron, unaware of the visit, saw his father on the way to the bathroom. He thought about avoiding him, but ultimately decided that a confrontation with his father would be the best solution for both.
«I could have done a lot of things», - Aaron explained. «But I just thought, 'What would be best in this moment, and what gift could I give him?' Because I love him. I have no animosity towards him, even with everything that was said and done».
Aaron greeted his father with «Hi, Dad», - before they embraced.
Ed, taken aback by his son’s direct approach, explained: «It had been so long that we hadn’t even looked at each other. I just kind of froze».
They exchanged «I love you’s», - which, according to Ed, «was amazing», - and he began to cry as his son left to finish his golf game.
After the game, Aaron told his caddy and longtime friend Jordan Russell: «I think that was what needed to happen». He reiterated this thought to O’Connor later, saying: «It was a special moment», - and added that he believes the path to reconciliation with his family will be through his father.
The long-standing strained relationship between father and son is linked to Aaron’s former girlfriend, Olivia Munn, whom the family believed was responsible for the discord in their home — an assertion that both Aaron and Olivia denied. Ed told The New York Times in 2017 that «fame can change things», - describing his relationship with Aaron as «complicated».
Ed and Darla, with Aaron’s consent, attended their son’s debut with the Jets against Buffalo last year on September 11 and continued to occasionally attend Packers games, even after Aaron stopped communicating with them
The quarterback for the New York Jets reportedly had been estranged from his parents, Ed and Darla, and his two brothers, Jordan and Luke, since 2014. He had not seen them since the end of the Green Bay season in 2014.
Last summer, before his debut with the Jets, 40-year-old Ed bought a ticket to see his son at the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament at Lake Tahoe, as reported by the New York Post on August 8.
According to a story in a book written by Ian O’Connor, Aaron, unaware of the visit, saw his father on the way to the bathroom. He thought about avoiding him, but ultimately decided that a confrontation with his father would be the best solution for both.
«I could have done a lot of things», - Aaron explained. «But I just thought, 'What would be best in this moment, and what gift could I give him?' Because I love him. I have no animosity towards him, even with everything that was said and done».
Aaron greeted his father with «Hi, Dad», - before they embraced.
Ed, taken aback by his son’s direct approach, explained: «It had been so long that we hadn’t even looked at each other. I just kind of froze».
They exchanged «I love you’s», - which, according to Ed, «was amazing», - and he began to cry as his son left to finish his golf game.
After the game, Aaron told his caddy and longtime friend Jordan Russell: «I think that was what needed to happen». He reiterated this thought to O’Connor later, saying: «It was a special moment», - and added that he believes the path to reconciliation with his family will be through his father.
The long-standing strained relationship between father and son is linked to Aaron’s former girlfriend, Olivia Munn, whom the family believed was responsible for the discord in their home — an assertion that both Aaron and Olivia denied. Ed told The New York Times in 2017 that «fame can change things», - describing his relationship with Aaron as «complicated».
Ed and Darla, with Aaron’s consent, attended their son’s debut with the Jets against Buffalo last year on September 11 and continued to occasionally attend Packers games, even after Aaron stopped communicating with them
© Kolganov Andrey
