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Aaron Rodgers appears to reunite with estranged family in latest 'bonding' Instagram post originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
It's been a whirlwind of a few years for Aaron Rodgers, but for the first time since 2022, he is entering the season both with the same team as the previous year and without coming off a major injury.
The Steelers quarterback could also have his family by his side as he plays out what he says will be the final season of his Hall of Fame career.
Long estranged from his family, including both of his parents, Rodgers now appears to be reigniting those bonds after posting heartwarming pictures to Instagram on Monday.
Here's what you need to know about Rodgers reuniting with his family and what was at the root of their trouble.
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Aaron Rodgers Instagram post
Rodgers posted pictures of himself with his mom, dad, brother and niece on Monday, captioning the slideshow, "Another bonding week #fam."
For many others, nothing would be notable about pictures with family. For Rodgers, it could mark the end of a long stalemate between himself and his family.
Here's more to know about Rodgers' relationship with his parents and siblings.
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What happened with Aaron Rodgers and his family?
Rodgers and his parents were estranged for more than a decade. While Rodgers' parents celebrated with him on the field after the Packers won Super Bowl 45 in early 2011, they had a falling out at some point in the years that followed and weren't known to have fully reconnected with their future Hall of Fame son until Monday's post.
Rodgers has also been estranged from his brothers, Jordan and Luke. When Jordan appeared on "The Bachelorette" in 2016, the then-Packers quarterback was notably absent. In one scene at the Rodgers family home, two chairs were left empty, alluding to the quarterback's absence. While talking about the elephant in the room, Rodgers' father said, "Fame can change things."
In 2024, eight years after the episode aired, Rodgers was still upset about the situation. "They go on a bulls— show and leave two empty chairs," Rodgers said in a Netflix documentary. "They all agree that this was a good thing to do, to leave two empty chairs on a stupid dating show that my brother just went on to get famous?"
Jordan, notably, was not included in any of the pictures Rodgers posted Monday.
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In recent years, Rodgers still expressed interest in reuniting with his family.
His father purchased a ticket in 2023 to a celebrity golf tournament Rodgers was competing in, in hopes of starting to reconcile their relationship. In a book, Rodgers said he spotted his father and decided to speak to him.
"I just thought, 'What’s best in this moment, and what kind of gift could I give him?' Because I do love him," Rodgers said. "I don’t have animosity toward him, even with all the stuff that’s been said and done."
The two briefly embraced and told each other, "I love you," though their relationship remained tenuous.
"Every time I think it’s getting closer some weird things happen," Rodgers said in 2024. "But I would like a relationship with my dad for sure."
Aaron Rodgers family
Aaron Rodgers dad: Ed Rodgers
Rodgers' father, Ed, was an offensive lineman at Chico State University in California and continues to live and work in the area as a chiropractor.
After Ed went out of his way to try to reconnect with his son in 2023, photos posted by Rodgers show the two appear to be making strides in their relationship.
Aaron Rodgers mom: Darla Rodgers
Rodgers' mother, Darla, keeps a low profile as well, but she can be seen hugging her son tightly in the photos posted Monday.
In rare public comments, Darla and Ed said in 2024 that Rodgers' ex-girlfriend, actress Olivia Munn, disrupted what was a "great relationship" they had with their son by sowing doubt in his head about their true intentions.
"I can think about showbiz families that, like the Kardashians, climb all over each other for fame and stuff like that," Darla said. "But that’s not our family. Nobody did that.”
Aaron Rodgers brother: Jordan Rodgers
Rodgers' brother, Jordan, played quarterback at Vanderbilt and is a college football broadcaster for ESPN.
It was Jordan's appearance on "The Bachelorette," which he won, that served as a powder keg for Rodgers' already fractured family relationship to blow up. Rodgers took offense to the way his absence was portrayed on the show, and even eight years later he said his brother just went on the show "to get famous."
Jordan was not included in any of Rodgers' photos showing the quarterback reuniting with his family on Monday.
Aaron Rodgers brother: Luke Rodgers
Rodgers' other brother, Luke, avoids the spotlight much more than Aaron and Jordan, but he appears to be reconnecting with the quarterback. Photos posted Monday show Rodgers sitting next to Luke and holding hands with Luke's young daughter.
Luke invited Rodgers to his wedding in 2015, but Rodgers chose not to attend because their parents would be there. Luke appeared to take a shot at Aaron with an Instagram hashtag "#truefriendsshowup" when he posted photos from the wedding, and the two did not have a relationship in the years that followed.
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