The Rodgers family drama took an interesting turn over the weekend.
After the Packers axed head coach Mike McCarthy on Sunday, quarterback Aaron Rodgers celebrated his 35th birthday with a murder mystery party, attended by girlfriend Danica Patrick and — cue for dramatic effect — his parents.
Speaking with Packers.com, Rodgers touched upon McCarthy’s firing after 13 seasons in Green Bay, in addition to his birthday festivities.
“I mean, I found out, I’m sure, the same way that most of you found out. I was at home with my folks in town for my birthday. When I found out, I was as shocked as many of you were, I’m sure,” Rodgers said, via SportsGossip.com.
Rodgers, who has long been entangled in a bitter battle with younger brother Jordan, 30, was recently scolded by his sibling on social media, after the quarterback asked fans to help those affected by the California wildfires.
“PLEASE DONATE, SPREAD AWARENESS & SEND LOVE,” Jordan, an SEC analyst for ESPN, tweeted last month. “But when your own Mom is home alone during the fires, car packed ready to evacuate, & you miss the fundamental first step of compassion; calling your parents to make sure they are safe …Everything else just feels like an act.”
The bad blood between Rodgers and his family became a prominent plot point on “The Bachelorette” back in 2016, when Jordan competed to win the affections of his now-fiancée, JoJo Fletcher. Tensions appeared to escalate after patriarch Ed Rodgers spoke to the New York Times in early 2017.
“Fame can change things,” Ed noted.
Perhaps with the holidays ahead, the frost between Rodgers and the rest of his family can melt away.