Aaron Rodgers’ Alienation From Brother Luke: The Alleged Cause

Aaron Rodgers‘Family feud has been making headlines for years, but the reason behind his estrangement with his older brother Luke Rodgers has remained a mystery.

Aaron, 40, reportedly had an argument with his parents, Ed And Darla Rodgerswhile I’m in a relationship with Olivia Munn. Aaron denied that Munn, whom he dated from 2014 to 2017, had anything to do with the split Ian O’Connor‘s new book, Out of the Darkness: The Mystery of Aaron Rodgerswhich hit the shelves on Tuesday, August 20.

The author also gave insight into why Aaron and Luke, 42, have been at odds since the 2010s. (Aaron and his youngest brother, Jordan Rodgershad a fight around the same time, which Jordan, 35, hinted at during his time The bachelorette in 2016.)

According to O’Connor, the feud between Luke and Aaron came to a head in May 2015 after Aaron committed to being the best man in his former teammate and college roommate. Francis Blay-Miezah‘s wedding, but reportedly pulled out the night before the ceremony.

Luke attended the wedding with his parents and later posted photos with hashtags seemingly pointing out Aaron’s absence. “#truefriendsshowup … #wouldntmissitfortheworld … #rememberwhereyoucamefrom,” Luke wrote alongside the reception photos, according to the book.

Aaron reportedly believed that Blay-Miezah “could and should have honored his request not to invite his family” to the ceremony. The NFL quarterback argued in the book that his former University of California, Berkeley teammate failed to understand “the complexity of the entire situation” when he kept the Rodgers family on the guest list.

A family friend, meanwhile, told O’Connor that the wedding was “the last straw for Luke.” According to the insider: “It was like, ‘Who are you? I don’t even want to know you anymore.’”

Before the marital accident, Luke and Aaron were “close enough to live together in Green Bay and in Del Mar,” O’Connor wrote.

Related: 8 Strange Facts We Learned About Aaron Rodgers From A New Biography

Since Aaron Rodgers made his NFL debut in 2005, his off-field exploits have made almost as many headlines as his athletic achievements. For example, consider the “dark retreat” he went through in 2023 as he debated whether to retire from football completely or simply leave the Green Bay Packers. ‘I’m still participating […]

During the early days of Aaron’s career with the Green Bay Packers, Luke was a bartender and sports marketing consultant. He later launched his clothing company Pro Merch with his partner Austin Casselmanincluding shirts with Aaron’s face on them in his team colors.

The brand eventually signed a deal with Target and agreements with Chicago’s Aaron Devin HesterSeattle Marshawn LynchHoustons Arian Foster and 49ers star Patrick Willis and more because of their name and likeness.

However, the T-shirt business quickly became a point of contention between the siblings. Aaron was “on board with Pro Merch early on, until he wasn’t,” O’Connor claimed.

Aaron claimed that he helped Luke and Casselman reach a group licensing agreement with the NFLPA, but that he was not interested in becoming a founder “because I had nothing to do with it, and [Luke] sold shirts with my picture on them.”

According to Casselman, a “Relax” shirt with Aaron’s face on it “sold tens of thousands in a short time” in 2014. Before the playoffs that season, Aaron was asked about it and said, ‘Well, I can tell you I’ve seen zero of that money,'” O’Connor said.

Luke, meanwhile, reportedly became “frustrated” when Aaron reportedly did not “contact him in a timely manner regarding the draft approval while he was in the season with the Packers.”

Aaron was reportedly “not a fan” of his brother using his likeness on the shirts, but he claimed that Pro Merch wasn’t part of the reason he wasn’t close to Luke now. Aaron told the author that their problems “started long before” they fell out over the merchandise deal.

Although Luke declined to be interviewed for the book, the author continued to delve into his issues with Aaron. In addition to the shirt battle, Aaron was reportedly “unhappy” that Luke showed up in 2012 Clean break series, a show about men who escape their everyday lives for adventure in Hawaii.

“Aaron was annoyed by the idea that Luke had to break free from his shadow after giving him financial support,” O’Connor claimed.

In the spring of 2015, Luke tried to sit down with Aaron to talk about their breakup, shortly after Aaron filmed Celebrity Danger! However, the New York Jets quarterback canceled the meeting because he had to drive then-girlfriend Munn to a movie set in the desert.

Aaron reportedly texted Luke that he was “committed to his girlfriend and unavailable to meet,” O’Connor wrote, noting that the exchange was “presumably the last communication between the two for years.”

Although Aaron and Luke remained estranged, Luke did comment on his brother’s career in March 2017. “I think he still has a lot left in the tank,” Luke said. TMJ4 at the NFL Combine at the time in Indianapolis. “Quarterback is such a cerebral position that even as you get older – look what Tom Brady it worked, your arm may deteriorate, but Aaron’s may not. Your feet may be getting slower, but I don’t think he’s slowing down either.”

Luke acknowledged that he hadn’t seen Aaron off the field in a while. “It’s hard not to talk to your brother,” he admitted. “It’s not fun. It sucks.”

Out of the Darkness: The Mystery of Aaron Rodgers is out now.