Jordan Rodgers publicly backed his older brother Aaron Rodgers as the AFC quarterback he would trust most in the playoffs.
The ESPN college football analyst, 38, made the surprise pick Wednesday on “First Take” when asked to choose among the conference’s signal-callers including Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow and Trevor Lawrence. Jordan selected Aaron, 42, the Pittsburgh Steelers veteran who is the oldest of the group.
“This one might surprise you a little bit,” Jordan said. “I’m gonna go Rodgers, and here’s why. I think Josh Allen is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL right now. Him and Caleb Williams are right up there for me. The Steelers know who they are, though.”
Jordan emphasized Pittsburgh’s formula for protecting its aging quarterback. “They have an elite defense that’s playing at a high level, and they run the freaking ball,” he continued. “So they’re asking less of Aaron than maybe he ever has at any point in his career, right?”
The “Bachelorette” alum then cited Aaron’s accumulated experience as the decisive factor. “I just feel like I trust the guy that’s got the MVPs, that has the veteran status, that’s seen everything, that is also not required everything of him for them to win,” he explained. “I think that’s a good sweet spot they’re in.”
The on-air endorsement marks a notable public moment between siblings whose relationship has been marked by years of tension. A source said last month that Jordan and his wife, JoJo Fletcher, are only “cordial” with Aaron. “It seems like Aaron has led the public to believe things are better than they actually are with Jordan,” the source said.
Aaron himself has addressed the fractured family dynamics, particularly the rift that exploded into public view when Jordan appeared on “The Bachelorette” in 2016 and revealed their estrangement to viewers. Speaking to the Athletic in August, Aaron threw pointed shade at his younger brother without naming him directly. “I’ve been really staunch, going back to when there was a schism, that I feel like that stuff should be off limits,” he said. “Now, not everybody in the family adhered to the same thing.”
Aaron added at the time that certain experiences had shifted his perspective. “But there are different things, situations, experiences, and people that actually change your life,” he said, declining to specify Jordan by name.
Despite the lingering frostiness suggested by the outlet source, Aaron claimed in September that the brothers had reconciled. Appearing on the “Not Just Football” podcast, he said the family had come “full circle.” “Now, full circle, [we’re] back together,” he shared. “It’s amazing. It’s been great to have all those people — my little brother, my older brother and his family, my parents — that’s been really, really special.”
The quarterback’s family reunion first surfaced in July when he posted photos with parents Darla and Ed alongside older brother Luke, noting in the caption that the group was “bonding.” Jordan was conspicuously missing from those images.
Aaron’s careful wording on the podcast — specifically including “my little brother” in a list of reunited relatives — appeared designed to counter the narrative of ongoing division. Yet Jordan’s own measured description of their connection, through the outlet source, suggested the repair remains superficial.
The “First Take” segment offered Jordan a platform to demonstrate solidarity without directly addressing the personal history. His football analysis stood on its own merits while simultaneously serving as a rare public acknowledgment of his famous sibling.
The Steelers are scheduled to face the Baltimore Ravens in an AFC North matchup this Sunday.