Blood is thicker than water: Jordan Rodgers fiercely defends brother Aaron after years of silence

Jordan Rodgers spent years publicly separated from one of the most recognizable quarterbacks in NFL history. Now, only weeks after he and Aaron Rodgers quietly reconnected, he is defending his older brother on national television.

Appearing on ESPN’s First Take, Jordan pushed back against the early criticism surrounding Aaron ’s first two games of the 2026 season with the Pittsburgh Steelers . His argument was that the offense has been closer to clicking than the box scores indicate.

“I think if you truly watched Week 1, this was a team that was a few drops and a few missed calls away from being absolutely explosive, like we haven’t seen out of the Steelers in a really long time,” Jordan said.

“Rodgers was actually very accurate down the field,” Jordan added. “The throws that were not completed because of either a non-call or a drop down the field were on the money. Not trying to be a homer.”

That last remark drew laughs from the panel, but it also underscored how dramatically the brothers’ relationship has changed.

Jordan’s tone a striking departure from the past

Their estrangement became public in 2016, when Jordan discussed the family divide while appearing on The Bachelorette.

“Me and Aaron don’t really have that much of a relationship,” Jordan said at the time. “It’s just kind of the way he’s chosen to do life and I’ve chosen to stay close with my family and my parents and my brother.”

That distance lasted for years. Aaron revealed earlier this month on Cam Heyward’s Not Just Football podcast that the brothers had recently spoken again.

“I went out to Nashville and met with my older brother,” Aaron said. “A couple weeks after that, I met with my little brother. It was cool.”

He described the meeting with Jordan as a “tough conversation” and credited his wife, Brittani, with helping him reach a better place mentally.

“I’m in a much better headspace,” Aaron went on. “My wife deserves a lot of the credit for that just to be even able to get to that point where I could think about having the conversation.”

Pittsburgh reunion with Mike McCarthy also needs time

Jordan also discussed Aaron ’s second chapter with Mike McCarthy , who coached him for more than a decade in Green Bay before their relationship deteriorated.

“The other aspect that I think is still a feeling out process, Rodgers and McCarthy are like that ex you ended up getting back together with after a long time,” Jordan said.

“You’re like, ‘Things are better. We’re different people. We’re still trying to figure out those quirks we had when we were in a relationship.’ I think that’s going to take time.”

Pittsburgh is 1-1 entering Week 3, with Aaron completing 59.5% of his passes for 408 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Jordan’s broader message was patience.

After years when almost every public mention of the Rodgers brothers centered on their estrangement, Wednesday offered something much more ordinary, in one brother breaking down the other’s quarterback play and, almost accidentally, admitting he was rooting for him.