Aaron Rodgers revealed that he is not sure if he will read In Ian O’Connor’s highly anticipated biography of his life, however, there is one chapter the quarterback definitely plans to read.
The star of the New York Jets discussed the book – Out of the Darkness: The Mystery of Aaron Rodgers – scheduled for release later this month, on WFAN’s morning show hosted by Boomer Esiason and Gregg Giannotti.
“I think he went up to 500 people and talked to maybe half of them,” Rodgers said during Tuesday’s interview.
“I congratulate him for the time he devoted to it, but it is not a book I asked him to write for me.”
However, the signaller explained that he learned new facts about his paternal grandfather, Edward Rodgers, a decorated World War II fighter pilot who is the subject of the first chapter.
Aaron Rodgers hopes to read about his grandfather in a new biography
Edward Rodgers, a World War II pilot, is the subject of a chapter in Ian O’Connor’s new book
“(O’Connor) sent me a copy (of) a war crimes tribunal that was held (where) my grandfather was able to testify before the war crimes commission,” Aaron said.
“The best part is that he had to give me a lot of information about his past, so I was able to learn things about my grandfather, like where he lived,” the athlete continued, noting that he never realized his grandfather had attended the University of Texas at Austin.
“I value that kind of research,” he added.
O’Connor previously revealed that Edward completed 43 successful missions against Hitler’s war machine before being shot down by the Germans.
He was then captured and beaten as a prisoner of war in horrific conditions.
He is also remembered for saving his 10-man crew from their burning, bullet-riddled B-24 and flying it back to their base in Italy on St. Patrick’s Day 1944.
Edward recalled that he was flying his damaged planes “all alone over Germany. It was the loneliest feeling in the world.”
“It’s not a book I asked him to write for me,” the Jets quarterback said of the author.
Aaron also admitted that some of the stories about his life may not be “based on many facts.”
After being released in 1945, he welcomed his son, Ed Jr., 10 years later.
Although Aaron said he looks forward to reading that particular chapter, he’s not quite sure about the rest of the book.
“I’m sure some interesting stories will emerge from this,” he said of the biography.
“And they’re not based on a lot of facts, to be honest.”
“There are stories that I’m sure are true, there are stories that are exaggerated over time. There are stories that are true from people’s perspectives,” Rodgers said. “He (O’Connor) was trying to do a very good job of getting the full picture, but you have to put it all in context. I don’t know what kind of book he’s going to write.”