CHAPTER ONE A Pro Quarterback in the Making Aaron Charles Rodgers was born on December 2 1983 in Chico California His parents Edward Wesley Rodgers and Darla Leigh Pittman Rodgers had three sons Luke then Aaron then Jordan Aaron posed with his family left to right brother Jordan father Ed mother Darla and grandparents Barbara and Chuck Pittman after being named Most Valuable Player in Super Bowl XLV 6
A Pro Quarterback in the Making The father Ed Rodgers a chiropractor by profession played offensive guard at Chico State University 1973 76 From 1978 to 1981 he played semi-professional semi-pro football for the Twin City Cougars in Marysville California Twin City won the semi-pro national championship in 1980 Aaron and his brothers obviously were motivated to play football by their father But looking back Aaron cites other qualities and examples handed down by both parents as being important to his successful career I am blessed that my dad is a chiropractor he was quoted as saying in an article in the Chiropractic Advantage Getting adjusted regularly along with practicing other good health habits that my mom helped me to establish are all part of my goal to win in life and on the field The family members have said Aaron inherited his deft footwork from his mother Aaron’s mother was a dancer when she met his father A Three-Year-Old Armchair Quarterback Rodgers’s parents recall that by the time he was three Aaron would watch an entire football game on television sitting captivated and motionless He quickly claimed for his favorite NFL team the San Francisco 49ers propelled to championships during those years by quarterback Joe Montana It soon became apparent the child had physical talent as well as mental aptitude for the game At the age of five Aaron was tossing the ball through the center of a swinging tire As he watched his 49ers on TV he could understand some of the formations in which they lined up All three brothers were eager to play football Their father however would not let them try out until they entered high school He worried that they would be injured acquire bad athletic habits or simply burn out before they reached the point at which they could begin to progress in skills 7
Pro Football Hall of Famer Joe Montana quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers 1979 92 was one of Aaron’s football heroes 8 AARON RODGERS SUPER BOWL MVP
A Pro Quarterback in the Making QUICK FACT Chico was the family’s home except Aaron as a child began collecting football player cards He developed his early math skills by studying the statistics printed on the back for a brief period when Aaron was in middle school During that time the Rodgerses relocated to Oregon where Ed attended chiropractic school While there although forbidden to play football Aaron played Little League baseball He took turns at center field shortstop and not surprisingly pitcher Beginning His Gridiron Career Making the football team at Pleasant Valley High School in Chico Rodgers demonstrated he was not just a competent quarterback he had the makings of greatness In his junior and senior seasons combined he passed for 4,419 yards In his final year he completed passes for 2,303 yards a school record He was selected to the all-section team both years He also was a pitcher on the Pleasant Valley baseball team Aaron attended Pleasant Valley High School in Chico California Besides being a quarterback for the Pleasant Valley Vikings he also pitched on the school’s baseball team 9
