Darla Leigh Pittman Rodgers Was an Athlete – Facts about Aaron Rodgers' Mother

Darla Leigh Pittman Rodgers, Aaron Rodgers' mother, took a little credit for her sons' nimble feet on the sports field following her very active background. Since becoming a mother, Darla Leigh Pittman Rodgers has supported her sons; however, she has a strained relationship with one of them.

After marrying her husband, Ed Rodgers, Darla welcomed three sons: Luke, Aaron, and Jordan Rodgers. The three brothers grew up in a home where sports was not forced but supported, and Darla shared that she had a little something to do with Aaron's successful career as an NFL quarterback and Jordan's brief career.

While Luke and his youngest brother regularly take to social media to celebrate their mother, Darla and Aaron have a strained relationship as the athlete cut off communication with his family years ago.

Darla Was Active in a Variety of Ways During Her College Years

After graduating from Ukiah High School in 1976, where she was a song leader and cheerleader, Darla enrolled at Sacramento University. She was a student at the university for two years before transferring to California State University, where she studied Gerontology and Stress Management.

Aside from her years as a dancer on the cheerleading team, Darla also played baseball. However, she was sure her sons' inherited the qualities she had learned while dancing. She said:

"You have to know where you are in time and space when you're dancing, and they definitely are running for their lives. They know where they are in time and space to be elusive, and I think that I kind of gave them some of that."

She was born on January 26 to Charles and Barbara Pittman, who were married for 65 years before his unexpected passing in his wife's arms in 2016. During their marriage, Darla's parents welcomed her three siblings, Valerie, Cheryl, and Chuck.

In 2021, Darla's son took to Instagram to celebrate her birthday with a picture of the mother and son slow dancing. In the caption, he revealed, in part, "You're the mom that God picked out specifically for us, and He chose so so very well."

A few days later, Darla's husband celebrated his 63rd birthday in February. And according to their son Luke, Darla was not the only parent who left a significant impact on their sons.

Luke shared, "My dad is my hero. He has modeled the best way to be a father, husband, and friend. And he's the funniest guy I know." During his university days, Darla's husband was a football player on the offensive line, and together they made athletically gifted sons.

Darla and Her Husband Were Supportive Parents

Darla and her husband have celebrated over 40 years of marriage following their April 5, 1980, wedding. In 2017, Luke took to Instagram to celebrate his parents' 37th anniversary and shared a snap of the lovebirds. In the caption, he wrote:

"You have modeled love, commitment, and faith in your marriage. I hope and pray that one day I will have a marriage like yours."

After Ed proposed to Darla, they celebrated the joyous moment with their loved ones over a formal dinner in the wine cellar of the Blue Fox Restaurant in San Francisco.

After becoming parents, Darla and her husband ensured they never forced their kids to play sports but supported them. "I think we've tried to create a real family situation, and close to our family, where our boys can talk to each other, and we can encourage each other," Ed said.

When Aaron was approached to play football for a junior college, Darla played a crucial role in the process as she first declined before she was persuaded otherwise.

After Aaron made a name for himself in the NFL, his little brother briefly followed in his footsteps before opting for the reality TV industry.

Darla and Ed Were Volunteers

Aside from raising a family, Darla and Ed were part of a volunteer group called Miesfeld's Lakeshore Weekend for Kids, which helped raise money for the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin.

After a chance encounter, Darla and her husband agreed to help the organization. "It's amazing that they came all the way out here from California," said a fellow volunteer.

Darla and Ed also followed the Christian faith, and according to Luke, they set a great example for their sons of what it meant to follow Jesus in life and their marriage.

Darla Has a Complicated Relationship With Her Middle Son

It was first reported that Aaron had cut ties with his family in 2016. At the time, rumors swirled that he had ended communication with his family because his then-girlfriend, Olivia Munn, did not get along with them.

However, following their 2017 breakup—and his engagement to Shailene Woodley—Aaron was still not talking to his family.

Reports emerged that the rift resulted from jealousy among Aaron's brothers; however, the NFL quarterback has denied revealing why he does not speak to his family. "It's just the way he's chosen to do life," Jordan said during an episode of "The Bachelorette." Luke added:

"It pains both of us not to have that relationship (with Aaron) – we miss our brother. I trust that God brings things full circle and that everything would just get back to us being a family."

While Jordan and Luke share a close relationship with their parents, during an interview, their brother revealed that he was open to the possibility of reconciliation. "I do believe in healing... but it's a different journey for all of us," he said.

In 2022, a source reported that Aaron Rodgers had started "talking a little bit” to his baby brother in an attempt to mend their relationship. However, the source also reported that there was still a divide in the family.