Out of the Darkness

The Mystery of Aaron Rodgers

By: Ian O'Connor

Narrated by: Charles Constant

Instant New York Times Bestseller

""A masterwork. ... O'Connor answers every question, deftly and deeply, that we've had about the most controversial person in America's biggest game."" —Peter King

Four-time New York Times bestselling sport biographer Ian O’Connor pulls back the curtain on four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers, delivering the definitive portrait of the legendary yet mysterious quarterback who has astonished, befuddled, yet always captivated fans of America’s #1 sport.

Aaron Rodgers is among the two or three most talented players to ever hold the most important job in American team sports – quarterback. He also stands as the most mysterious and polarizing figure in the modern-day national pastime that is professional football.

From his controversial Covid stance to his methods of spiritual awakening to his estrangement from his family to his high-profile romances to his devastating Achilles injury a mere four plays into his New York Jets career, Rodgers has long dominated the NFL’s news cycle.

At thirty-nine, in search of a challenge that would rejuvenate him, Rodgers divorced the iconic Green Bay Packers of Vince Lombardi fame for the Jets, who have not appeared in a Super Bowl since Neil Armstrong stepped on the moon. The trade made Rodgers the biggest story in the biggest league in the biggest market. By far.

That story only got bigger when Rodgers shockingly went down on the night of 9/11, in front of a packed house that roared for him when he took the field carrying an American flag, and in front of the biggest Monday Night Football audience in ESPN history, peaking at more than 25 million viewers across all platforms. Rodgers then shocked the world by pulling off the fastest recorded comeback from an Achilles tear, returning to practice eleven weeks after surgery. Remarkably enough, he would have played again in the 2023 season, at age 40, had the Jets remained in playoff contention.

Ian O’Connor uses hundreds of original interviews to pull back the curtain and answer the most penetrating questions about the league’s most enigmatic player. Just like he did in his defining bios of Bill Belichick, Mike Krzyzewski, Derek Jeter, Jack Nicklaus, and Arnold Palmer, O’Connor reveals all sides of an all-time great and delivers a portrait of a complex man that will forever shape the way he is viewed.

More than I hoped for

Without giving anything away, let me leave you with this:
I learned a lot about people and subjects I did not expect. The author did a wonderful job reading the book with out stutters or unnecessary pauses.

Sad but true

This is a very good book. There are parts of it that will make you think. About society as a whole.

The mystery remains

There’s some intriguing stuff in here, but by and large it’s a bunch of game summaries. I was interested in Rodgers relationship, or lack thereof, with Favre and was curious how and why he has no contact with family. Came away thinking fame and fortune have warped him (and Favre). Kind and generous guy who seeks attention and can be petty and vindictive. Sing his praises or else.

The incredible story

This was an incredible story about a very interesting quarterback, Aaron Rogers. From his childhood up to his 40th birthday, he’s been a very determined and hard-working athlete. This book dives into the many layers of Aaron Rodgers.

Not to bad.

I’ve never been a rogers fan but this was a pretty good book if your a fan of the game