Aaron Rodgers’ “Enigma” documentary series takes viewers deep into the world of the quarterback

Aaron Rodgers’ “Enigma” documentary series takes viewers deep into the world of the quarterback

In the new documentary “Aaron Rodgers: Enigma,” the New York Jets quarterback takes viewers deep into his world.

In three hour-long episodes arriving on Netflix on Tuesday, Rodgers comes across as a hyper-competitive athlete who struggled with fame after winning the Super Bowl in 2011, which led to an identity crisis that led to him turning against family and organized religion rebelled. He discovers his true self on a spiritual journey that involves psychedelics – or “plant medicine,” as he puts it.

In the second episode, we see Rodgers at an ayahuasca retreat in Costa Rica last offseason, smoking a huge pipe, drinking a brownish liquid that looks like muddy water, dancing, playing the bongos, and, upon appearing, the metamorphosis of a caterpillar into one Butterfly describes glassy eyes and quite dizzy (wink, wink).

Rodgers has spoken about his interest in ayahuasca and how it has influenced his life and career, but it’s something entirely different to see him take part in a real ceremony. You may not agree with his views or approach to life, but it’s a captivating picture.

“It’s the hardest medicine I’ve ever tried,” he says during the documentary. “It’s a deeply intense spiritual journey.”

The documentary tells his life story and incorporates his Achilles tendon injury in 2023 and strenuous rehab into the narrative. From a footballing perspective, there are no bombastic revelations. The most intriguing storylines involve things off the field, particularly his infamous estrangement from his family. Rodgers rarely talks about his personal life, which is what makes this so fascinating.

Rodgers says he only saw his father, Ed, cry once, which he said led to “stunted emotional intelligence.” Rodgers also says that he “grew up in a very white, dogmatic church, and that just didn’t really help me. The structure was very rigid.”

The rift reportedly began in 2014, a few years after Rodgers achieved superstar status with the Green Bay Packers. He says he is “hurt” because his family told him: “Your life is too big.”

“It wasn’t like I was super close to everyone in the family,” he says. “It’s actually about things from high school that made me feel distant. Things from college, things after college. And I kept quiet about it. Because I thought the best way to do it was just not to talk about it publicly. And what are they doing?”

Rodgers blames his family for making the rift public when his younger brother Jordan appeared on “The Bachelorette” in 2016. The home visit to meet the family, a staple of the TV series, still annoys him.

“You go to a bull—show and leave two empty chairs,” Rodgers says. “You all agree that was a good thing, leaving two empty spots on a stupid dating show that my brother just became famous on?”

Rodgers says he was never invited and wouldn’t have come anyway.

No one from the family is interviewed in the documentaries. To clarify, Rodgers says he’s open to reconciliation, but adds, “We’re at different stages of the timeline in our journeys.”

Rodgers is a self-proclaimed perfectionist who struggles with this. He says, “There’s something wrong with me because I’m not perfect.” He grew up in Chico, California and dreamed of being a Super Bowl MVP. When he reaches this goal at the age of 28, he asks himself whether there is more to life than playing football, which is the catalyst for his spiritual journey.

The documentary delves into his COVID-19 controversy in 2021, when he responded to a question about his vaccination status: “Yes, I’m vaccinated.” It exploded when he tested positive and missed a game, causing a crash led. “A witch hunt,” he calls it.

Rodgers talks about his future in football, although he gives no concrete indication of whether he plans to play in 2025.

“There is a football legacy and there is a character legacy,” he said in an interview before the season. “The legacy of football is cemented by the Hall of Fame. The characters’ legacies are cemented every day and are much more important to me.”

“It could be the last year,” he says. After a pause, he looks into the cameras and says, “Or it might not be.”

Enigma, indeed.

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