Longtime NFL Players Association leader DeMaurice Smith has publicly criticized Aaron Rodgers in his upcoming book, adding to the debate around Rodgers’ involvement during key NFL labor discussions. The revelation about Aaron Rodgers criticized in DeMaurice Smith book emerged ahead of its scheduled August release, raising questions about player-league dynamics.
DeMaurice Smith’s memoir takes aim at NFL figures
DeMaurice Smith, who guided the NFLPA as executive director from 2009 to 2023, navigated labor lockouts, charged bargaining negotiations, and frequent legal challenges with NFL owners. His forthcoming book, titled Turf Wars, offers an insider’s account of those contentious years. According to reporting from Daniel Kaplan, Smith’s critique extends to prominent players, including Rodgers, known for his vocal opposition to the 2020 Collective Bargaining Agreement while with the Green Bay Packers.
Smith highlighted his interactions with Rodgers at player meetings, describing the quarterback’s behavior as particularly difficult during high-stakes discussions. Smith’s account suggests that Rodgers’ conduct set him apart from other voices in the room.
“The god of Cheesehead Nation was isolated and dismissive. He sat in the back row of the meeting room, issuing loud sighs before standing for a dramatic exit. An incredible quarterback, to be sure, but an even more impressive antagonist,” Smith writes. “In August 2021, my phone chirped with a text from Aaron Rodgers. ‘Can you call me?’ it read. Could I not run into traffic instead?”
Smith’s book goes further, targeting several notable NFL personalities. The text describes commissioner Roger Goodell as a “cold, dark void,” general counsel Jeff Pash as “unscrupulous,” and groups NFL owners together as a “cabal of greedy billionaires.” These comments highlight the complex power struggles and clashing personalities that shaped Smith’s NFLPA tenure.
Rodgers focuses on building rapport with Steelers
Aaron Rodgers, now with the Pittsburgh Steelers as of June, is preparing for his final NFL season by bonding with new teammates. With training camp weeks away, the 41-year-old quarterback has been spotted in Malibu, California, arranging off-field workouts to strengthen squad chemistry.
Rodgers outlined his plans publicly during a recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, inviting teammates to join him for private training sessions in Los Angeles. The invitation was part of his effort to cultivate on- and off-field relationships with key Steelers players. Those reported at the workouts include Ben Skowronek, Calvin Austin, Roman Wilson, Pat Freiermuth, Scotty Miller, and DK Metcalf.
“I know coming out to Malibu might not be that high on everybody’s list. But we do have some guys coming out next week. So it’ll be fun to spend a little time with them,” Rodgers said. —Aaron Rodgers, Quarterback
The gathering drew attention as Rodgers’s images with his new teammates surfaced, signaling a new chapter in his career. With Rodgers indicating that 2025 may be his last NFL season, Pittsburgh fans hope these early bonding efforts pay off with strong on-field results.
Significance of Smith’s revelations and Rodgers’s next steps
The leak of Smith’s pointed criticisms has reignited conversations about leadership and individuality within the NFL’s high-pressure environment. For Rodgers, the shift to a new team and his approach to team dynamics is under closer scrutiny as he prepares for what could be a final season. Meanwhile, veterans like Ben Skowronek, Calvin Austin, Roman Wilson, Pat Freiermuth, Scotty Miller, and DK Metcalf will look to form strong connections with their new quarterback.
As the release of Turf Wars approaches, its in-depth accounts of player and league personalities are likely to shape ongoing debates about power, unity, and tension across the NFL landscape. Both the public and those inside organizations such as the Green Bay Packers, Pittsburgh Steelers, and the NFL Players Association will be watching for further details and fallout from Smith’s candid disclosures.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Are Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers friends?
A. Aaron Rodgers explained that, over time, he and Tom Brady became friends. Both of them enjoy the Kentucky Derby and attended it for several years.
During these events, Rodgers and Brady would each bring their own friends to Churchill Downs. Their groups would sit at tables next to each other.
Q. How did Aaron Rodgers get so rich?
A. Over about 20 years in the NFL, Rodgers has made around $380 million, based on Spotrac’s numbers. He has also brought in extra money through deals with big companies and by starting an investment firm called RX3.
Q. Is Aaron Rodgers an introvert?
A. Aaron Rodgers tends to keep to himself and does not share much about his personal life with others.
He prefers to live in a way that is private and not very open to the public.
Q. Do the Jets still owe Aaron Rodgers money?
A. Some people think the $49 million in “dead money” means the Jets still have to pay Aaron Rodgers, even after he leaves. This is not correct. The $49 million is actually money the Jets already paid Rodgers, but for salary cap reasons, it shows up in future years.