Free agent NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers is using his platform and downtime to quietly help aspiring professional golf athletes advance their careers with generous donations.
French uses his social media platform to tell the stories of players chasing their golfing dreams, while raising direct monetary donations to help them out.
The majority of funds raised come through his X following, however to his surprise, Rodgers—a longtime golf fan—was avidly keeping tabs on the livestreams French hosted that covered major golf events.
“Aaron has been super good behind the scenes to me. I had streamed the Scottsdale Open [in May 2020], which I think was the only sporting event going on in the world at the time,” French said.
“And you could see who came in to watch the stream, and it said Aaron Rodgers, and I was like, oh, it’s a fake account. And then, maybe a couple of weeks later, he messaged me. I was like, ‘What the hell is happening?’”
Despite being known for his NFL career, Rodgers has participated in several celebrity golf tournaments and charity events, showcasing his passion for the sport.
He has also taken the time to keep up with French and athletes on his professional radar to make donations.
“He’s been super nice. He wants to keep this on the down-low, so now I’m going to tell it on the pod,” French said.
“I’ve tried my best to help players, or if they get their car stolen or need money, whatever, and he’ll just message me and be like, ‘Hey, is this a good dude or a good player?’ And I’d be like, yeah. And he would either Venmo me money and I then would Venmo the player or he would do it anonymously on GoFundMe.”
Rodgers was a first-round NFL draft pick in 2005 by the Green Bay Packers, spending 18 seasons with the team before being traded to the New York Jets in 2023.
