You Might Be Surprised By 'The Office' Star's Friendship With Aaron Rodgers

LOADINGERROR LOADING“The Office” alum Brian Baumgartner is a loyal off-the-field teammate of New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers.“He has a really big heart and is very caring,” the actor told Us Weekly in a story published Thursday.“I am proud to say that he’s a friend.”Advertisement Baumgartner, who played Kevin on the workplace sitcom (2005-13), said he met Rodgers at a golf tournament in 2008 and the then-Packers standout attended Baumgartner’s 2014 wedding.Rodgers has piled up controversies in recent years, from his vaccine skepticism and lying about his inoculation status, to reportedly advancing conspiracy theories.But Baumgartner has his back.“The way he’s misunderstood, I think people tend to think of him as a disgruntled or unhappy person,” the actor told Us Weekly.

“He’s not that.”Advertisement Baumgartner and Rodgers attend a pre-SAG Awards party in Los Angeles in 2013.Michael Buckner via Getty ImagesRodgers’ subpar play for the Jets in a 5-12 season didn’t win him much love from fans either, but Baumgartner was pleased to see his strong performance in the Jets’ season-ending victory over Miami.We Need Your SupportOther news outlets have retreated behind paywalls.At HuffPost, we believe journalism should be free for everyone.Would you help us provide essential information to our readers during this critical time? We can't do it without you.Can't afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again.

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