Boy Meets Hero, Aaron Rodgers, Thanks To Kindness Of Strangers

DANVILLE, CA — Chase Miller, 11, has dressed up as Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers for two Halloweens in a row. His 10th birthday party was Packers-themed. His bedroom is covered in Packers memorabilia. Chase wears his Packers jersey even when his team isn't playing in the Super Bowl.

Mom Kristen Miller said she's not exactly sure how the Rodgers obsession started, but Chase is all in. Now he'll have an autographed Packers jersey to hang on his wall, a memory of one of the best days of Chase's life, she said.

Rodgers was playing at the Pebble Beach Pro Am Golf Tournament this month and Miller decided to surprise Chase, let him skip a day at San Ramon Valley Christian Academy and take him to the tournament for a chance to catch a glimpse of his hero on Feb. 6.

It turned out to be a special and memorable day for both mother and son, thanks to the help of strangers, Miller said.

"It was this big kumbaya moment," she said.

Volunteers helped the Millers get a better spot to watch the tournament. From there, Miller said they met a local photographer who had a connection to Rodgers and thought he might be able to get the NFL star to meet Chase. Some moms captured the moment for them.

Rodgers approached Chase, who held his hat out for an autograph, Miller said. Rodgers patted him on the back, started to walk away and Chase began to tear up.

"It's OK," Miller told her son, trying to comfort him.

Rodgers heard her, turned around and embraced Chase, thanked him for being a fan and asked Chase what his name was.

He was speechless, Miller said.

"There was not a dry eye around us when he walked away," she said.

As the tournament wore on, the Millers followed Rodgers around from hole to hole. He gave them golf balls, including an autographed ball, and took another picture with Chase after he had a moment to compose himself, she said.

Rodgers thanked Chase — a gentle giant, Miller said — by name for coming out to support him.

"Great job mom," Rodgers told Miller.

The encounter was featured on Sports Illustrated, the local Monterey Herald paper and TV station KTVU.

It was a magic moment all thanks to the kindness of random people who wanted to make her son's day, Miller said.

"He's the best kid ever," she said. "I'm lucky to be his mom."

Patch is collecting stories about random acts of kindness in California. Got one to share? Send your story to courtney.teague@patch.com.