Aaron Rodgers is talking back to Danica Patrick about his history with her and her explanation of breaking up. On the "Not Just Football" podcast on September 10, 2026, Rodgers discussed Patrick and her struggles with him during their relationship and refuted her account of how things unfolded.
What Rodgers Said
Rodgers told Heyward that he had been dating Patrick for a few months since she retired from professional racing, and she at the time was suffering depression. He said that although he felt the relationship had a lack of intimacy and sparks, he remained in the relationship as he wanted to be a good partner.
He also shared a particular moment when he was in the market for a Malibu home: when he rejected Patrick's idea of buying the home together. From there, Rodgers said, was the turning point at which the relationship was headed. Afterwards, the two attempted couples counselling but when COVID-19 struck, they were left to fend for themselves as things went haywire.
Rodgers flatly rejected Patrick's account of being blindsided and of him leaving her in emotional shards, saying he didn't recognize her version of events.
The claims made by Rodgers were responses to what he was told?
It's not as if Rodgers had no reason to say what he did. The relationship came up for the first time in public when Patrick was a guest on Sage Steele's podcast in 2025, when she stated that Rodgers had left behind a "trail of blood" when their relationship ended and that he was "emotionally abusive." She explained that she felt the split occurred all of a sudden in 2020 and that it was one of the most painful experiences of her life.
This is a "he said, she said" moment: Rodgers' latest comments come in the wake of that interview, which is now a public record of both sides' accounts of the breakup of a relationship that ended more than five years ago.
The Bigger Picture: Rodgers' Own Admission
Notably, Rodgers didn't only talk about Patrick. He shared his own emotional state as well at the time. He said he met Brittani now his wife back in 2017, just before she relocated to Europe. His greatest regret, he said, was not asking her to stay or proposing at the time. That regret left him "emotionally unavailable" for about seven or eight years afterward, he said, a period that overlapped with his relationship with Patrick and his later, publicized engagement to actress Shailene Woodley.
Although the relationships didn't last, Rodgers said those years in his life, including the one he had with Patrick, were valuable to his personal growth. He and Brittani's relationship was rekindled, and they quietly got married in 2025.
Timeline: Aaron Rodgers and Danica Patrick
There are now two conflicting narratives from Rodgers and Patrick about the relationship. Patrick has described the dynamic as emotionally abusive, and Rodgers has challenged that characterization, offering his own interpretation based on his mental and emotional state at the time. Neither account has been independently substantiated, and as of the time of writing, Patrick hasn't publicly responded to Rodgers' latest remarks.
FAQ
In what year did Aaron Rodgers and Danica Patrick date?
They dated from 2018 to 2020, splitting around the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Why did Aaron Rodgers and Danica Patrick break up?
Both have given different explanations. Rodgers has cited a lack of intimacy and connection, while Patrick has said the relationship was emotionally abusive and that the split happened suddenly.
What did Danica Patrick say about Aaron Rodgers?
In a 2025 podcast interview with Sage Steele, Patrick described the relationship as "emotionally abusive" and said Rodgers left a "trail of blood" in his wake.
What did Aaron Rodgers say about Danica Patrick?
On "Not Just Football" on September 10, 2026, Rodgers said Patrick was "depressed and hard to be around" during their relationship, but that he stayed because he wanted to be a good partner.
Does Aaron Rodgers have a wife?
Yes. Rodgers married Brittani, whom he first met in 2017, in 2025.
Does Danica Patrick have a reply to Rodgers' comments?
Not published as of this writing.
Related Reading: Aaron Rodgers' Final NFL Season: Everything We Know So Far for readers who want more on the context behind his "Not Just Football" podcast appearance.
What Rodgers Said
Rodgers told Heyward that he had been dating Patrick for a few months since she retired from professional racing, and she at the time was suffering depression. He said that although he felt the relationship had a lack of intimacy and sparks, he remained in the relationship as he wanted to be a good partner.
He also shared a particular moment when he was in the market for a Malibu home: when he rejected Patrick's idea of buying the home together. From there, Rodgers said, was the turning point at which the relationship was headed. Afterwards, the two attempted couples counselling but when COVID-19 struck, they were left to fend for themselves as things went haywire.
Rodgers flatly rejected Patrick's account of being blindsided and of him leaving her in emotional shards, saying he didn't recognize her version of events.
The claims made by Rodgers were responses to what he was told?
It's not as if Rodgers had no reason to say what he did. The relationship came up for the first time in public when Patrick was a guest on Sage Steele's podcast in 2025, when she stated that Rodgers had left behind a "trail of blood" when their relationship ended and that he was "emotionally abusive." She explained that she felt the split occurred all of a sudden in 2020 and that it was one of the most painful experiences of her life.
This is a "he said, she said" moment: Rodgers' latest comments come in the wake of that interview, which is now a public record of both sides' accounts of the breakup of a relationship that ended more than five years ago.
The Bigger Picture: Rodgers' Own Admission
Notably, Rodgers didn't only talk about Patrick. He shared his own emotional state as well at the time. He said he met Brittani now his wife back in 2017, just before she relocated to Europe. His greatest regret, he said, was not asking her to stay or proposing at the time. That regret left him "emotionally unavailable" for about seven or eight years afterward, he said, a period that overlapped with his relationship with Patrick and his later, publicized engagement to actress Shailene Woodley.
Although the relationships didn't last, Rodgers said those years in his life, including the one he had with Patrick, were valuable to his personal growth. He and Brittani's relationship was rekindled, and they quietly got married in 2025.
Timeline: Aaron Rodgers and Danica Patrick
- 2018: Rodgers and retired IndyCar and NASCAR driver Danica Patrick go public as a couple after meeting at the ESPY Awards.
- 2020: The relationship ends around the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 2025: In an interview on Sage Steele's podcast, Patrick calls the relationship "emotionally abusive."
- 2025: Rodgers marries Brittani, whom he first met in 2017.
- September 10, 2026: On the "Not Just Football" podcast, Rodgers answers Patrick's allegations, giving his own version of events and what led to the breakup.
There are now two conflicting narratives from Rodgers and Patrick about the relationship. Patrick has described the dynamic as emotionally abusive, and Rodgers has challenged that characterization, offering his own interpretation based on his mental and emotional state at the time. Neither account has been independently substantiated, and as of the time of writing, Patrick hasn't publicly responded to Rodgers' latest remarks.
FAQ
In what year did Aaron Rodgers and Danica Patrick date?
They dated from 2018 to 2020, splitting around the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Why did Aaron Rodgers and Danica Patrick break up?
Both have given different explanations. Rodgers has cited a lack of intimacy and connection, while Patrick has said the relationship was emotionally abusive and that the split happened suddenly.
What did Danica Patrick say about Aaron Rodgers?
In a 2025 podcast interview with Sage Steele, Patrick described the relationship as "emotionally abusive" and said Rodgers left a "trail of blood" in his wake.
What did Aaron Rodgers say about Danica Patrick?
On "Not Just Football" on September 10, 2026, Rodgers said Patrick was "depressed and hard to be around" during their relationship, but that he stayed because he wanted to be a good partner.
Does Aaron Rodgers have a wife?
Yes. Rodgers married Brittani, whom he first met in 2017, in 2025.
Does Danica Patrick have a reply to Rodgers' comments?
Not published as of this writing.
Related Reading: Aaron Rodgers' Final NFL Season: Everything We Know So Far for readers who want more on the context behind his "Not Just Football" podcast appearance.