Danica Patrick Recalls How “Emotionally Abusive” Her Relationship with Aaron Rodgers Was

Danica Patrick and Aaron Rodgers met each other in 2012 and started dating in 2018 but split a year after the pandemic lockdown.

Danica Patrick Recalls How “Emotionally Abusive” Her Relationship with Aaron Rodgers Was

Aaron Rodgers and Danica Patrick (Image via IMAGO)

Danica Patrick is glad that her relationship with Aaron Rodgers ended. They dated for two years, from January 2018 to July 2020. It was always on and off between the two.

Both Rodgers and Patrick are big names in their respective fields. Rodgers entered the NFL with the Green Bay Packers in 2005. He spent 18 years as the quarterback of the Wisconsin-based franchise before moving to the Big Apple.

Patrick began her career around the same time the Packers drafted Rodgers. Her first race was the Indy 300, and she went on to take part in 115 more runs. Additionally, she tried her hand at NASCAR. Her first taste was at Daytona 2010. Two years later, she met Rodgers at the ESPY Awards.

While they appeared as couples on public forums, a lot was happening behind the curtain.

And because the nature of the relationship was emotionally abusive, so that wore me down to nothing. People could never imagine that I would lack any confidence or belief in the simple things about who I am. Everything was torn to bits.

Danica Patrick said about her breakup with Aaron Rodgers on The Sage Steele Show

The tension reached a point of no return, but the breakup in 2020 left a big impression on her. She claimed it was the most painful moment of her life.

He [Aaron] leaves a trail of blood, [and] I don’t think I’m saying too much earth-shattering stuff after there’s been enough out there. [The breakup] gave me the greatest gift, which was myself. I was, like, ‘Wow.’ It gave me the greatest gift of how much I needed to show up for myself and take care of myself.

Danica Patrick added

How did Aaron Rodgers and Danica Patrick meet?

Patrick and Rodgers spoke to each other for the first time during the 2012 ESPY Awards. To Patrick’s surprise, they exchanged e-mail addresses instead of phone numbers. They kept in touch from then on.

Danica Patrick Recalls How "Emotionally Abusive" Her Relationship with Aaron Rodgers Was
Danica Patrick and Aaron Rodgers (Image via IMAGO)

Their relationship wasn’t very serious during the initial years. They slowly grew to like one another. In an interview, the 43-year-old revealed what she used to call him.

We referred to each other as Chicago and Green Bay — it was very cute.

Danica Patrick said

A year before officially going public with their romance, Patrick revealed that Rodgers was a very dependable individual who stood by her in her time of need.

You can rely on yourself, or you can also rely on those closest to you who are honest. Not people that want to tell you what you want to hear, but people that are gonna tell you what you need to hear and be honest with you.

Danica Patrick told US Weekly

Rodgers, on the other hand, claimed that the relationship was ‘great’ for him. While speaking on friend Aubrey Marcus’ podcast in 2022, the Super Bowl winner and MVP said, via PEOPLE,

I was dating Danica [Patrick], and that relationship was great for me because she is on her [own] journey, and spirituality is important to her. We both were finding our way, learning about different things [and] practicing meditation techniques.

The pair even had aspirations of marriage. However, in July 2020, they split after four years of being together. If Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift are currently the eye candy of the NFL, Patrick and Rodgers ruled gossip columns every week right before the infamous COVID-19 lockdown disrupted people’s lives.

Is Aaron Rodgers still playing football?

Rodgers dated actor Olivia Munn for three years before Patrick. However, it’s unclear whether he hooked up with anyone else after his breakup with the NASCAR legend.

The former Green Bay Packers starter is currently a free agent. Following his abrupt end to a two-year stint with the New York Jets, Rodgers is busy assessing his options.

As per sources, Rodgers is strongly linked with a move to the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, Rodgers remains AWOL but recently threw a cryptic message while attending a Mike Stud concert. Regardless, the Steelers remain optimistic that the four-time league MVP will eventually sign with them.

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