NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers has offered a new account of his breakup with actress Shailene Woodley, disputing parts of the public narrative surrounding their engagement and separation.
During a September 10 appearance on Not Just Football with Cam Heyward, Rodgers said he proposed to Woodley in December 2020 and that she accepted.
He claimed she removed her engagement ring by March 2021 and said the pair later made unsuccessful attempts to reconcile.
Rodgers also challenged reports describing their relationship as ending in 2022. He said there was no relationship left to formally end that year, claiming Woodley had already told him in 2021 that she did not want to continue the relationship.
Woodley has previously described the period around the breakup differently without publicly addressing the specific allegations Rodgers made on the podcast.
In an interview with Outside, she said discussing the relationship remained emotional and described it as “not right” but “beautiful.”
She also spoke about experiencing severe depression and anxiety after what she called a traumatic experience in early 2022.
Woodley said she had lost her sense of self and happiness and described remaining in what she characterized as a toxic situation because of empathy for another person.
Rodgers also discussed his previous relationship with NASCAR driver Danica Patrick. He disputed Patrick’s description of their 2020 breakup, saying their relationship had become distant and lacked intimacy before they separated.
Patrick previously told the Sage Steele Show that the breakup was sudden and described the relationship as emotionally abusive. She said the experience ultimately helped her focus on herself.
Rodgers criticized what he called inaccurate narratives about his former relationships and urged his ex-partners to stop discussing him publicly.
Extra reported that requests for comment had been made to Rodgers, Woodley and Patrick, with no response reported at the time.
