Aaron Rodgers Responds to Danica Patrick’s Claims of Being “Depressed” During Their Relationship

More than six years after their split, Aaron Rodgers and Danica Patrick’s relationship is back in the headlines. The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback addressed his former relationship with the retired race car driver during a sit-down with teammate Cam Heyward on the “Not Just Football” podcast, offering his side of a breakup that Patrick has previously described very differently.

What Rodgers Said

Rodgers, who has said this could be his final NFL season, told Heyward that Patrick was going through a difficult period when they were together, shortly after she stepped away from full-time racing. He described the relationship as having lost its spark toward the end, but said he stayed because he was trying to be supportive rather than walk away.
He also pushed back directly on how Patrick has characterized their split, saying her version paints him as a far worse partner than he believes he was.

The Malibu House and Counseling

According to Rodgers, tension between the two came to a head over a house purchase. He recalled Patrick asking whether he wanted to buy a home in Malibu together, and he said no. That conversation reportedly led the couple into couples counseling. Not long after, the COVID-19 lockdowns hit, and the two found themselves stuck together at a time when their relationship was already strained.They ultimately ended things in July 2020.

Patrick’s Side of the Story

This isn’t the first time either side has spoken publicly about the relationship. Last year, Patrick appeared on Sage Steele’s podcast and offered her own account, describing the relationship as emotionally difficult and saying the breakup left her feeling blindsided. She has previously used strong language to describe how the relationship affected her emotionally in the years since.
Rodgers directly disputed that characterization during his conversation with Heyward, saying it doesn’t match his memory of what happened between them.

A Familiar Pattern of “He Said, She Said”

Breakups that play out across separate interviews, months or years apart, rarely offer a full picture — and this one is no exception. Both Rodgers and Patrick have now shared their own versions of what went wrong, and neither account fully lines up with the other. It’s the kind of public back-and-forth that’s common after high-profile relationships end, especially when both people involved have large platforms of their own.
Bottom Line
Six years after their split, Rodgers and Patrick still don’t agree on what happened between them — and this podcast appearance made that more public than ever. As Rodgers heads into what he’s calling his final NFL season, this is far from the first time he’s addressed his past relationships publicly, and it likely won’t be the last time this particular story resurfaces.

Source: Heavy.com — “Aaron Rodgers Fires Back at Danica Patrick Over Explosive Breakup Claim”