The New York Jets have nothing on Danica Patrick.
While Aaron Rodgers played a part in ruining the Jets' infamous Super Bowl-or-bust season in 2024, the ex race-car driver alleges this week that she was in an emotionally abusive relationship with the future Hall-of-Fame quarterback and that their breakup produced the worst pain of her life.
"Everything was torn to bits," Patrick said on a podcast with former ESPN anchor Sage Steele. "He leaves a trail of blood. I don’t think I’m saying too much Earth-shattering stuff ... there’s been enough out there.
"The nature of the relationship was emotionally abusive, so that wore me down to nothing."
Rodgers and Patrick dated for two years before breaking up in 2020. She claimed she was lonely during their relationship. At the time, Rodgers was quarterback of the Green Bay Packers.
Last year, of course, he decided to vacation in Egypt during Jets' minicamp and then played sporadically as the team sputtered to a 2-3 start that got the head coach and general manager fired. Rodgers is now a free agent in talks with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
"I was furthest from myself,” Patrick said. "The breakup was sudden. It felt like it was my life. So when you live with somebody, it’s your whole life. Someone that you know, people could never imagine that I would lack any confidence, or belief in the simple things about who I am."
After the breakup Rodgers dated actress Shailene Woodley, whom he met sometime during the COVID-19 pandemic. Last December he confirmed he was dating a woman named Brittani, and was recently spotted out and about wearing what appeared to be a wedding ring.
Rodgers recently said he is now in a serious romantic relationship while suggesting that his delay in moving out of free agency to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers is being delayed by his concern for people close to him who are dealing with cancer.