Philadelphia Eagles
Heading into his 22nd and likely last NFL season, at this point, it’s well-known that Aaron Rodgers is unapologetic about what he talks about off the football field.
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From his training camp appearance on «The Pat McAfee Show,» to political and social commentary on other platforms and interviews, Rodgers has proven willing to offer his thoughts about many topics. On a recent podcast episode with Steelers teammates, that continued.
Rodgers was a recent guest on Cam Heyward’s «Not Just Football» podcast. In the aftermath of that appearance, clips of the Steelers quarterback discussing everything ranging from past relationships to President Donald Trump went viral.
Here’s everything Rodgers had to say in his most recent media appearance.
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Aaron Rodgers podcast interview
Heyward released the episode with Rodgers over two episodes, both of which can be found below.
What did Aaron Rodgers say about Shailene Woodley?
Rodgers has rarely spoken about his past relationships, but he seemed to make an exception for Heyward’s show. The four-time NFL MVP was engaged to actress Shailene Woodley until early 2022.
Rodgers spoke about the timeline of his engagement to Woodley, alleging that she expressed interest in being intimate with another unnamed man prior to their wedding.
“I proposed to Shailene and she said yes. Now, she maybe felt like she was forced to make a decision. She could have said no,” Rodgers said. “A couple days after that she tells me, ‘Before we get married, I gotta go f— this guy,’ and I’m like — because her story is that I ruined her life and gave her crazy depression because I left her. But the actuality is, she told me that and then she took off the ring by March — I proposed in December — and we had a couple of times where we tried to get reunited and nothing ever happened. There wasn’t even a relationship in ’22 to break off.»
Aaron Rodgers says his ex-fiancée, actress Shailene Woodley, told him she had to go «f**k this guy» days after they got engaged.
«But not a couple of days after that, she tells me, you know, before we get married, I got to go f**k this guy.»
«Her story is that I ruined her life… pic.twitter.com/bgzDhDqBNp
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) September 10, 2026
Rodgers also said Woodley was the one to end their relationship, saying, «She literally told me ‘I don’t want to be with you’ after we tried to have some sort of reconciliation in 2021.»
“I’m actually a good partner. I don’t wish you any harm … and Shai, you left me, you took the ring off. What are we talking about regarding me ruining your life?”
Why did Aaron Rodgers and Shailene Woodley break up?
Rodgers and Woodley got engaged in December 2021, but broke up by March 2022.
For the most part, it’s remained unclear why the two broke up; Woodley has also not spoken publicly about her relationship with Rodgers.
However, in 2024, she told Outside magazine that «I haven’t shared much about my relationship with Aaron because it always makes me cry. It was not right. But it was beautiful.» She also said she had a «really awful, traumatic thing happen in early 2022» and «felt like I lost my soul, my self, my happiness, my joy,» but chose to stay in a «toxic situation.»
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What did Aaron Rodgers say about Danica Patrick?
Woodley wasn’t the only ex-relationship Rodgers addressed on the podcast. The quarterback also spoke about his time with former professional racing driver Danica Patrick.
Rodgers said of Patrick that after she had recently retired, she «was depressed and not fun to be around. But I didn’t leave her because I was trying to be there and be a good partner.»
He also addressed Patrick’s 2025 comments in an interview, in which she alleged her relationship with Rodgers was «emotionally abusive» and that he «leaves a trail of blood.»
«I’m like: ‘What are you talking about? That is not what happened by any means,'» Rodgers said.
Aaron Rodgers reflected on his relationship with Danica Patrick, admitting that there was “zero intimacy” towards the end of their romance. https://t.co/iO4VupdZ9D pic.twitter.com/dWWmpOjKrC
— E! News (@enews) September 10, 2026
The quarterback spoke generally about both Patrick and Woodley, saying the two got attention for speaking about Rodgers.
“The height of their fame was when they were with me,” Rodgers said. “They get clicks when they say my name, just like the idiots on TV because I am a lightning rod, because people actually give a s— and there is a silent majority that’s like, ‘I like this guy, he stands for something.’ There’s a group of people that are like, ‘I like the old guy.’ … Stop talking about me, you’re not relevant, move on with your life. You’re lying.»
How long did Aaron Rodgers date Danica Patrick?
Rodgers and Patrick were together for around 2.5 years, from January 2018 until July 2020.
What did Aaron Rodgers say about Donald Trump?
Rodgers had plenty of political thoughts on the show as well. He mentioned Trump’s «Make America Great Again» campaign, saying Trump has not «done any of his campaign promises.»
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«There is no MAGA movement,» Rodgers said. «You think something’s gonna actually change. When Obama was president, it was, ‘There will be hope and change for a better world.’ Has anything in the Black community gotten significantly better? Is anybody better off? Did the Affordable Care Act make a major difference in the world besides being an extra tax for the rich?»
«And then, ‘Trump’s gonna come in and drain the swamp and do something,’ and nothing happens. … Politics is a total sham.»
Aaron Rodgers, holding nothing back, explains why he doesn’t trust anyone in government — right or left — and believes it’s all a sham.
“There is no MAGA movement. The guy you elected hasn’t done any of his campaign promises. … When Obama was president, it was, ‘There will be… https://t.co/co9U4xt1ve pic.twitter.com/N6c8IiA8WK
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 10, 2026
He spent some time talking about when he said Colin Kaepernick was one of the 64 best quarterbacks in the league — arguing that Kaepernick deserves to be on a roster — but noted the «hypocrisy» in media.
«President Obama sent me a hand-written note. And everybody loved that part. They enjoyed my takes. Mina Kimes had me to her house for a feature that I did. Like, all these people were my friends in the media — until I came out against COVID. And said, I’m not gonna stand for this,» Rodgers said. «When somebody has an argument and all they can ever [do] is attack your character instead of the content of what you’re actually saying, you know you’re on the right side of things.
Rodgers also said that players who were not vaccinated were treated «inhumane» and «as second-hand citizens,» once again speaking out against Dr. Anthony Fauci, calling him an «absolute criminal.»
The quarterback also said that on a phone call with «the head doctor of the NFL,» the doctor called him a «conspiracy theorist» for asking about how the disease was being spread.
«So many guys on our teams had fake vax cards,» he said.
#Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers explains how he went from being a media darling when he spoke about Colin Kaepernick and received praise from President Obama to becoming a villain once he spoke out about COVID and Dr. Fauci.
(📽️ @notjustfootball with @CamHeyward) pic.twitter.com/aoyVCdNdRd
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 10, 2026
Did Aaron Rodgers ever endorse Donald Trump?
Rodgers has never explicitly endorsed or expressed his full support of Trump’s administration.
However, his closest political alignment came in 2024, when the quarterback supported Robert Kennedy Jr. in the presidential race prior to Kennedy becoming the Secretary of Health and Human Services in Trump’s administration.
Greg Jennings-Aaron Rodgers beef
Rodgers also addressed some past criticism from former Packers teammates Greg Jennings and Jermichael Finley. Jennings, now an analyst with FS1 after playing with Rodgers in Green Bay, including a Super Bowl win together, has often had public takes that are anti-Rodgers, calling out his leadership style.
While Rodgers didn’t name Jennings specifically with Heyward, he made it clear who he was talking about.
«I have two teammates who spoke out about me years ago. Two teammates out of all the people that ever played with me,» Rodgers said. «One was bitter because he went to another team and never became a player again. And the other was just not a smart person. That one hurt me more than the other one, because I spent so much time with that guy. I mean literally, the night before games, I would up in his room for an hour, helping him with the plan, checks, everything I was going to do.»
Aaron Rodgers allegedly called out former teammates Greg Jennings and Jermichael Finley, via @NotJustFootball:
«One was bitter because he went to another team and never became a player again. And the other, was, just not a smart person.»pic.twitter.com/VE7GHMHACV
— Underdog NFL (@UnderdogNFL) September 10, 2026
Aaron Rodgers ESPN media criticism
Rodgers, who also spoke about ESPN’s lack of coverage of the Dianna Russini-Mike Vrabel scandal when he was on «The Pat McAfee Show» in August, once again brought up his thoughts on how the network handled the story.
«I love Pat [McAfee] and he’s done more for [ESPN] than any other horrible show they have on there. … But I also said you’re a gutless organization because they haven’t said anything. They spend so much time on certain issues but you won’t talk one second about the Dianna Russini situation? What just happened? Let’s see, the owner of the 49ers solicited a prostitute for $140 in Ohio. That literally was the number one topic when you click on ESPN.com,» Rodgers said. «They will rotate the eight stories or whatever they have, but they usually have like the one story that’s featured. That was the featured story. So you bring in how many millions of eyes to that situation. Why do you want to throw Jed York under the bus? I don’t know.
But does that have the same effect as a reporter who has intimate relations with a coach, who has a vote for MVP, has a vote for coach of the year? I don’t know if she’s on the Hall of Fame or not, but there’s voting stuff. … There are a lot of insiders out there. Do they all have strong integrity? I don’t know. But the fact that ESPN spent zero time on that story, but Jed York gets popped in San Fran, it’s literally at the top of their [site], it’s hypocrisy.»
«The NFL’s gonna protect its shield, and I respect that. But they’re gonna do it by all means necessary.»
Aaron Rodgers on Dianna Russini and ESPN:
“I also said your a gutless organization because they haven’t said anything. They spend so much time on certain issues but you won’t talk one second on the Dianna Russini situation. What just happened let’s see the owner of the 49ers… pic.twitter.com/389CmxhH0v
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— Matthew Luciow (@matthewluciow92) September 10, 2026
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