Inside the Personal Life of Jets Heartthrob Aaron Rodgers, Who Is Single with No Kids at 40

He keeps the focus on his career while navigating the public’s curiosity surrounding his romantic relationships and family dynamics. Over the years, the football player has faced more than just public scrutiny over his relationships. In 2013, rumors about his sexuality surfaced, leading to speculation that he was gay.

However, he quickly dismissed the claims, calling the situation “disrespectful” to the LGBTQIA+ community. Rodgers reflected on this subject in a 2024 interview for Ian O’Connor’s biography, “Out of the Darkness: The Mystery of Aaron Rodgers.”

The quarterback explained, “I think I was upset at the framing [of the rumor] because it was meant to shame the idea of being gay, and I have so many friends that are gay in the community.”

Rodgers was referring to a Milwaukee radio interview from over a decade ago when he felt compelled to publicly address his sexuality early in his NFL career.

Eleven years later, despite stating that he “really, really like[s] women,” the sportsman still expresses frustration over being asked about his sexual orientation in the first place.

Despite the speculation surrounding his sexuality, Rodgers has been romantically linked to several women. One of his most notable relationships was with actress Shailene Woodley.

The couple navigated the challenges of a long-distance relationship early in their romance, with Rodgers playing for the Green Bay Packers in Wisconsin.

During this time, an insider shared that they “kept things private and low-key,” allowing their relationship to grow away from the public eye.

Rodgers and Woodley’s relationship seemed to take a serious turn when, in February 2021, the NFL star accepted his MVP award and subtly revealed their engagement by thanking his bride-to-be.

Shortly after, Woodley confirmed their engagement during an interview on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” noting that they had been “engaged for a while” before the public caught wind of it. She couldn’t help but express her admiration for Rodgers, describing him as a “wonderful, incredible, human being.”

Their bond appeared strong, with Woodley, who is eight years younger, continuing to speak fondly of Rodgers throughout 2021. In a July interview that year, she expressed her deep connection to him, saying, “I have the perspective that I would have met Aaron in any context, any space in time, because I feel we were meant to be together.”

Rodgers and Woodley had always handled their relationship in their own unique way. By December 2021, an insider revealed, “They have a different, non-traditional relationship,” shedding light on how they made things work.

However, by February 2022, the couple ended their engagement, just a year after making it public. Although they were seen spending time together afterward, their on-off relationship officially came to an end in April 2022.

A source disclosed, “Shailene felt everything was on Aaron’s terms and it wasn’t making her happy.” Despite the breakup, the split was described as amicable, with an insider noting that their relationship simply wasn’t working.

The two were said to be very different people with demanding careers, and they faced challenges they couldn’t overcome. However, they intended to remain friendly, with no bad blood or drama between them.

Following his split with Woodley, Rodgers was romantically linked to Mallory Edens in January 2023. Edens, the daughter of Wes Edens, one of the Milwaukee Bucks’ primary owners, had been good friends with the quarterback for a while.

According to a source, their relationship was more than just friendship, but nothing serious at that time. It was described as casual, with Rodgers not in a rush to dive into anything, preferring to keep things low-key.

The pair had been seen together at Bucks games on several occasions, sparking speculation about their connection. In August 2023, when Rodgers made his much-anticipated debut with the New York Jets, he had a familiar face cheering him on.

Edens showed her support by sharing a photo from MetLife Stadium on her Instagram Stories, where she watched her rumored boyfriend in action from the stands.

At 28 years old, the model shares a similar age gap with Rodgers, much like his previous relationship with Woodley. They have a 12-year age difference.

Though Rodgers has remained unmarried and without children, he has openly expressed his desire to become a father. During a March 2021 Instagram Live with Zenith Watches’ then-CEO, Julien Tornare, he shared that many of his friends from high school and college had started families.

The athlete added that while fatherhood might not be on the immediate horizon for him, it was something he eagerly anticipated. He reflected on how he had taken care of himself for 37 years and looked forward to the joy of caring for another life. Rodgers described fatherhood as his “next great challenge” and admitted it was something he had “always dreamt about.”

The sports star’s anticipation of fatherhood seems well-founded, as those close to him have already praised his natural ability with children. According to O’Connor, author of a New York Times bestseller, friends of the athlete have spoken highly of his interactions with kids.

However, Rodgers’ reported ease with children contrasts with the strained relationship he has with his own family. He has been estranged from his parents and siblings since 2014, a painful rift that has left them out of his life for years.

In an August 2024 interview, O’Connor shed light on this ongoing family tension, explaining that multiple factors contributed to the fallout, largely due to a “he said, she said” dynamic.

O’Connor also noted that Rodgers’ family partly blames his former girlfriend, Olivia Munn, for the estrangement. However, the journalist disagreed, pointing out that seven years after their breakup, the divide remains.

O’Connor shared that Rodgers felt his family’s focus on his fame and success left him feeling underappreciated for his generosity. Munn may have intensified those feelings, with one relative mentioning that Rodgers found a confidante in the actress, who seemed to validate his concerns.

The tensions within Rodgers’ family extended to his brothers, with strained relationships that were partly rooted in differing views on religion.

Raised in a devoutly Christian, Evangelical household, the NFL star eventually rebelled against his upbringing, which may have contributed to the larger conflicts within his family. As O’Connor put it, “There is no one clear reason why this exists.”

While Rodgers remains uncertain about how to fully repair his relationship with his family, he took a significant step by embracing his father during an emotional moment at a Celebrity Golf Tournament in Lake Tahoe last summer.

O’Connor revealed that Rodgers’ father found it surreal to be in his son’s presence, and the two shared a heartfelt reunion, expressing their love for one another. That said, Rodgers has openly admitted his desire to reconnect with his father, and O’Connor believes there is hope for a reconciliation in the future.

Aaron Rodgers’ journey reflects both the challenges of navigating family ties and the hope of rebuilding those connections. As he continues to pursue his career and personal aspirations, the possibility of reconciliation with his loved ones remains a hopeful prospect on the horizon.