Danica Patrick has opened up about the lasting emotional impact of her relationship with out-of-work NFL star Aaron Rodgers, calling their 2020 breakup the most painful experience of her life.
In a candid conversation on The Sage Steele Show, the former NASCAR driver described their two-year relationship as “emotionally abusive,” revealing it left her confidence shattered and her identity fractured.
“The breakup with Aaron in 2020, because it was sudden,” Patrick said, recalling the moment everything shifted. “It felt like it was my life. So when you live with somebody, it’s your whole life… And because the nature of the relationship was emotionally abusive, so that wore me down to nothing.”
Patrick, who was a trailblazer in motorsport and a public figure often praised for her strength, said the experience left her questioning even the most basic parts of herself.
“Someone that you know, people could never imagine that I would lack any confidence, or belief in the simple things about who I am. Everything was torn to bits. He leaves a trail of blood. I don’t think I’m saying too much earth-shattering stuff after we – there’s been enough out there.”
A painful ending-and a powerful return to self
Patrick and Rodgers began dating in early 2018 and ended their relationship in July 2020. Though the split appeared civil at the time, Patrick‘s recent comments paint a very different picture of what happened behind closed doors.
Reflecting on that chapter of her life, Patrick shared how the experience forced her to turn inward and begin a deeper journey toward healing. “But it gave me the greatest gift, which is myself. It gave me the greatest gift of how much I needed to show up for myself and take care of myself.”
She added that she felt isolated while in the relationship, saying, “I was lonely during that time because I was furthest from myself.”
Rodgers, who is currently recovering from an Achilles injury and evaluating his football future, has remained relatively private about the details of their breakup. Not long after parting ways with Patrick, he began a relationship with actress Shailene Woodley, whom he became engaged to in February 2021. That relationship ended in April 2022.
Rodgers has since been linked to a woman named Brittani, and was recently seen wearing what appeared to be a wedding band, though no official confirmation has been made about his marital status.
Patrick, meanwhile, has continued her own journey, both publicly and privately. After her breakup with Rodgers, she dated Carter Comstock for nearly a year before they split in March 2022.
Last fall, she appeared to confirm a new relationship by posting a photo of herself kissing a man at the Burning Man festival.
Before Rodgers, Patrick had a long-term relationship with fellow NASCAR driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr., which lasted from 2012 to 2017.
Though the details of her time with Rodgers have only recently come to light, Patrick‘s decision to speak openly underscores her commitment to growth and self-worth.
“I have no shame or regret,” she said. For Patrick, what began as heartbreak ultimately became a turning point toward reclaiming her identity.
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