Photo: Getty
Will Danica be the reason for a Rodger family reunion?
By Rebekah Kuschmider — Written on Apr 20, 2018
Danica Patrick and Aaron Rodgers might be one of sports’ newest couple but they're also fast becoming the cutest! The NASCAR driver and the NFL QB have been making fans swoon since they confirmed their relationship earlier this year. And once they made the match public, there's been no going back — did you see their kiss at the Daytona 500? Engines were revving and not just the cars!
The two started starting dating just months after Patrick split with ex-boyfriend and fellow driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Patrick has been single since he and actress Olivia Munn called it quits in early 2017. There's no official start date on their relationship but they confirmed they were dating in January and haven't stopped being adorable since. Now that the checkered flag has dropped on this relationship, can they make it all the way to the endzone? (Or will someone call a foul on us for mixing sports metaphors so badly?)
Here's everything you need to know about the Aaron Rodgers and Danica Patrick's relationship:
1. They met at an awards show.
The two of them met at the ESPYs in 2012, Patrick told radio program In The Win. “We’ve just been sort of friends the whole time, kept in vague touch and seen each other at the ESPYs almost every year, and other places,” she said.
2. They realized they had a lot in common.
In the same interview, Patrick went on to say to say, “We both just have similar hobbies and interests — the kind of life that we live and wanting to travel and various different things, liking dogs.”
3. She’s training him.
Though Patrick goes on to say that “everything” is easy between them, that doesn’t mean she’s letting him get soft. She actually works on his abs! “I wrote a workout”, she says, “(and) we worked out together and things like that. Put him through some ab workouts.” Judging from her abs on Insta, she knows the tricks!
4. They were pretty lovey even before they were official.
The two of them hadn’t confirmed their relationship when they showed up at a restaurant in Scottsdale, AZ. Fans snapped shots of the two of them looking cozy and TMZ Sports posted them on Twitter!
5. She’s had to learn to be a Packers fan.
Patrick has been a Chicago Bears fan for her whole life but says she always liked Rodgers as a player. She says she’ll cheer for the Packers now — the whole team, not just her bae!
6. And he’s there to wish her good luck before races.
Who doesn’t like a big smooch before heading off to a big day at work? Rodgers gave Patrick a good luck kiss before she hit the track at the Daytona 500.
7. They like a little fun in the sun.
Just a few weeks after they confirmed they’re a couple, the two of them headed down to Mexico for some R&R — or maybe some PDA! TMZ published shots of the two of them kissing poolside!
8. But it’s not all play for these two.
Travel isn’t just for fun for Patrick and Rodgers. In April, they went to Lusaka, Zambia, to fit children and adults with hearing aids. They were partnering with Minnesota-based Starkey Hearing Foundation to visit the Starkey Hearing Institute, which has trained two classes of hearing instrument specialists since 2016, and helped more than 100 adults and children with hearing needs. "It's a beautiful thing to be halfway across the world helping these people out today. Just the look on their face, it means everything," Rodgers said of the trip.
9. He was at her unicorn themed birthday party.
Rodgers was on-hand to help Patrick celebrate turning 36. While lots of guests sported unicorn headbands, Rodgers eschewed magical headgear.
10. She’s not ashamed to gush!
In an appearance on Rachel Ray, Patrick went all heart-eyes emoji talking about why she loves Rodgers — including his height, his kindness, and oh yeah. He's really good at football.
11. Her dad might make things awkward.
While Rodgers has never been one of the NFL players kneeling before a game, he’s been understanding of his colleagues who do. Danica’s dad isn’t a big fan of that gesture, however. He commented on a FB photo of himself and his daughter standing for the anthem, saying ““No kneeling in NASCAR!! Hand in heart!!”
12. But Rodgers doesn’t even hang out with his own family.
After Aaron’s little bro Jordan aired family dirty laundry on The Bachelorette, the world learned Aaron doesn’t really talk to the rest of his family. On the ABC reality show, Jordan and Aaron’s brother Luke said, “It’s something we don’t really like to talk about. It pains both of us not to have that relationship,” Luke explained. “We miss our brother. We just are trusting God brings things full circle. And just wish that everything would just get back to us being a family.”
For his part, Aaron has been quiet on the issue. “Aaron has never wanted to air this out in a public forum. He’s going through great precautions not to make this worse,” a source close to Aaron has said. “You’re not going to see him on Oprah crying about all of this. He will deal with his family issues privately.”
13. She’s going to have a lot more time for him soon.
Patrick is retiring from professional racing after the Indy 500 in May 2018. She announced her decision last spring. Once she’s done with racing, will she turn all her attention to Aaron?
14. And he knows his football days can’t last forever.
Rodgers told the NFL network that “I think I'm on the back nine of my career.” He’s been in the league for 13 years, starting for 10. But at 33 years old, he’s far from the oldest QB still playing. Tom Brady is 40 and Rodgers isn’t afraid to go the distance!
15. Will Danica be the reason for a Rodger family reunion?
Speculation was rampant that Aaron's ex, Olivia Munn, was the reason for the rift, but Aaron's dating Danica now and the family still hasn't reconciled. Aaron won't comment publicly but a source said, "it’s not likely she will get to meet his — unless she’s the one who forces Aaron to reconcile."
For what it's worth, Aaron has already met Danica's parents.
16. She’s thought about kids…someday.
In a 2017 documentary called “Danica” she reveals she considered whether she wanted kids with then boyfriend Ricky Stenhouse Jr. The racer revealed she didn’t always want kids but she felt like it was a possibility in the future. In preparation for that, she had her eggs frozen a couple of years ago, saying “I was like, ‘Look, I’m gonna take control of my life here, and I don’t know where it’s going, and I’m not married, and I don’t know what the plan is, and I don’t know how long I’m gonna race, but I can only have 33-year-old eggs today.”
Will she and Aaron someday make use of those frozen eggs? Only time will tell but the future looks bright for these two!
Rebekah Kuschmider is a DC area writer with a background in non-profit management and advocacy Her work has been seen at Ravishly, Babble, Scary Mommy, The Mid, Redbook online, and The Broad Side. She is the creator of the blog Stay at Home Pundit and is a contributor the book Love Her, Love Her Not: The Hillary Paradox . She is a cohost of the weekly political podcast The More Perfect Union.