Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers claims ex-fiancée Shailene Woodley asked to be with another man shortly after accepting his marriage proposal.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has offered a new and highly personal account of why his engagement to actress Shailene Woodley ultimately fell apart, claiming she made a surprising request shortly after accepting his proposal.
Rodgers discussed the relationship during a recent appearance on “Not Just Football with Cam Heyward,” revisiting a breakup that had remained largely unexplained from his perspective.
The four-time NFL MVP said Woodley told him she wanted to be with another man before they got married, a claim that has not been independently confirmed by Woodley.
Rodgers revisits broken engagement
Rodgers and Woodley began dating in 2020 and became engaged after the quarterback proposed later that year. Woodley publicly confirmed the engagement in early 2021.
According to Rodgers, however, problems emerged soon after the proposal.
The Steelers quarterback claimed Woodley expressed a desire to sleep with someone else before their marriage. He said the revelation fundamentally changed the relationship and eventually contributed to the collapse of their engagement.
Rodgers has now spoken about the episode years after the couple officially ended their relationship.
Woodley removed her engagement ring
Rodgers also pointed to Woodley’s decision to stop wearing her engagement ring as evidence that their relationship was already deteriorating.
The couple’s engagement became public in February 2021, but Rodgers said Woodley removed the ring soon afterward.
Their relationship continued in an uncertain state for a period, with Rodgers saying the two attempted to work through their problems before eventually going their separate ways.
The engagement was formally called off in 2022.
Woodley previously described the relationship differently
Woodley has previously spoken about the emotional impact of her relationship with Rodgers without publicly confirming the specific allegation he has now made.
The actress described the relationship as meaningful but also referred to a difficult and emotionally painful period surrounding its end.
She has discussed experiencing significant emotional distress after the breakup, including depression and anxiety, while describing the relationship as having affected her sense of self.
Rodgers, however, disputed the idea that he was responsible for her emotional struggles.
He argued that the relationship had effectively ended before the public breakup and said he felt the public narrative surrounding their split did not accurately reflect what happened between them.
Rodgers pushes back against his public image
The quarterback’s comments are part of a broader effort to explain his side of several high-profile relationships.
During the same podcast appearance, Rodgers discussed former girlfriends and criticized what he characterized as public attempts to portray him negatively.
He has previously faced accusations from former partners about his behavior in relationships, claims he has disputed.
Rodgers suggested that his celebrity status has contributed to distorted narratives about his personal life and said people connected to him can attract attention simply by discussing their past relationships with him.
Rodgers has since married
Rodgers’ personal life has changed significantly since his relationship with Woodley ended.
The Steelers quarterback is now married to a woman named Brittani, whom he first met in 2017.
Rodgers recently said he considers not proposing to Brittani when they first met one of his biggest regrets. The pair eventually reconnected years later and quietly married in 2025.
He has credited Brittani with helping him repair relationships with members of his family and described her as someone who had a transformative impact on his life.
A new chapter for the Steelers quarterback
At 42, Rodgers is entering another chapter of his NFL career while also revisiting some of the most scrutinized moments of his personal life.
His comments about Woodley have renewed interest in one of Hollywood and sports’ most closely watched relationships, particularly because neither side publicly detailed every aspect of the breakup when it happened.
Rodgers’ latest account represents his version of events, while Woodley has not publicly confirmed his specific claim about what she allegedly requested after their engagement.
The renewed discussion highlights how intensely the private lives of high-profile athletes and celebrities can remain under public scrutiny years after a relationship has ended.
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