In the world of sports power couples, Danica Patrick and Aaron Rodgers stood out during their time together. Their relationship became public in early 2018, but it actually started years earlier—in a low-key and traditional way.
Unlike the flashy starts most celebrity couples get, their connection began with a simple email after a quick meeting at an awards show.
Danica Patrick: From Email Addresses to Romance
The former race car driver first met the Green Bay Packers quarterback at the 2012 ESPY Awards. She later told the story on Sirius XM’s Jenny McCarthy Show: “We met at the ESPYs back in 2012… we remember meeting each other, it was quick. I got his email address, and I remember thinking to myself back then, like, ‘Oh, on the down low. Not a phone number, just an email address. Which is whatever.’”
According to USA Today, they stayed in touch off and on, with long stretches where they didn’t talk at all.
“It wasn’t until, obviously, recently that we actually had phone numbers. We referred to each other as Chicago and Green Bay. It was very cute,” Patrick said, referencing her being a Bears fan and Rodgers playing for their rivals.
The couple didn’t go public until January 2018, after both ended previous relationships—Patrick with NASCAR driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and Rodgers with actress Olivia Munn. They made their first official appearance together at the 2018 ESPY Awards, where Danica was the host.
Rodgers wasn’t shy about his feelings for Patrick. In October 2018, he told Artful Living: “We’re really attracted to each other. We really enjoy traveling… She’s a good travel partner because she’s so laid-back and low-maintenance. And she’s a hell of a cook, so we love just staying in, too. She eats really healthy. She’s inspired me in that way.”
He also talked about keeping parts of their life private: “I believe that you should be able to have some private life that’s not out there all the time. I have been private for so long, and when you are private, it can isolate you a bit.”
Patrick had similar thoughts. She said, “I think we learn the most about ourselves through relationships.”
Though they broke up in July 2020, their story shows that even for big-name athletes, relationships can start in a surprisingly normal way—sometimes with just an email.
