Aaron Rodgers says he’s engaged days after Shailene Woodley dating rumours

Green Bay Packers star Aaron Rodgers may not have played in Sunday night’s Super Bowl, but he seems to be having a pretty super year so far. Not only did the quarterback (and upcoming Jeopardy! guest host) just win the NFL’s most valuable player award (for the third time), but at the honours over the weekend he also shocked fans by announcing that he’s engaged.

The news comes just days after rumours surfaced that Rodgers is dating Big Little Lies star Shailene Woodley. And while Rodgers didn’t directly name names, his televised speech had fans swooning for the couple. “2020 was definitely a crazy year filled with lots of change, growth, some amazing, memorable moments, 180 straight days of having my nose hair scraped, playing for very little fans or no stands the entire season,” he began, before getting into the good stuff.

“I got engaged and I played some of the best football in my career. So I’d like to thank, first and foremost, my teammates for their support, their inspiration, protection, incredible play on the field,” he continued, taking note of all the positive energy. “Off the field I’ve got a great group of people that support me, so I’d like to thank my team.” He then listed many members of his tribe (including a nod to Jodie Foster, who co-stars with Woodley in The Mauritanian) before adding, “my fiancée.”

He then concluded that, “There’s so many more people I’m thankful for. Just encourage people to read books, to meditate, speak things to life, manifest the desires of your heart, question everything and spread love and positivity.”

Days before Rodgers made the surprise announcement, Us Weekly confirmed through an unnamed source that the 37-year-old and Woodley, 29, were indeed together. “Aaron and Shailene are dating,” the source said. “They started off as friends, but things have turned romantic. The two are staying in contact while they are living away from each other. The relationship is long-distance for right now, but they are making it work

To paraphrase Bey, if you consider putting a ring on it “making it work” then it seems as though these two are working out just fine, thank you very much. Of course reps from both camps have remained silent at time of press, so eagle-eyed fans will just have to keep a watch on the celebs’ respective social media feeds for clues (hands up if you’ve already gone through Woodley’s Insta in search of accidental ring photos).

Although Rodgers and Woodley appear to be keeping things on the downlow for now, neither one of them are strangers to high-profile relationships. Rodgers was previously with former race car driver Danica Patrick (reports of their breakup surfaced last summer), and Woodley dated Fijian rugby player Ben Volavola for a few years before splitting in April 2020.

Last year Woodley opened up about her stance on relationships in a candid interview with The New York Times. There she revealed that she has been in monogamous and open relationships in the past, and that any relationship should really only be the business of those involved. "Listen, I’m someone who has experienced both an open relationship and a deeply monogamous relationship in my life, and I think we’re in a day and age where there should be no rules except for the ones designed by two people in a partnership—or three people, whatever floats your boat,” she said.

“But there has to be a level of responsibility in any relationship dynamic, and that responsibility is simply honesty and communication and trust. Apart from that, it’s really none of our business what people choose to do with their lives,” she added. In other words, maybe fans shouldn’t expect Woodley and Rodgers to broadcast their engagement for the entire world after all. Either way, congrats to the happy couple.

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