Aaron Rodgers, the new quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, just dropped a surprise — he quietly got married earlier this year.
The NFL legend, who has snagged the MVP title four times, spent months weighing his options before finally agreeing to a one-year contract with the Steelers. After putting pen to paper last Saturday, fans noticed something unusual in the team’s social media photo — a sleek black ring on his left hand.
During his first official press conference on Tuesday, following his opening training session with the team, Rodgers was asked about the ring — and he didn’t dodge.
“Yeah, it’s a wedding ring,” he confirmed, adding that he’s been married for “a couple of months.”
This marks a new chapter for the 41-year-old quarterback, who was recently released by the New York Jets after a rough second season. That release made him a free agent for the first time in his 20-year career. Rodgers had visited the Steelers and was reportedly offered a spot by the New York Giants, but as recently as April, he admitted he was still considering retirement.
Rodgers has previously said the delay in his decision was due to personal matters, and on Tuesday, he finally offered some clarity:
“I had some things going on in my personal life. Once those started to settle, I felt I could fully commit to being here. I didn’t want to join the team unless I was all in — mentally and physically. I needed to sort things out first.”
So, who did Aaron Rodgers marry?
Rodgers spent nearly two decades with the Green Bay Packers and has had his share of high-profile relationships. But this is his first marriage, and he chose not to reveal any specifics about his wife during the press event.
Back in December, while chatting on The Pat McAfee Show, Rodgers casually mentioned a girlfriend named Brittani when discussing Christmas shopping. When someone joked about Britney Spears, he laughed and clarified:
“Not Britney Spears, no. Brittani with an ‘i.’”
In a follow-up interview in April, Rodgers revealed he was in a committed relationship, saying:
“There are personal things off the field that needed my focus. I made commitments without knowing what my football future would be. But they matter to me.”
Now, it seems clear that one of those commitments involved saying “I do.” Possibly even a honeymoon as well.
Why did Rodgers choose the Steelers?
After visiting Pittsburgh, Rodgers stayed in close communication with Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. The 53-year-old Tomlin, who's been leading the team since 2007, holds the title of longest-serving active NFL coach. Under his leadership, the Steelers clinched their sixth Super Bowl in 2009 — though they lost the 2011 title game to Rodgers and the Packers.
Rodgers explained his decision simply:
“It started with Mike Tomlin. I’ve admired him for a long time. Through everything I was handling personally, the bond we formed made the decision easy. It was either Pittsburgh or I’d walk away from football.”
Although only Peyton Manning has more MVP trophies than Rodgers, a second Super Bowl win still eludes him. When asked what it would mean to bring another title to Pittsburgh, Rodgers said:
“It would be the seventh for this city — that’s huge. But for me, it’s about the love of the game. Football’s given me so much, and I want to end this journey with peace and purpose.”
Description:
"Aaron Rodgers confirms secret marriage before signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Learn why he chose Pittsburgh and what’s next for the NFL star."