Aaron Rodgers was at the center of a thrilling NFL game between his Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday night.
The 41-year-old quarterback could not prevent his team losing 33-31 to their AFC North rivals, despite throwing a last-gasp Hail Mary that threatened a dramatic conclusion.
However, the rollercoaster contest did bring his mysterious love life back into the spotlight with fans still confused as to the whereabouts of his enigmatic wife.
Rodgers dropped a bombshell during the summer when he revealed in June that he had tied the knot ‘a couple of months ago’ to a woman who is only known by her first name, Brittani.
The four-time MVP had been seen wearing a black ring but details of his new partner and their wedding have remained hidden ever since. The couple have never been photographed in public together and her presence at any of his games has not been made public.
Rodgers’ performance in the prime time showdown on Thursday night led fans to speculate about the marriage once again.
Aaron Rodgers’ enigmatic wife was brought back into the spotlight during the Steelers’ game
Fans had spotted a black band on the veteran’s ring finger when he signed with the Steelers
One posted: ‘How has no one found out about Aaron Rodgers wife yet? It’s impossible to not know anything about anyone these days.’
Another account posted a picture of an empty chair in front of a TV screen with the caption: ‘Aaron Rodgers’ wife watching the game’.
During an interview at Steelers training camp, the quarterback did not refer to his wife by name. But he did lift the lid on his new life as a married man.
‘When you meet the right one and you’re with the right one, your whole world changes in a second,’ Rodgers told NFL Network.
‘And to have that person that unconditionally loves you behind the scenes, there’s no better feeling in the world and I have the most incredible wife.
‘I just really love her and I’m so thankful to have her by my side at the end. When you have that stability and that rock behind you at the house, you feel like you can do anything.’
Rodgers revealed back in December that he was in a relationship with a woman named ‘Brittani’, and that she did not have any social media. Since then, however, the quarterback has refused to shed much light on his new partner.
The secrecy has sparked conspiracy theories that the marriage could be a hoax. Even his family was said to be questioning whether the wedding took place.
Rodgers went 22 of 32 for 244 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions on Thursday
But the quarterback slammed his doubters in a furious tirade about their right to a private life.
‘It’s a sick society, isn’t it? I lived in the public eye for 20 years, I had public relationships,’ he told The Pat McAfee show, referring to his past high-profile romances with the likes of actress Shailene Woodley and NASCAR star Danica Patrick.
‘How did that work out? I had people leaking my home information, and making up stories, I had people calling the paparazzi, I had people posting my personal life on the internet. I didn’t want that, didn’t like any of that.
‘Now I’m with someone who’s private who doesn’t want to be in the public eye, didn’t sign up to be in the public eye, doesn’t want to be a celebrity.
‘And because I do things in private because I want my personal life to be private, I’m now weird and have the paparazzi stalking me.’
Rodgers went 22 of 32 for 244 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions on Thursday night as he lost the battle of the ageing quarterbacks to the Bengals’ Joe Flacco.
Rodgers gave Pittsburgh a 31-30 advantage with 2:31 remaining following a brilliant 68-yard touchdown pass to tight end Pat Freiermuth.
In response Flacco then led the Bengals 52 yards in eight plays, including completions of 15 and 18 yards to Ja’Marr Chase to get Cincinnati into Pittsburgh territory.
He previously dated some other high-profile figures, including ex-racing driver Danica Patrick
Rodgers’ last relationship was with actress Shailene Woodley, with the pair splitting in 2022
The 18-year veteran then found Tee Higgins for a 28-yard gain with 1:39 remaining to allow Bengals kicker Evan McPherson to make a 36-yard field goal with seven seconds remaining.
Rodgers tried to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat with a Hail Mary in the dying seconds.
While his epic throw reached the end zone, it was eventually swatted away by the Bengals defense.
Acquired from the Cleveland Browns on October 7, the 40-year-old Flacco completed 31 of 47 passes in his second Cincinnati start as they snapped a four-game losing streak.
