Aaron Rodgers has always been a bit of a mystery. One day he’s winning an MVP trophy, and the next, he’s sitting in a dark room for four days or talking about the benefits of ayahuasca. But of all the headlines that have followed the quarterback from Green Bay to the New York Jets, few have been as persistent as the question: is Aaron Rodgers gay?
It’s a topic that has bubbled up in barbershops and Twitter threads for over a decade. Honestly, it’s kinda wild how a single radio interview from 2013 still gets cited as "evidence" or "denial" depending on who you ask.
The reality is a lot more nuanced than a simple yes or no. It’s a story about privacy, a very famous roommate, and a man who really, really hates being told what to do.
Where the rumors actually started
You have to go back to late 2013 to find the "patient zero" of this story. Before he was dating Hollywood A-listers, Rodgers lived with a man named Kevin Lanflisi. Lanflisi wasn't just a roommate; he was Rodgers’ personal assistant and, by all accounts, his closest confidant. They were often spotted together at events, including the ESPYs, and Lanflisi was the first person Rodgers hugged after winning the Super Bowl in 2011.
Then, things went south.
Lanflisi began posting what many described as "bitter" or "heartbroken" tweets about a relationship ending. At the same time, gossip sites like RadarOnline and Fame Driven started reporting that the two were in a romantic relationship that had hit the rocks because Rodgers supposedly backed out of a plan for several NFL players to come out as a group.
There was zero concrete proof. But in the world of internet gossip, smoke usually means people start looking for a fire.
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The "I really, really like women" quote
Rodgers isn't the type to let things slide when they bother him. On December 31, 2013, during his weekly spot on ESPN Milwaukee’s Tuesdays with Aaron, he decided to address the noise directly.
"I'm just going to say I'm not gay," Rodgers told host Jason Wilde. "I really, really like women. That's all I can really say about that."
He went on to talk about how "professional is professional and personal is personal," basically telling the world to mind its own business. For most of the public, that was that. He soon started dating actress Olivia Munn, and the conversation shifted toward his family drama rather than his sexuality.
Why he brought it up again in 2024
What’s interesting is that Rodgers recently revisited this moment. In the 2024 biography Out of the Darkness: The Mystery of Aaron Rodgers by Ian O'Connor, the quarterback admitted he was actually pissed off about how he had to handle it.
He didn't regret saying he was straight. He regretted that the rumor was being used as a way to "shame" the idea of being gay.
Rodgers told O'Connor that the framing of the rumors felt disrespectful to his friends in the LGBTQ+ community. He felt that by being "accused" of being gay, it made it seem like being gay was a negative thing. He wanted to go after the people spreading the rumors—not because they were calling him gay, but because they were using it as an insult.
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A timeline of high-profile relationships
If you look at the track record, Rodgers has one of the most famous "exes" lists in sports. This hasn't stopped the "is Aaron Rodgers gay" searches, but it has certainly provided plenty of evidence for his stated preference.
- Jessica Szohr (2011): He was linked to the Gossip Girl star early in his career.
- Olivia Munn (2014–2017): This was a huge deal. They were a staple on red carpets, and Munn eventually became a central figure in the public's understanding of the rift between Aaron and his parents.
- Danica Patrick (2018–2020): Two sports icons together. They even bought a $28 million mansion in Malibu before calling it quits.
- Shailene Woodley (2020–2022): This one caught everyone off guard. He announced their engagement during an MVP acceptance speech. They eventually split, citing different lifestyles.
- Mallory Edens (2023): He was linked to the daughter of the Milwaukee Bucks owner, though it seemed casual.
- Brittani (2024–Present): Most recently, Rodgers has been linked to a woman named Brittani. He’s even been seen wearing what looks like a wedding ring, though he remains tight-lipped about the details.
The "out" community’s perspective
Not everyone took Rodgers' 2013 denial or his 2024 "clarification" at face value. Cyd Zeigler, the co-founder of Outsports, has been a vocal critic. Zeigler argued that if Rodgers truly cared about his gay friends, he would have used that 2013 platform to be an ally rather than just distancing himself as quickly as possible.
There was also the story of Ryan O’Callaghan, a former NFL lineman who came out as gay. O'Callaghan was teammates with Rodgers at Cal and was reportedly very close with him. According to Zeigler, once the rumors about Rodgers surfaced in 2013, Rodgers allegedly cut off communication with O'Callaghan.
Is that true? Only those two really know. But it adds a layer of complexity to the "supportive friend" narrative Rodgers likes to project.
Why the question persists
In 2026, the obsession with a celebrity's sexuality might seem dated, but Rodgers is a special case. He is an iconoclast. He doesn't follow the typical NFL script. He talks about "shadow retreats" and challenges "Big Pharma."
When someone doesn't fit into the standard "jock" box, people try to find other boxes to put them in. For some, the fact that he was a bachelor for so long in Green Bay was enough to start the rumor mill. For others, his fallout with his family—who are reportedly very conservative—fueled the fire.
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But looking at the facts, here is what we know:
- Aaron Rodgers has explicitly denied being gay on multiple occasions.
- He has had several long-term, public relationships with women.
- He claims his frustration with the rumors stems from his support for the LGBTQ+ community, not personal offense.
The takeaway
If you’re searching for a "coming out" story, you likely won't find one here. Everything in Rodgers' public and private life—at least what we can see of it—points to him being exactly who he says he is.
He’s a guy who values privacy to an extreme degree. He’s a guy who loves to push back against the media. And he’s a guy who, by all current accounts, is in a serious relationship with a woman named Brittani.
Instead of focusing on the rumors, the more interesting thing to watch is how Rodgers handles his legacy as he nears the end of his career. Whether he's a Jet, a Packer, or a retired legend, he’s going to keep doing things his own way.
Next steps for fans:
If you want to understand the man better, skip the tabloid headlines and check out Ian O’Connor’s biography Out of the Darkness. It gives a much more detailed look at his relationship with his family and his mental approach to the game than any Twitter rumor ever will.