Getty Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (center) at a Milwaukee Bucks game.
While the Green Bay Packers are preparing for their Week 18 regular season finale against the Detroit Lions with a playoff spot on the line, rumors surrounding quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ love life have taken the internet by storm, once again.
According to a January 4 report from SportsGossip.com, the website, citing a source, shared that Rodgers is now dating long-time friend Mallory Edens:
Well it has finally happened. Mallory Edens has had her eye on Aaron Rodgers for a very long time. Mallory has always wanted to be in the public eye. It looks like she might’ve found her ticket. Mallory was at the Packers last game, and she was supporting her new boyfriend and favorite team by wearing their gear. Nothing says I’m all in like throwing on your boyfriend’s teams’ gear.
Multiple outlets have picked up the story, including The Daily Mail, New York Post and TMZ Sports, which on January 6 wrote, “Things have seemingly left the friend zone now … as reports say they are now an item.”
Speculation increased when Edens was spotted in Packers gear in December with the wives of teammates Randall Cobb and Marcedes Lewis in an Instagram post from Aiyda Cobb.
At the end of the day this ultimately confirms Mallory Edens and Aaron Rodgers are dating. There would be no other reason she would be hanging out with Cobb and Marcedes wife’s before the Packers game a few weeks ago.
Edens, 26, is the daughter of Milwaukee Bucks co-owner Wes Edens. She and Rodgers have been seen sitting courtside at multiple games with the NBA franchise, in which the Packers quarterback owns a minority stake.
A November 28 story from Sports Gossip also reported that Rodgers and Blu of Earth, whom he was previously linked to, had “called things off a few months ago, at least Aaron did.”
Despite Rodgers’ relationship status picking up steam online, the reigning back-to-back NFL MVP remains focused on trying to beat the Lions to punch Green Bay’s ticket to the playoffs after a disappointing 4-8 start to the season.
Could Aaron Rodgers Retire After 2022 Season?
At 39 years old, Rodgers is nearing the end of his career, but depending on how things go to end the 2022 season, this could finally be it for the future Hall of Fame quarterback.
Rodgers has openly admitted that he is constantly thinking about retirement. The 39-year-old QB considered retiring prior to the 2022 season, but was convinced to stay after signing a massive $200 million contract extension.
Financially, Rodgers’ decision to retire will be a difficult one to make, at least before the 2023 season. The 39-year-old is scheduled to make nearly $60 million in 2023, along with another $49.3 million in 2024. If he decided to call it quits, the Packers would also be dealing with a massive dead cap hit that would make it difficult for the franchise to retain some of its star players, or bring in free agents.
The Packers could also decide to trade Rodgers, which would also result in a massive $40.3 million dead cap hit for Green Bay. Teams like the New York Jets have been linked to Rodgers as a potential trade partner, but there have been no credible reports about the Packers having any interest in trading the star QB.
Jordan Love’s situation complicates things even further. The former first-round pick has at least considered a trade request if Rodgers is still playing in 2023, making it a difficult decision for the Packers if they’re still interested in Love being the succession plan at quarterback.
“I think he very clearly, even though he wouldn’t flat-out say it, he does not want to sit for another year. So, if we get to year four, and Rodgers does come back, I am fairly confident that he will seek a trade,” Packers reporter Jason Wilde said in December 2022.
Regardless, Rodgers won’t announce anything about his future until the season is over, and the Packers still have a playoff spot to play for in Week 18.
Latest Packers News in Week 18
It’s been a difficult week leading into the regular season finale across the league, but the Packers still have a game to prepare for.
Following the on-field collapse of Damar Hamlin, Rodgers criticized the NFL for their initial response to the incident, suggesting a five-minute warmup to resume play on Monday Night Football. Although the NFL refuted that claim, Rodgers said that it was a “black eye for the league.”
During practice on Thursday, January 5, an unnamed practice squad player suffered a severe hip/leg injury that required him to leave the field in an ambulance. On Friday, head coach Matt LaFleur confirmed the player to be linebacker DQ Thomas, who suffered a fractured femur.
“It was a freak thing where two guys collided knees,” LaFleur told reporters on January 6.
The Lions, winners of seven of their last nine games since opening the season 1-6, are a tough matchup for the Packers, so LaFleur and general manager Brian Gutekunst will have their hands full leading up to the Week 18 showdown.