James Jones Defends Aaron Rodgers Amid Shailene Woodley Feud
Former Green Bay Packers wide receiver James Jones has weighed in on the ongoing public dispute between his ex-teammate Aaron Rodgers and actress Shailene Woodley. Appearing on the Speakeasy podcast, Jones offered a forceful defense of the quarterback, characterizing Rodgers as a close friend—”my dog”—and asserting that the relationship ended because of Woodley’s own words.
Rodgers’ Claims About Woodley
The controversy stems from Rodgers’ recent appearance on the Not Just Football podcast. He alleged that after proposing to Woodley, she initially accepted but days later told him, “before we get married I gotta go **** this guy.” Rodgers claimed she later removed her engagement ring, that reconciliation attempts failed, and that she ultimately told him, “I don’t want to be with you.” He concluded that by 2022, “there wasn’t even a relationship in ’22 to break off.”
When asked about these remarks on September 13, Woodley declined to comment directly and laughed off the allegations.
Jones: ‘It’s a Wrap’
Jones did not mince words regarding the gravity of the accusation Rodgers described. He stated:
“We all got girls, had girls. If they say this, it’s a wrap. I don’t know what else to tell y’all on this topic. It’s a wrap, and to kind of blame it on my dog for what you’re dealing with and all that type stuff, that’s crazy.”
When questioned whether Rodgers crossed a line by revealing private relationship details, Jones firmly said no. He argued Rodgers was responding to Woodley “blaming him for certain stuff.”
“If somebody came out saying stuff about you that wasn’t true, you’re going to address it, and you’re going to defend yourself. So for me, Aaron Rodgers, man, this is him defending himself, man.”
Woodley’s Previous Comments on the Relationship
In a December 2024 interview with Outside magazine, Woodley offered a contrasting perspective on the romance, describing it as “not right” but also “beautiful.” She revealed the toll it took on her mental health:
“I felt like I lost my soul, my self, my happiness, my joy.”
“I really understood depression and anxiety and, like, complete soul detachment. I knew I was depressed when I looked at a tree and felt nothing.”
LADBible has approached representatives of Shailene Woodley for comment.
Timeline of Shailene Woodley and Aaron Rodgers’ Relationship
- July 2020: Rodgers ends a four-year relationship with Danica Patrick during the Covid-19 pandemic and begins dating Woodley shortly after.
- December 2020: Rodgers proposes; the engagement remains private initially.
- January 2021: Rodgers publicly acknowledges his fiancée while accepting the NFL Most Valuable Player award.
- February 2021: Woodley confirms the engagement on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, noting they had been engaged “for a while.”
- March 2021: Rodgers later claims this is when Woodley removed her engagement ring, though the couple is photographed together appearing affectionate multiple times.
- May 2021: The couple vacations with actor Miles Teller and his wife, Keleigh Sperry.
- January 2022: Following Rodgers’ criticism of then-President Joe Biden on ESPN, sources tell People the pair agreed to disagree on politics (Woodley had supported Bernie Sanders).
- February 2022: People reports an amicable split. Days later, Rodgers posts a loving Instagram tribute to Woodley. The pair are subsequently spotted together multiple times. Rodgers later contradicts the breakup narrative on the Not Just Football podcast, stating, “There wasn’t even a relationship in ’22 to break off.”
- April 2022: A source tells People the couple has split again.
- December 2024: Woodley tells Outside magazine: “I haven’t shared much about my relationship with Aaron because it always makes me cry. It was not right. But it was beautiful.”
