After Danica Patrick split, Aaron Rodgers in 'better head space' this season

Aaron Rodgers touted a newfound lease on life and an improved mindset in a recent interview, and it’s difficult not to infer that he credits his sunnier disposition to his recent breakup with Danica Patrick.

The Green Bay Packers quarterback made an appearance Tuesday on “The Pat McAfee Show” on SiriusXM’s Mad Dog Sports radio. During the interview, Rodgers declared a “new and increased love of life” of late, timing that seemingly coincides with his split with Patrick earlier this year.

“I have just a new and increased love of life,” Rodgers said. “And I’ve made decisions and changes and habits that put me in a lot better head space and there’s just a lot of things that have come together in my life over the last few months that have really been enjoyable and reminded me, given me perspective, on life and in football to view things through the most positive lens I possibly can.

“And that’s why I’m having so much fun and it starts with love. And then surrounding yourself with people that you really enjoy.”

A spokesperson for Patrick confirmed in April that she and Rodgers are “no longer together” after the couple became an A-list item in 2018.

Rodgers of course is well-acquainted with relationship drama, as his long-term romance with actress Olivia Munn generated no shortage of headlines during a three-year relationship that ended in 2017.

It merits noting how this past offseason has been a tumultuous one for Rodgers beyond the breakup with Patrick. The Packers ruffled the two-time MVP’s feathers by selecting Jordan Love in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft instead of providing him with more weapons on offense.

It was a move that clearly and unsurprisingly made Rodgers unhappy, as he later questioned his long-term future in Green Bay.

Irrespective of what has played out in Rodgers’ personal life over the past few months and how changes he has made improved his perspective, it’s hard to argue with how things potentially translated to success on the field.

The Packers have stormed out to a 2-0 record, and Rodgers has been brilliant in the season’s first few weeks. The superstar quarterback boasts a 67.6% completion percentage, and his 604 passing yards is good for sixth in the NFL. Rodgers is also tied for second in touchdowns (6) and leads the league in QBR (91.0).

It’s of course entirely possible that the great start to Rodgers’ 2020 season has nothing to do to his breakup with Patrick. If Rodgers believes the changes have paid dividends, though, is all that matters.