Aaron Rodgers has vulgar on-field exchange with Mike McCarthy
Aaron Rodgers has vulgar on-field exchange with Mike McCarthy
Jack McKessy, USA TODAYFri, October 2, 2026 at 1:56 AM UTC
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Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers spent 13 seasons together in Green Bay before reuniting this year in the Pittsburgh Steelers organization.
That shared history between two long-time NFL veterans could explain why they may have been bickering like an old married couple on "Thursday Night Football."
Amazon Prime Video cameras showed Rodgers looking bewildered on the field before yelling toward the sideline in the first quarter. The broadcast's field microphones caught some of the veteran quarterback's not-safe-for-work language directed at his head coach – apparently frustrated at how long McCarthy was taking to give him the play call.
"Mike, what the (expletive?) Call it," Rodgers was heard on the field mic.
After Rodgers' reaction, the broadcast cut back to McCarthy for his reaction. The Steelers' head coach appeared to use some explicit language of his own in response to his quarterback.
(Editor's note: The video contains NSFW language.)
AARON RODGERS: Veteran QB playing final 'Thursday Night Football' game vs Browns
The following play ended with an incompletion on a pass intended for receiver Ben Skowronek, but the Steelers managed to score a touchdown four plays after that to cap off a long drive.
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After the game, Rodgers credited the crowd in Cleveland for being loud and making it difficult to hear the calls from the sidelines.
"Some of the calls were hard to hear, for sure," Rodgers told reporters after being asked about the difficulties hearing plays.
McCarthy was also asked about the heated moment, saying maybe he shouldn't have used some of the words he did.
"What's said on the field – the way I grew up in this game – usually stays on the field, that's not the case today, I understand that," McCarthy said. "Any negative communication on my part, I wish I wouldn't use those words."
Whatever issues there were between Rodgers and McCarthy seemed to be resolved by the end of the possession, but Pittsburgh did not score again until a field goal the end of the first half.
The Steelers did manage to get into field goal range one other time – with six minutes left in the second quarter – but kicker Chris Boswell missed his 48-yard attempt.
Ultimately, the Steelers would fall to the Browns 27-24, with Andre Szmyt's 56-yard field goal the deciding score.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Aaron Rodgers has vulgar on-field exchange with Mike McCarthy
Source: “AOL Sports”
