On Thursday night, during the Steelers’ game against the Browns, Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy were caught trading insults on camera while they were still in play. Rodgers, who is now with the Steelers under McCarthy’s coaching, made the demand during an especially difficult opening period.
The game opened with a drive marked by fits and starts, and it carried 17 plays. Rodgers grew frustrated and turned to his coach.
“What the f——k, call it,” Rodgers demanded of his coach while churning his arms.
McCarthy heard him.
The audience watching the Amazon Prime stream all heard it. Cameras then turned to McCarthy, who answered with a lip-readable retort.
“F—ing a–hole,” McCarthy said.
Lovely.
The Drive That Triggered It
The Steelers pieced together the 17-play drive during the first quarter. Rodgers needed the play call so he could relay it to the rest of the players in the huddle. His demand came in the middle of that stretch.
Millions of viewers saw the tension building inside the offense, with Rodgers wanting the call sooner and making that desire plain.
The Partnership’s Past
The pairing of Rodgers and McCarthy lasted for many years in Green Bay, and their shared tenure gave the Packers some of their most productive seasons ever.
- A Super Bowl XLV championship
- Multiple division titles
- Eight playoff appearances with Rodgers as the starter and McCarthy calling the plays
The partnership eventually came apart. Rodgers and McCarthy reportedly collided over offensive philosophy, play-calling and communication. Rodgers’ broken collarbone in 2017, contributed to Green Bay’s decline, along with other injuries, did not help the situation.
The Breaking Point
After a run of 4-7-1 starts in 2018, the pressure finally snapped when McCarthy was let go following a defeat to Arizona.
The breakup marked the end of a connection that had shaped much of Green Bay’s recent run of wins.
Rodgers Returns to Pittsburgh
McCarthy brought Rodgers back to Pittsburgh this year, and the quarterback is now playing under him once more. Their working relationship has already shown some signs of success.
Rodgers has stressed that the two achieved a great deal working together. He described their bond as including both “amazing times” and times when they “butted heads.”
There will be more of both this season, given how the heat of games is sure to produce it.
The Exchange That Was Caught
The cameras captured the full sequence of events. Rodgers demanded the play call, McCarthy heard him, and the audience on the Amazon Prime stream all heard it. Then the cameras turned to McCarthy, who answered with a lip-readable retort.
What Happens Next
The exchange will likely become a viral moment.
The cameras caught it all.
| Event | Date | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Rodgers returns to Steelers | Current season | Playing for McCarthy again |
| Super Bowl XLV | Past | Championship win together |
| McCarthy fired | 2018 | Loss to Arizona |
| Rodgers confirms retirement | Upcoming season | After the Steelers season |
A camera recorded the exchange, so everyone could hear it. That moment will be remembered as one where two of the game’s biggest names allowed their frustration to show.
Source material: “'What the f–k, call it!': Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy curse at each other during hot mic moment,” Fox News.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.