Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy’s reunion in Pittsburgh got uncomfortable fast on Thursday night.
The two have been linked for years, dating back to their Super Bowl run together in Green Bay more than a decade ago. McCarthy coached Rodgers for 13 seasons with the Packers, including the team’s Super Bowl XLV title, and that shared history helped bring them back together this year. McCarthy is now the Steelers’ head coach, while Rodgers decided to keep playing and return for his age-42 season.
But during Pittsburgh’s Week 4 trip to Cleveland, the old chemistry briefly gave way to old friction.
With both teams entering the night at 2-1, the Steelers were trying to avoid becoming the latest team to run into Cleveland’s seven-game Thursday night winning streak. Early in the first quarter, Rodgers grew visibly irritated as the offense stalled on the sideline. He turned toward McCarthy and barked, “What the F**K, CALL IT,” pressing for a play call before the clock expired.
McCarthy’s response was caught on camera as the broadcast panned his way: he called Rodgers a “F**king Asshole.”
That kind of edge wasn’t new between them. Their relationship has long been described as uneasy at times, even during their years of success in Green Bay. The pair still won plenty together, but reports over the years made clear there was real tension behind the scenes.
Thursday’s moment put that right back in the spotlight, and the setting only made it louder. The game aired nationally on Amazon Prime as part of Thursday Night Football, and it came in an AFC North matchup with plenty of attention already on it.
Pittsburgh has also had a rough time on Thursdays against division opponents on the road, entering the night winless in nine such tries under that setup. McCarthy, for his part, has a strong Thursday record overall at 11-5.
Neither Rodgers nor McCarthy has publicly addressed the exchange since it happened. Earlier reports this season had already stirred speculation about the Steelers’ quarterback situation behind Rodgers, and this sideline flare-up is unlikely to calm that chatter.
They’ve been through tension before and still ended up with a championship. Whether that same story can repeat itself in Pittsburgh is still an open question.
In Other News...
Jake Dickert Is Building Buzz Wisconsin Fans Can't Ignore
Wake Forests strong start under Jake Dickert has been hard for Wisconsin fans to miss. At 3-1, with a road win over No. 16 Louisville already on the ledger, Dickert has pushed himself into a wider conversation about coaches who could surface when future Power Four openings come around. The buzz has only grown because he is not a name out of nowhere, either, with his previous success at Washington State giving evaluators another reason to take the current run seriously.
For Wisconsin, the interest is obvious because the coaching market is always watching who can win in a hurry and handle tougher assignments. Analysts and reporters on the Crain & Cone podcast and On3 have already flagged Dickert as one to watch, and Wake Forests manageable remaining schedule means the spotlight could get even brighter if the season keeps unfolding this way. For now, he is simply adding another layer to the list of names Badgers fans are likely to hear again. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Is Turning Homecoming Into A Full Fan Event Saturday
Homecoming Saturday at Camp Randall is shaping up to be more than just another Big Ten game on the Wisconsin calendar. The Badgers have unveiled a new alternate look for their matchup with Michigan State, going with an all-red design that includes an inverted helmet and red pants, a sharp break from the usual home set and one that gives the annual homecoming game a little extra pageantry.
The on-field change comes with a matching crowd push as Wisconsin is also promoting a Red-Out, asking fans to show up in Cardinal Red and help turn the stadium into a coordinated backdrop. It will be the first alternate jersey the Badgers have worn since the opener against Notre Dame, and it follows a similar homecoming alternate from last season, another sign that this date is becoming one the program likes to dress up a little differently. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Commit Kingston Allen Is Fueling Big Dreams At Running Back
Kingston Allens latest burst came in a familiar setting for Notre Dame High School, where the Wisconsin commit piled up 279 yards and six touchdowns on 29 carries in a 66-18 win over Menasha. It was the first game Allen had played entirely since Week 2 of the season, and it served as another reminder of why the Badgers like the look of his running style and production.
The numbers he has stacked this fall are hard to ignore. Allens season totals have climbed to 1,981 yards and 38 touchdowns, helping Notre Dame stay unbeaten at 7-0 while he continues to fuel big expectations around his future in Madison. [Read more 🡒]