Steelers HC Mike McCarthy explains what happened during Aaron Rodgers hot mic moment

Aaron Rodgers shouted toward the Steelers sideline in the first quarter of Thursday night’s loss to the Browns, and Prime Video’s cameras cut to head coach Mike McCarthy, who appeared to answer with an insult after the field microphones picked up the quarterback.

Rodgers could be heard saying, “What the f—? Call it!” McCarthy appeared to mouth, “F—ing a–hole.”

The exchange came midway through a 17-play, 78-yard drive that lasted 9 minutes, 48 seconds, the Steelers’ longest of the season. McCarthy’s next call produced an incompletion intended for Ben Skowronek, and Rodgers threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Roman Wilson four plays later for a 7-0 lead. The two spent 13 seasons together in Green Bay before reuniting in Pittsburgh this year.

Aug 21, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy (left) talks with quarterback Aaron Rodgers (right) before the game against the New York Jets at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Rodgers threw an interception to Denzel Ward early in the second quarter, and the Browns scored 21 straight points while Pittsburgh’s next six possessions gained 101 yards and ended in four punts, a missed field goal and a made field goal. Rodgers finished 22 of 40 for 299 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions, and Cleveland sacked him five times, each by a different defender.

McCarthy called the opening series “hectic” and said he was “talking fast, more than normal,” then addressed the language on the broadcast. McCarthy said:

“Communication sometimes is not the best choice of words, but everybody’s competing on the field. I think, you know, what’s said on the field, the way I grew up in this game, you know, usually stays on the field. That’s not the case today. I understand that. But, yeah, any negative communication on my part, I wish I wouldn’t use those words.”

McCarthy also cited pass protection, saying, “We had some protection challenges.” The exchange happened on a touchdown drive, and the stall came in the second and third quarters. Pittsburgh scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns, the second tying the game at 24-24 with 1:42 left, and Andre Szmyt’s 56-yard field goal with 10 seconds remaining decided it. Pittsburgh fell to 2-2, and Cleveland moved to 3-1 and took sole possession of first place in the AFC North.

Oct 1, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy takes the field before the game at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

When the questions about the exchange became specific, McCarthy said Steelers public relations director Burt Lauten had told him about the moment that reached television.

Rodgers was not specifically asked about the exchange with McCarthy. After the Week 2 loss to New England, he said he needed to do a better job making sure Mike knows what’s working, what’s not working on play calls. After Thursday night’s loss, Rodgers said the crowd noise made it hard to communicate at times.