Rodgers and McCarthy caught swearing at each other on Amazon broadcast of Steelers-Browns
During a first-quarter drive in Thursday's Steelers-Browns game, a broadcast mic caught Aaron Rodgers swearing at coach Mike McCarthy over a late play call. Cameras then showed McCarthy appearing to mouth an insult back.
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The story, neutrally told
During the first quarter of Thursday night's Pittsburgh Steelers game against the Cleveland Browns, a broadcast microphone picked up quarterback Aaron Rodgers swearing at head coach Mike McCarthy because the play call had not come in. Fox NewsR “"What the f——k, call it," Rodgers demanded of his coach while churning his arms.” Read at Fox News ↗ NewsweekN “When it didn't come on time, Rodgers responded with an expletive-laden outburst toward his head coach.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Outlets quote Rodgers slightly differently: Fox News has "What the f——k, call it", Breitbart "What the f*ck?! Call it!", and Newsweek "What? What the f***? Call it." Fox NewsR “"What the f——k, call it," Rodgers demanded of his coach while churning his arms.” Read at Fox News ↗ BreitbartR “Eventually, Rodgers shouted, “What the f*ck?! Call it!”” Read at Breitbart ↗ NewsweekN ““What?” he shouted. “What the f***? Call it.”” Read at Newsweek ↗ Cameras then focused on McCarthy, who appeared to mouth an insult back; Fox News and Breitbart render it as "f—ing a–hole", while Newsweek writes that he appeared to mouth "f* a*" with a grin. Fox NewsR “everyone understood his response by reading his lips. "F—ing a–hole," McCarthy said.” Read at Fox News ↗ BreitbartR “appeared to retaliate by calling Rodgers a “f*cking asshole.”” Read at Breitbart ↗ NewsweekN “McCarthy, who appeared to mouth “f* a*” with a grin on his face.” Read at Newsweek ↗
The exchange came during a 17-play Steelers drive, which Breitbart says ended in a touchdown; the Browns then scored 21 unanswered points, and Breitbart reported them leading 21-10 with 14 minutes left in the fourth quarter. Fox NewsR “the Steelers pieced together a 17-play drive.” Read at Fox News ↗ BreitbartR “That early first-quarter drive would result in a Steelers touchdown. However, the Browns would thunder back with 21 unanswered points” Read at Breitbart ↗ Play-by-play announcer Al Michaels said Rodgers had done similar things before, repeatedly looking to the sideline for the call, including the previous week against the Cincinnati Bengals; Breitbart says neither Michaels nor analyst Kirk Herbstreit addressed the language. BreitbartR ““He did this a lot in Cincinnati,” play-by-play man Al Michaels said of Rodgers.”“Neither Michaels nor color analyst Kirk Herbstreit commented on Rodgers’ language.” Read at Breitbart ↗ NewsweekN “Al Michaels acknowledged that Rodgers had similar issues last week in Pittsburgh’s 30-27 win over the Cincinnati Bengals” Read at Newsweek ↗ Coverage places the moment in the pair's history: they worked together in Green Bay, where they won Super Bowl XLV, before McCarthy was fired in 2018 amid reported clashes over play-calling and communication; Rodgers has since said they had both "amazing times" and times they "butted heads". Fox NewsR “Rodgers this season has emphasized that the duo accomplished a great deal together and that their relationship included both "amazing times" and periods when they "butted heads."”“McCarthy was fired after a loss to Arizona.” Read at Fox News ↗
Newsweek also notes earlier tension this season: after a 20-3 Week 2 loss to the New England Patriots, Rodgers said he needed to make sure McCarthy knew what was working so the staff could call plays with a better chance to win, which Newsweek read as a subtle shot at McCarthy's play-calling. NewsweekN “Rodgers didn’t hesitate to take a subtle shot at McCarthy and his play-calling.”“making sure Mike knows what’s working, what’s not working, our coaches know” Read at Newsweek ↗ Breitbart judged the exchange unlikely to cause problems unless the Steelers lose, and Newsweek expected Rodgers to be asked about it after the game; neither player's response was reported in this coverage. BreitbartR “is unlikely to lead to any problems, unless the Steelers lose.” Read at Breitbart ↗ NewsweekN “Rodgers will presumably be asked about his outburst once Thursday’s game concludes.” Read at Newsweek ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Newsweek treats it as another sign of Rodgers' frustration with McCarthy's play-calling, tied to his Week 2 postgame comments.
- Emphasis
- Rodgers as the aggressor; season-long tension; McCarthy's grin.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Less on the pair's Green Bay history and Super Bowl success.
- Charged language
- “Blows Up”“coming unglued”
- For example
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“Cameras caught Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers coming unglued on head coach Mike McCarthy because he didn't get a play on time.” — Newsweek
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Fox News (OutKick) and Breitbart play it as a lively, viral hot-mic exchange between two combative figures, with the swearing front and centre in headlines.
- Emphasis
- Both men's language; Green Bay history (Fox); announcers' reaction and game score (Breitbart).
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither mentions the Week 2 postgame comments; Fox gives no game score.
- Charged language
- “Lashes Out”“Viral moment incoming”“Lovely”
What every side reports
- Rodgers swore at McCarthy on the Amazon Prime broadcast of Steelers-Browns on Thursday night over a delayed play call.
- Cameras showed McCarthy appearing to mouth an insult in response.
- Rodgers and McCarthy previously worked together in Green Bay.
Where accounts differ
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What McCarthy's response signified
- Centre
- Newsweek says he appeared to mouth "f* a*" with a grin, and frames the episode as Rodgers 'blowing up' on his coach.
- Right
- Fox News says viewers understood him to say "F—ing a–hole" and calls it a viral moment; Breitbart says he appeared to 'retaliate' and expects no lasting problem unless the Steelers lose.
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Rodgers cursed at McCarthy over a late play call during the Steelers-Browns game.
Reported- Reports 3
- Newsweek, Breitbart, Fox News
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McCarthy appeared to mouth an insult ('f***ing a**hole') back at Rodgers.
Reported- Reports 3
- Newsweek, Breitbart, Fox News
Aaron Rodgers person
Rodgers is shown demanding the play call; elsewhere he has said he and McCarthy had both "amazing times" and times they "butted heads". No reaction to the incident was reported.
“"What the f——k, call it," Rodgers demanded of his coach while churning his arms.” — Fox News
“"amazing times" and periods when they "butted heads."” — Fox News
Mike McCarthy person
McCarthy is shown appearing to mouth an insult back at Rodgers; no comment from him was reported.
“McCarthy, who appeared to mouth “f* a*” with a grin on his face.” — Newsweek
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
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Aaron Rodgers Blows Up on Mike McCarthy During Steelers-Browns ‘TNF’ Clash
Critical Casts Rodgers as the one losing his temper, linking it to earlier public friction with McCarthy.
Right2 articles
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'What the f--k, call it!': Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy curse at each other during hot mic moment
Mixed Light, wry take that sets the moment against the pair's Green Bay history.
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Mixed Humorous account stressing both men's swearing and the announcers' nonchalance.
- 2 Oct 02:45 First Fox NewsR 'What the f--k, call it!': Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy curse at each other during hot mic moment
- 2 Oct 03:58 +1h 14m BreitbartR 'What the F*ck?!' Aaron Rodgers Lashes Out at His Head Coach, Who Responds by Calling Him a 'F*cking A**hole!'
- 2 Oct 04:27 +1h 42m NewsweekN Aaron Rodgers Blows Up on Mike McCarthy During Steelers-Browns ‘TNF’ Clash
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.