Aaron Rodgers has vulgar on-field exchange with Mike McCarthy

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.

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Steelers vs. Browns: Photos from Thursday Night Football matchup

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns meet on Thursday Night Football in an AFC North matchup with division implications.

See scenes from around Huntington Bank Field and moments leading up to the Steelers-Browns showdown.

Above, Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) practices before the game at Huntington Bank Field.

(Ken Blaze, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns meet on Thursday Night Football in an AFC North matchup with division implications.

See scenes from around Huntington Bank Field and moments leading up to the Steelers-Browns showdown.

Above, Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) practices before the game at Huntington Bank Field.

(Ken Blaze, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) hugs Joel Bitonio before the game at Huntington Bank Field.

(Ken Blaze, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) practices before the game at Huntington Bank Field.

(Ken Blaze, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) signs autographs before the game at Huntington Bank Field.

(Ken Blaze, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and quarterback Taylen Green (15) practice before the game at Huntington Bank Field.

(Ken Blaze, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg before the game at Huntington Bank Field.

(Ken Blaze, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

“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

Aaron Rodgers played football at Pleasant Valley High School in Chico, California from 1998 to 2001. During his junior and senior seasons as starting quarterback, Rodgers amassed 4,419 passing yards while helping the Vikings to a 17-7 mark.

(Aaron Rodgers)

California Golden Bears quarterback Aaron Rodgers looks to throw against USC at the Los Angeles Coliseum on Oct. 9, 2004.

(Peter Brouillet, USA TODAY Sports)

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, drafted 24th overall by the Green Bay Packers, poses with family and friends during the 2005 NFL Draft at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City on April 23, 2005.

(Chris Trotman, Getty Images)

Aaron Rodgers, the Green Bay Packers’ first round pick in the 2005 NFL draft, is introduced by GM Ted Thompson on April 24, 2005.

(USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis. via Imagn Content Services, LLC)

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers drops back to pass against the Dallas Cowboys at Texas Stadium on Nov. 29, 2007.

(Mark J. Rebilas, US PRESSWIRE)

Aaron Rodgers reacts after he threw a 7-yard touchdown to John Kuhn in the third quarter of the 2010 NFC divisional playoff game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on Jan. 15, 2011. Rodgers threw for three touchdowns and ran for a third in the Packers’ 48-21 win.

(Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images)

Aaron Rodgers pumps his fist in the air celebrating the 2010 NFC championship game victory over the Chicago Bears on Jan. 23, 2011 at Soldier Field.

(PC Photo, The Post-Crescent)

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell presents the Super Bowl MVP trophy to Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers at a news conference on Feb. 7, 2011 in Dallas, Texas. The Packers defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-25 to win Super Bowl 45.

(Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Aaron Rodgers celebrates the Super Bowl 45 title with Green Bay Packer fans during a Return to Titletown Celebration on Feb. 8, 2011 at Lambeau Field.

(Rick Wood/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

President Barack Obama receives a jersey from quarterback Aaron Rodgers (L) of the Green Bay Packers during a reception for the National Football League Super Bowl XLV champions on the south lawn of the White House on Aug. 12, 2011 in Washington, D.C. The Packers, lead by head coach Mike McCarthy, finished the 2010 season with a winning record of 10-6, and defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-25 to win the championship.

(Mark Wilson, Getty Images)

Aaron Rodgers leaves the field following the Green Bay Packers’ 21-13 win against the Houston Texans at Lambeau Field on Dec. 4, 2016.

(Stacy Revere, Getty Images)

Aaron Rodgers looks for an open receiver during the Green Bay Packers’ game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on Oct. 8, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. The Packers won the game, 35-31.

(Tom Pennington, Getty Images)

Aaron Rodgers plays during the first round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am golf tournament at Spyglass Hill Golf Course on Feb. 8, 2018.

(Joe Camporeale, USA TODAY Sports)

Danica Patrick and Aaron Rodgers look on during the fourth quarter of Game 2 of the first round of the 2019 NBA playoffs between the Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on April 17, 2019. Rodgers has an ownership stake in the NBA team.

(Jeff Hanisch, USA TODAY Sports)

Aaron Rodgers is shown with back up quarterbacks Tim Boyle (left) and Jordan Love during the team’s training camp in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on Aug. 24, 2020.

(Mark Hoffman, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Aaron Rodgers served as guest host of “Jeopardy!” for two weeks from April 6-15, 2021.

(Carol Kaelson/Jeopardy Productions)

Aaron Rodgers celebrates his rushing touchdown during a 24-14 win against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Oct. 17, 2021.

(Mike De Sisti, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur and quarterback Aaron Rodgers stand arm in arm late in the fourth quarter of a 24-10 win against the Washington Football Team on Oct. 24, 2021, at Lambeau Field

(Dan Powers / USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is lifted up by guard Lucas Patrick after breaking Brett Favre’s franchise record for touchdown passes during a Christmas Day 2021 game against the Cleveland Browns.

(Benny Sieu, USA TODAY Sports)

Aaron Rodgers walks off the field with teammate Randall Cobb following a season-ending loss to the Detroit Lions on Jan, 8, 2023 at Lambeau Field.

(Jeff Hanisch, USA TODAY Sports)

Aaron Rodgers was traded to the New York Jets prior to the 2023 season after spending the first 18 years of his NFL career with the Green Bay Packers.

(Ed Mulholland, USA TODAY Sports)

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers is injured after a sack by Buffalo Bills defensive end Leonard Floyd during his first drive with the Jets on Sept. 11, 2023.

(Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports)

Aaron Rodgers looks on from the sideline during the New York Jets’ 30-0 loss against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on Dec. 17, 2023.

(Sam Navarro, USA TODAY Sports)

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) signs a fan’s helmet before the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, on Dec. 15, 2024.

(Morgan Tencza, Imagn Images)

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) and wide receiver Davante Adams (17) high-five each other as they walks off the field after a 32-25 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars game at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, on Dec. 15, 2024.

(Corey Perrine, Florida Times-Union)

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) throws his 500th career touchdown pass in the second quarter of the game against the Miami Dolphins on Jan. 5, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J.

(Kevin R. Wexler, NorthJersey.com via USA TODAY Network)

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) celebrates his touchdown pass to New York Jets wide receiver Davante Adams (17) (not pictured) during the fourth quarter of their game against the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium on Jan. 5, 2025.

(Ed Mulholland, Imagn Images)

The ball used by New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers for his 500th touchdown pass is seen on the sideline during the second quarter of the Jets game against the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium on Jan. 5, 2025.

(Ed Mulholland, Imagn Images)

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) walks off the field with wide receiver Davante Adams (17) after a win against the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium on Jan. 5, 2025.

(Vincent Carchietta, Imagn Images)

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers fumbles as he is hit by the Houston Texans’ Will Anderson Jr. The Texans’ Sheldon Rankins (90) returned the fumble for a touchdown as Houston went on to a 30-6 wild-card playoff win at Acrisure Stadium on Jan. 12, 2026.

(Joe Sargent, Getty Images)

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.

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

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