Aaron Rodgers has seen a lot in his two-decade NFL career—but getting steamrolled by his own teammate during a celebration? That might be a first.
Thursday night’s matchup between the Steelers and Bengals was already wild, but things hit another level in the fourth quarter. With just over two minutes left in the game, 41-year-old Rodgers turned back the clock, threading a beauty of a touchdown pass to Pat Freiermuth to give Pittsburgh a narrow 31-30 lead.
The crowd erupted, Rodgers unleashed his vintage fist pump, and all was right in Steelers Nation… for about three seconds. Then came Broderick Jones.
The 311-pound offensive lineman was so hyped by the moment that he went full WWE, leaping onto Rodgers’ back in what was meant to be a joyous celebration. The only problem? Rodgers went down. Hard. Crumpled to the turf in a moment that made fans gasp louder than they did for the touchdown.
To say Rodgers was not amused would be putting it mildly. He rolled onto his back, visibly stunned, locked eyes with his surprise attacker, and then jumped up, clearly heated. Cameras caught him trying to shove Jones before coaches quickly stepped in to keep things from escalating.
The irony? Rodgers had literally just praised Jones earlier in the week for his energy and enthusiasm, even saying, “He’s always the first one to come celebrate with me on the field, I appreciate that.” That appreciation, let’s just say, took a temporary hit Thursday night.
And it’s not just the embarrassment—it’s the very real risk. Rodgers is only a few games removed from recovering from a torn Achilles, and the last thing he needs is 300-plus pounds of excited lineman landing on him. This wasn’t just a little too much celebration—it was the kind of move that could’ve ended a season.
To make matters worse, the Steelers couldn’t hold onto their lead. Joe Flacco—yes, 40-year-old Joe Flacco—marched the Bengals downfield in the final moments to set up a game-winning field goal. Final score: 33-31, Bengals.
While Ja’Marr Chase put on a clinic with 161 receiving yards and a touchdown, it was Flacco’s poise and pinpoint passing that stole the show. He threw for 342 yards and three touchdowns, lighting up the Steelers defense like it was 2012 all over again.
As for Rodgers, the veteran QB may have to start calling for a little more space in future celebrations. There’s hyped, and then there’s body-slamming your quarterback hyped. Broderick Jones meant well—but next time, maybe save the tackles for the other team.
