The Pittsburgh Steelers’ Week 7 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals was dramatic enough on its own, a 33-31 shootout between two veteran quarterbacks, Aaron Rodgers and Joe Flacco. But one moment stole the spotlight late in the fourth quarter, when Rodgers was tackled by his own teammates during a touchdown celebration.
After launching a 68-yard go-ahead touchdown pass to Pat Freiermuth with just over two minutes remaining, Rodgers turned to celebrate. That’s when Broderick Jones, the Steelers’ 311-pound left tackle, sprinted toward him an unintentionally took him to the ground in a full-body bear hug.
The clip went viral instantly, and while Rodgers popped up quickly, he wasn’t thrilled.
Did Broderick Jones Go Too Far in Celebrating With Aaron Rodgers?
The tackle wasn’t malicious; it was just a burst of adrenaline. But when your quarterback is 41 years old and coming off a torn Achilles from a couple of seasons ago, even friendly fire can be risky.
Rodgers, ever the veteran, addressed the moment with humor and a subtle warning.
“I told him I’m 41, you can’t be out there tackling me,” Rodgers said, via Steelers insider Brian Batko. “But I love B-Rod. We had a couple laughs about it.”
🚨🚨🚨OH MY GOODNESS🚨🚨🚨#STEELERS QB AARON RODGERS WAS REALLY ANGRY WITH 300+ POUND BRODERICK JONES TACKLING HIM FOR THEIR TE CELEBRATION.
😳😳😳
YIKES. WOW,
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) October 17, 2025
Rodgers also reportedly told Jones, “Don’t lose the fire,” according to multiple Steelers beat writers. The shove he gave Jones after the tackle was real, but so was the camaraderie.
How Did Broderick Jones React to the Message From His Veteran QB?
Jones didn’t back down from the moment. In fact, he leaned into it.
“We’re still joking about it,” Jones told reporters. “Yeah, he was a little mad, but sorry, you know, it’s football. It gets intense. Still, no love lost. It’s just the energy that he brings and that I bring.”
Jones even teased that he might do it again. “We shall see on Sunday, after he throws another touchdown, I might tackle him again.”
It’s the kind of locker room banter that builds chemistry, but also makes coaches wince.
Is Aaron Rodgers Aging a Growing a Concern for the Steelers?
Rodgers threw for 249 yards and four touchdowns in the game, showing that he’s still capable of elite play. But the Steelers are clearly managing his exposure. He’s not taking unnecessary hits in practice, and the offense is built around quick reads and protection.
Head coach Mike Tomlin downplayed the incident, telling reporters, “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” when asked about the tackle. But internally, the message is clear to protect the quarterback, even from your own sideline.
Rodgers and Jones may be laughing now, but the moment highlights a deeper truth: in the NFL, even celebrations can turn into injury scares.
Rodgers’ warning wasn’t just playful, it was practical. If the Steelers want to keep their season on track, they’ll need to keep their quarterback upright at all costs.
So next time Rodgers throws a bomb, Jones might want to stick to high-fives.
