‘I might tackle him again’ — Broderick Jones makes light of celebratory takedown of Aaron Rodgers

For what was a high-scoring, back-and-forth game deemed “The Icy Hot Bowl” because of its quadragenarian starting quarterbacks, it was a celebration gone somewhat awry that people perhaps were talking most about after Thursday’s Pittsburgh Steelers-Cincinnati Bengals game.

After Rodgers’ go-ahead touchdown pass to Pat Freiermuth late in the fourth quarter, left tackle Broderick Jones bear-hugged an unsuspecting Rodgers from behind, collapsing on top of him onto the ground. Though the intent was one of revelry, cameras caught the 41-year-old Rodgers angrily turn and throw his arms out toward Jones in disgust.

Aaron Rodgers was NOT happy to be tackled by Broderick Jones ???? pic.twitter.com/lwWx42o6dX

— Couch Refs (@CouchRefs) October 17, 2025

“Yeah, he was a little mad,” Jones said almost 90 hours later while in the Steelers locker room Monday. “But, sorry, it’s football. It gets intense. It’s still no love lost. It’s just the energy that he brings and that I bring. He told me, ‘Don’t lose the fire,’ and I told him the same.

“So, you know, we shall see (for the next game, this coming) Sunday. After he throws another touchdown, I might tackle him again.”

Rodgers was not available to reporters Monday but indicated he had no hard feelings. Even in defeat (the Bengals came back for a 34-31 win), after four days had passed the Steelers were able to have a good laugh about Jones’ tackle of his own 21-year veteran quarterback.

“It was the funniest thing,” right tackle Troy Fautanu said Monday. “I don’t want to put him on blast, (but) the way that Broderick described (the incident) on the field versus what we’ve seen on the video was so funny. We were making fun of him.”

Jones is known for his youthful enthusiasm.

Still, Fautanu couldn’t deny that the celebration was akin to a tackle.

“He took him to the ground,” Fautanu said. “Might have been a hip-drop. (Officials) might call (a personal foul) for a hip-drop tackle there, I don’t know.”

The overall vibe among teammates was that with Rodgers uninjured, ultimately the sequence gets filed into no-harm-no-foul.

“That’s Broderick, man,” Fautanu said. “Can’t blame the guy. Like I said, it’s high emotions in the heat of the moment. We made a play. ‘Muth’ made a play and scored a touchdown. What can you say? Can’t get mad at the guy.”

Hopeful return

The Steelers did not practice Monday, and even if they did, it would not be a workout subjected to a league-mandated status report. That left little update on No. 2 wide receiver Calvin Austin III, who has missed the past two games because of a shoulder injury.

For what it’s worth, when a reporter asked Austin if we could expect him to be cleared to play in time for this Sunday’s home game against the Green Bay Packers, Austin responded: “Hopefully.”

New look

For Sunday’s game, the Steelers will debut a new throwback uniform. Although the team unveiled the new (old) look over the summer, most players were unfamiliar with what it will look like — other than that they had been told it will be “pretty unique.”

Though the jerseys and pants weren’t yet in the locker room, yellow helmets were. Staffers were going around getting players to try on the headgear in preparation for Sunday.

“They’re pretty sweet,” Jones said. “I’m used to all black, so this is kind of different.

“But you know, this doesn’t change the trajectory of the game. We’ve still got to go out and play. You know, I got that (coach Mike Tomlin) in me (in regards to cliches).”