The Pittsburgh Steelers fell to the Cleveland Browns on Thursday night, which extended Pittsburgh's losing streak in Cleveland to five games. That combined with the fact that the Steelers typically don't play well on short weeks hurt the team, and the group failed to put together a complete performance. The offense started the game off well with a touchdown drive, but things went bad throughout the rest of the first half and the start of the second half. The offense didn't truly get things going again until the fourth quarter as the unit fought back to tie the game up at 24.
Ken Blaze / Imagn Images
Oct 1, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) reacts with Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) after the game at Huntington Bank Field.
The Steelers' offense struggled a lot in this game despite the 24 points that were put up on the scoreboard. There was clear frustration with how things were going, and that was shown on the broadcast as quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Head Coach Mike McCarthy were seen jawing with one another a few different times on the broadcast, and there were several occasions where Rodgers came off the field looking very disgruntled.
Rodgers has always been known to be very demonstrative while on the football field. He yells at teammates and coaches, but that is because he holds everyone around him to a very high level. This is Rodgers' way of leading, but it doesn't work for everyone, and it also isn't always appropriate. It might be okay to act like that at practice or in the locker room, but on the broadcast for everyone to see is just odd. Former offensive lineman Trai Essex pointed this out on X.
"Man, he might be a great locker room guy, and his teammates love him, but A-Rod’s game-day behavior is despicable," Essex wrote.
By all accounts on the team, everyone in Pittsburgh loves playing with Rodgers, and those same players have spoken very highly of him. He has been said to be a great leader and a great human being, but his actions on the field are pretty gross. He is constantly yelling at teammates after plays, he is always shaking his head, and that just isn't a good way to keep the vibes high while leading an offense.
Ken Blaze / Imagn Images
Steelers' Aaron Rodgers during the National Anthem before a road game in Cleveland during the 2026 season.
Essex isn't the first former player to point this out. People in the media have been saying it for years. Rodgers is such a polarizing figure in part because of the way he has publicly crucified teammates to the media and in other ways, and a lot of former players have come out against that. The reasoning is that these types of things need to stay in the locker room, but Rodgers has been one to air things out in the later stages of his career. Essex spoke more about Rodgers' behavior during the game.
"Is anyone else going to say how ridiculous it is to see your QB and HC cussing each other out in the 1st half of a game, mid-play?" Essex wrote. "That s**t isn’t normal and honestly looks dysfunctional. And the team is supposed to follow these guys?"
He believes the brain trust on offense is dysfunctional, which isn't good for Pittsburgh moving forward. Rodgers and McCarthy will likely be fine, as they have worked together for over a decade, but it is still a concerning thing to see so blatantly on the broadcast.
Steelers Have To Be More Consistent On Offense
The Steelers have put together better offensive performances over the last two weeks, but there is still an issue about the group going into a lull at certain points in games. That happened against Cleveland in the second and third quarters, and the Browns were able to score three touchdowns during that time. The offense has to find a way to move the ball efficiently and consistently, and going up against a weak Indianapolis Colts defense in Week 5 is a great way to do that.
What do you think about Essex's assessment? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!
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