Rodgers Comments After Steelers Loss Draw Attention to McCarthy Playcalling

Aaron Rodgers said Pittsburgh's coaches need better feedback on what is working, and Mike McCarthy pledged to trim the playbook after a three-point game.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have scored just 23 points across their first two games of the 2026 season, entering Week 3 at 1-1 despite managing only five third-down conversions. Aaron Rodgers has completed 59.5 percent of his passes and threw an interception in Sunday's loss to the New England Patriots.

Rodgers, who was replaced late in the game by Mason Rudolph, addressed the offense afterward. He began by putting the blame on himself but added that he needed to make sure Mike McCarthy and the staff understood what was and was not working so they could call plays with a better chance of success.

Some fans read the remarks as a dig at McCarthy's playcalling. Rodgers noted the plays themselves were fine but suggested the game plan may have been too large, saying the team had to cut things back if too much was installed.

McCarthy acknowledged the issue as well, saying the volume of the game plan would be reduced and calling it his fault. He said the Steelers need to give Rodgers better platforms to throw from rather than relying on short, ball-control passing.

Rodgers and McCarthy have a long shared history from their years together with the Green Bay Packers.