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Pittsburgh Steelers star Aaron Rodgers opened up about the altercation between DK Metcalf and a Detroit Lions fan Wednesday after the wide receiver was suspended for two games.
Speaking to reporters, Rodgers was asked if a Lions fan had ever scolded him or made him feel a certain way over the years.
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Pittsburgh Steelers’ Aaron Rodgers passes during the first half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
“Probably, I mean, I don’t have a real relationship with any of those fans. In that way, there’s always a lot of different things that are said, some things that are benign and some things that aren’t. I think there’s a mindset that you pay for a ticket, you say whatever the hell you want. I think there should be some rules of conduct, and I think that was intentional, obviously, afterwards on his part.
“Of course you must not tolerate what DK [Metcalf] did. I understand, you know, there’s been a lot of crazy comments thrown my way over the years. The truth is that it would never happen face to face. You know, even some of the people who hate me the most in the cities that I’ve played against over the years, especially in the NFC North, it’s always pretty heartwarming when you see some of those people out and about. But in that setting, you know, there are a lot of things that are said. There are two sides to every story. And I support DK. I will continue to support DK. And this point that happened.”
Rodgers said there were several factors why negative fan interactions have escalated over the years.
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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers listens to a question during a press conference after an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins in Pittsburgh, Monday, Dec. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
He pointed out how fantasy football, sports betting and social media use, while good, have all risen and come out of the shadows and into normal life.
“At the same time as you see parts of society eroding, we have to say that behavior has maybe changed a little bit over the years,” Rodgers said. “Now, I absolutely love good trash talk, and you know, the Dawg Pound (in Cleveland) they’ve got a great fan base. I love the banter with the fans. I was bantering with the fan in the stands the other day. He was yelling a lot of things at me and his voice was cracking. I was bantering it, but I think there’s a line, there’s got to be a line.
“You don’t hear a lot of what plays in Lambeau over the years. They’re some of the nicest fans you could possibly imagine. You’re a visiting fan, you walk around Lombardi there, you find your way into a tailgate. You’ve probably got a beer in your hand, maybe PBR and brats, not the same everywhere in the league.”
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The Steelers will be without Metcalf for the rest of the season as Pittsburgh tries to win the AFC North.
