Aaron Rodgers has opened up about his bizarre altercation with Robert Saleh on the sidelines, insisting he didn’t expect his New York Jets head coach to hug him.
The quarterback was in brilliant form when he first returned to MetLife after tearing his Achilles tendon, but the very positive evening took a tense turn late in the first quarter.
When head coach Saleh returned to the sideline after throwing his first touchdown for the Jets, he gave him a hug, but was pushed away by his veteran QB.
Rodgers explained the situation to reporters after the game, saying, “It wasn’t awkward at all. He’s not a big hugger, most of the time I didn’t know he was going for the hug. He likes the two-hand chest push.
“He often talks about a two-point lead, so I gave him a nudge and said he was two points ahead.”
Aaron Rodgers and Robert Saleh had a seemingly tense moment during the Patriots game
Rodgers gave Saleh a light shove and stared at him for a few seconds — he said afterward that the moment “wasn’t awkward at all”
Saleh also laughed off rumors of a rift between the two, saying after the game: “One of the things we talked about is giving the defense a two-score advantage.
‘It [wasn’t] a two-score lead, so he wanted to see something in the defense.’
Fans on social media defended Rodgers and praised his attitude, insisting that it is exactly what the Jets need in their Super Bowl bid.
One wrote: ‘I get it. The game isn’t won yet and Saleh wants a hug. This is the Kobe mentality this team needs.’
The Jets are now 2-1 for the first time since 2015 and will now face the Denver Broncos looking to continue their winning streak.
Rodgers explained his side of the story on stage with reporters after the win
Opposing quarterback Jacoby Brissett received a hug on the field after the Jets’ big win
Rodgers and co lost to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1, but have since bounced back with wins over the Titans and Patriots.
Rodgers himself was in top form, throwing two more touchdowns, his best performance yet in the Jets’ green.
He completed 27 of his 35 pass attempts — a much higher pass completion rate than in Weeks 1 and 2 — and he left the game with a QBR of 81.8 percent.
Rodgers has now thrown five touchdown passes this season, the most of any QB in the league. He has played one more game.