During his weekly appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, Aaron Rodgers reflected on Malachi Corley’s near-touchdown gaffe, which saw Corley dropping the ball prematurely just before crossing the goal line in Thursday night’s game.
The moment, which would have marked Corley’s first career touchdown, instead became a lesson on finishing plays the right way.
Rodgers revealed that the Jets’ coaching staff had even discussed similar incidents, warning players to avoid celebration before securing the points.
He explained, “You never know what you’re gonna see in a game. We get a little around-the-league analytics conversation every week – time management, clock management, things to do and not to do.”
Rodgers noted that the team’s situational coordinator, Dan Shamash, had highlighted a recent instance with Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts, who narrowly avoided losing a touchdown by slowing down before crossing the line.
Rodgers shared his sideline advice to Corley, emphasizing the importance of holding on to those pivotal moments.
“Why would you ever drop the ball?” Rodgers said he asked Corley. “That was your first touchdown! You celebrate with that thing, you run to the sideline with that thing, and you give it to [an equipment staffer] and say that this is mine.”
For Rodgers, the play served as a reminder of the discipline required in big moments, especially for players just beginning to establish themselves in the league.
The play mirrored Pitts’s recent brush with celebration issues when he nearly had the ball knocked away by Tampa Bay’s Antoine Winfield Jr. before officially crossing the goal line.
However, unlike Pitts’s play – where the touchdown stood due to lack of definitive evidence for overturning – Corley’s celebration proved costly, nullifying his first career score.
Rodgers adds a lighthearted message to teammates
Rodgers also took the opportunity to gently rib teammates Davante Adams and Garrett Wilson for their own celebratory habits.
“You guys score these touchdowns and hold the ball up before you get to the end zone,” he joked, then added, “I guess I’m an old white guy, but can we just run through the middle of the letters, please? You’re not exactly setting a great example for these guys holding that damn ball up.”
Despite the early setback, the Jets went on to secure a 21-13 victory over the Texans, with Rodgers and the team shrugging off the incident in stride.
Rodgers acknowledged that Corley’s excitement in the moment was understandable but noted that it was a learning experience.
“He was excited. It’s a play that happened. It sucks. It’s disappointing. Nobody feels worse than he does, but it’s kind of a crazy thing,” he reflected.
For Rodgers, Corley’s slip-up served as a humorous yet valuable reminder of the discipline needed in the league.
With a win in hand, the Jets move forward, but the lesson from Corley’s fumble will likely resonate as a memorable example of the need to finish strong.