NFL Makes Punishment Decision on Aaron Rodgers Incident

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Chris Phelps | Last updated Dec 6, 2025 4:07 PM ET

Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers dropped their second-straight game in Week 13, falling to 6-6 on the 2025 NFL season after a 26-7 loss to Joey Bosa and the Buffalo Bills. Rodgers certainly did not have his best outing of the year, completing 10-of-21 passes for 117 yards and zero touchdowns.

On the first play of the second half, Rodgers dropped back on 1st-and-10 before Bosa clobbered him from behind, landing on the quarterback with what appeared to be most of his body weight. Bosa knocked the ball loose, and Christian Benford scooped it up and returned it for a touchdown, giving Buffalo its first lead of the game. Rodgers wound up hurt on the play, ending up with a bloody nose after faceplanting into the turf.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8).Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

While no penalty was called on Bosa for his hit on Rodgers, the NFL likely still reviewed the play for a potential roughing the passer fine. Such penalties can stem from the body-weight rule, which states that “a defensive player must not unnecessarily or violently throw the quarterback down or land on top of him with all or most of the defender’s weight.”

Normally, the league can fine players up to $17,389 for a first roughing the passer penalty, which can increase to $23,186 upon a second violation. However, the NFL decided not to fine Bosa for his hit on Rodgers.

Prior to Week 13 against the Steelers, Bosa had been fined twice in 2025. In Week 8, the defensive end was charged $12,172 for fighting against the Carolina Panthers. And in Week 11, he was fined $17,389 for roughing the passer on Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield, his first offense of the year.

Joey Bosa forced Aaron Rodgers to fumble on the sack, and Christian Benford took it into the end zone to give the Bills the lead!

(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/mmgwWstSt0
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) November 30, 2025

Rodgers and the Steelers have arguably their most important game coming up in Week 14, hitting the road to face the Baltimore Ravens for first place in the AFC North.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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