Aaron Rodgers Disses Jihad Ward After Physical Confrontation Caught on ‘Hard Knocks'

A heated confrontation between Aaron Rodgers and Jihad Ward was caught on cameras for HBO’s Hard Knocks.

During last Saturday’s game between New York’s Jets and Giants, Rodgers bumped heads with Giants linebacker Jihad Ward. During the first quarter, just after the Jets quarterback completed a pass to Mecole Hardman, Ward continuously rushed Rodgers and aggressively pushed him several times. Rodgers gave Ward a firm shove back and asked him: “What the fuck was that?”

Ward then basically said the same thing back to Rodgers, acting as if he’d done nothing. “I don’t even know who you are, bro,” Ward told the QB.

“You don’t?” Rodgers asked, clearly disbelieving.

Officials separated the two players, but that didn’t stop Ward from trying the same trick later in the game. Several seconds after Rodgers released the ball, the linebacker sprang from the crowd, his arms fully extended, and pushed Rodgers with all his force. The Jets went on to score a touchdown, and as their quarterback celebrated with his teammates Ward approached yet again.

“Don’t poke the bear,” Rodgers warned the player before turning his attention elsewhere.

“Bro, I never heard of you. Never heard of you!” Ward protests.

Rodgers called his remarks to Ward “un-comeback-able” when recounting the incident to teammates. “I threw that ball, and he fucking took five steps and pushed me,” he marveled. “I said, ‘I don’t even know who you are.’ And he said, ‘I don’t know who you are.’

“And I said, ‘Bullshit.’”

This season of Hard Knocks has been following the Jets throughout their training camp. Rodgers has unsurprisingly emerged as the season’s star, with the episodes giving an intimate glimpse into the NFL star’s relationship with the team. The season's final episode will air next week. The first four are currently streaming on HBO Max.