‘Fake News’: Diontae Johnson Disputes Report He Punched Mitch Trubisky Prior to Jets Game

Diontae Johnson had an up-and-down 2022 season, which already led to an entire offseason drama, with rumors of a potential trade popping up seemingly out of nowhere.

While that is still unlikely to happen, an interesting report broke on Super Bowl Radio Row that alleges prior to Pittsburgh’s game against the New York Jets, Johnson punched then-starting quarterback Mitch Trubisky. The incident was reported during the season as happening, but it was described as an altercation.

The report this time, from the WFAN Morning Show, alleges that Johnson’s punch on Trubisky was motivated by his lack of receiving the ball. Moreover, it claims that Johnson’s punch led to the direct benching of Trubisky at halftime during the game, where Kenny Pickett would start for the rest of the season. The report comes from a friend of the show in Pittsburgh, who states that the incident is ‘a fact’

“The bug in the locker room that week was that Diontae Johnson punched Mitch Trubisky in the face,” the video states.

Shortly thereafter, Johnson refuted the report, stating that it was ‘fake news’. Diontae Johnson never denied the report that there was an altercation of some kind during the season. In fact, he basically confirmed it, but this is the first time that the report of this being physical have reached the outside world.

“We’re both passionate about the game. Stuff happens during football,” Johnson said at the time. “We’re fine, we talked about it. We made up, better over the whole situation. No hard feelings towards each other. That’s still my guy at the end of the day.”

Trubisky also took to Twitter for the first time in over two years to deny the rumor.

Zero truth to this. 😂 https://t.co/bYtdGsdQNM

— Mitchell Trubisky (@Mtrubisky10) February 10, 2023

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was asked about the incident at the time but brushed it aside as normal day-to-day things that happen with competitors. It never rose to the point of physical altercation, but rather a disagreement between two football players that were competitive and wanted to win.

“The things that happen among competitors from time to time is normal business,” Tomlin said. “Everyone wants to win. If it transpired, it’s good. It probably means there’s a couple guys that wanted to win.”

As of now, this report is denied by Johnson and the comments publicly that we do have from Tomlin and others jive this up to be nothing too serious outside of the usual football argument between two teammates. Until anything more concrete is confirmed, it’s best to take anything running with it with a grain salt.

This story has been updated to include Trubisky’s comment.