Green Bay Packers tight end Marcedes Lewis provided a specific example of the growing dysfunction between quarterback Aaron Rodgers and coach Mike McCarthy during the 2018 season.

In a recent podcast transcribed by Ryan Wilson of Yahoo Sports, Lewis detailed a moment when Rodgers ignored a play call from McCarthy in the huddle and called the offense himself.

“One time I really saw it for the first time, we were in the huddle. I guess McCarthy called in a play, and Aaron was kind of like, ‘Nah,’” Lewis said. “He gave a direction and a protection to the line, and went. It was a four-minute offense, he threw a 40-yard bomb for a completion. I’m like, ‘What’s really going on?’ I’ve never seen anything like that before in my life.”

Lewis admitted there was a “little dysfunction” between the quarterback and coach.

The Packers fired the coach after a disastrous loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Dec. 2, the final act of a disappointing season engineered by Rodgers and McCarthy.

Although Rodgers, McCarthy, GM Brian Gutekunst and team president Mark Murphy all attempted to downplay the deteriorating relationship at various points along the way, it was increasingly clear as the 2018 season trudged on that a change was needed, and Rodgers – who just signed the richest deal in the sport’s history – wasn’t going anywhere.

Lewis’ example highlights the power struggle between the two men in charge of the Packers offense. It’s one thing for a quarterback to change a play at the line of scrimmage; it’s quite another to ignore a play call in the huddle.

Rodgers created a big gain in the play referenced by Lewis. But it’s fair to wonder how many times Rodgers ignored a play call and either wrecked the ensuing play or damaged McCarthy’s plan as a play caller. Far too often in 2018, the Packers offense looked discombobulated and without any kind of rhythm, two possible side effects of a power struggle between a coach calling plays and a quarterback with his own ideas.

The example also makes clear the Packers’ need to find a coach who can work with Rodgers but also demand his respect. Rodgers clearly lost a level of respect in how McCarthy was planning for and calling games. That much became obvious after he not-so-subtly dissed the playcalling after a 22-0 win over the Buffalo Bills in September. The disconnect between the two men blew up the season.

McCarthy is now gone. Rodgers and the next coach must find a way to get on the same page, right away.