The NFL has a long list of great players, plays, and games throughout their history. Some of the most memorable moments outside of players, plays, and games are the NFL fights. Here is the list of some of the best NFL fights that have taken place between teams in chronological order.
2019: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
During the end of the Bengals vs. Steelers game, mayhem took place between the two teams. The Steelers quarterback, Mason Rudolph, had his helmet ripped off by defensive end Myles Garrett, and had his helmet used against him during the altercation. Myles Garrett his Mason Rudolph on the head with his helmet, and immediately was issued an indefinite suspension.
2017: New Orleans Saints vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
During the rivalry matchup between the Saints and Buccaneers, Buccaneers wide receive, Jameis Winston and Mike Evans got into a scuffle with the Saints player, Marshon Lattimore. Immediately a fight took place between both teams near the sideline. The odd part of this entire fight was that Jameis Winston was on the bench, so he starting the war was unusual.
2017: Oakland Raiders vs. Denver Broncos
In 2017, things got interesting between the Raiders’ Wide Receiver and Broncos Cornerback during the game. On a play from the Raiders offense, Michael Crabtree (Raiders) and Aqib Talib (Broncos) began showing each other, which led into a sideline brawl. Both teams started fighting each other on the sideline, and the refs started throwing multiple flags to stop the conflict.
2017: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
What seemed to be a routine run play by the Cincinnati Bengals turned into an absolute brawl between AJ Green (Bengals) and Jalen Ramsey (Jaguars) away from the action. Several punches began shoving and punching each other on the field after these two got into a fight. The fight started when Jalen Ramsey pushed AJ Green, and AJ Green put Jalen into a headlock and threw him into the ground while delivering punches.
2017: Arizona Cardinals vs. San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers quarterback, C.J. Beathard, took multiple hits from the Cardinals during a regular-season game. One hit to the Quarterback came late when C.J. Beathard was sliding to avoid contact after running for ten yards. Antoine Bethea of the Arizona Cardinals came crashing in to hit the Quarterback as he was sliding to avoid contact. Some of the San Francisco 49er players rushed to the Quarterback’s side and began shoving some of the Cardinals players from the unnecessary hit.
2016: Buffalo Bills vs. New England Patriots
During a regular-season game at Gillette Stadium in 2016, the Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots got into a shoving match minutes before kick-off. The altercation between both sides took place as the Patriot backup quarterback, Jacoby Brissett, was jogging by the sideline, and the Bills’ Safety, Robert Blanton, shoved him. Both sides began pushing each other, which led to punches thrown between both sides.
2015: Carolina Panthers vs. New York Giants
Before the Panthers and Giants squared off for a regular-season game, Carolina Panthers Josh Norman began talking to the media, saying how he wanted to defend Odell Beckham Jr. Throughout the game, Panthers Cornerback, Josh Norman, and Giants’ Wide Receiver, Odell Beckham Jr., kept shoving each other through the game.
As the game progressed, both players began shoving each other harder and harder through each quarter. Finally, Odell Beckham Jr. caught a late touchdown in the 4ther quarter against the Panthers, which was against Josh Norman. Throughout this game, you had six different flags thrown against both players for their constant shoving, both during and after plays.
2013: Houston Texans vs. Miami Dolphins
During a meaningless preseason game in 2013, a melee took place between Antonio Smith (Texans) and Richie Incognito of the Dolphins. Antonio Smith took off Richie’s helmet during a play and swung it at him. While Antonio missed hitting Richie with the helmet, he served a one-game suspension for his actions.
2012: Green Bay Packers vs. Seattle Seahawks
The Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks are NFL rivals, so fans and players expect fierce matchups. During a game in 2012, Seahawks cornerback Brandon Browner hit Packers Wide Reciever, Greg Jennings, via a blindside hit. The blindside hit took place away from the ball, so the two players immediately got into an altercation.
2011: Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears
During a game at Soldier Field between the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears, a fight took place after an interception. Moments after the Bears interception, both players began fighting each other on the field. The incident took place due to a cheap shot by the Quarterback of the Lions taking out one of the Bears players.
2010: Houston Texans vs. Tennessee Titans
In the 4th quarter of the NFL game, the Houston Texans Wide Receiver, Andre Johnson, got into a shoving competition with Tennessee Titans Corner Back, Cortland Finnegan, during a play. Both players immediately went after each other during one play, which resulted in punches thrown between the two. Both helmets between the players were ripped off, which then resulted in a fight between both teams. An immediate ejection took place for both players after that brawl.
2009: Washington Redskins vs. New York Giants
The Washington Redksins and New York Giants are classic bitter rivals between each other. What began as a simple running play by the Washington Redskins turned into a full our melee brawl between them. Santa Moss (Redksins) and Corey Webster (Giants) began trading punches away from the action. Surprisingly, no ejections took place for either player. Later after the game, though, but players got a $5k fine issued to them from the NFL.
2006: Dallas Cowboys vs. Tennessee Titans
After a touchdown by the Dallas Cowboys against the Tennessee Titans, things quickly got out of control. Tennessee Titans player, Albert Haynesworth, took off the Cowboys center’s helmet, Andrew Gurode, and stomped on his head. Albert Haynesworth was immediately ejected from the game for that alteration and had a suspension for five games without pay.
2004: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cleveland Browns
Before starting the Steelers vs. Browns game at FirstEnergy Stadium in 2004, things took a turn for the worse. Joey Porter (Pittsburgh Steelers) began yelling at William Green (Cleveland Browns) and then started throwing punches. Immediately both teams began exchanging blows at each other, and Joey Porter and the Green got ejected from the game. In addition to the ejection, both players had a $10k fine as well.
2001: New Orleans Saints vs. New York Jets
During a game between the New Orleans Saints and New York Jets in 2011 got very interesting in the 4th quarter when a scuffle took place. The skirmish took place when Jets safety, Damien Robinson, yanked the facemask of Aaron Brooks. To retaliate for pulling on his teammate’s face mask, Saints lineman, Kyle Turley, yanked off a Saints’ player helmet and threw it towards the sidelines.
1976: Dallas Cowboys vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
During Superbowl X, the Steelers kicker missed a field goal and took exception when a Cowboys player, Cliff Harris, taunted him. Right after the Cowboys player taunted the kicker, Jack Lambert, threw him to the ground. While nothing came out of that moment, it was certainly interesting to take place during both teams’ biggest playoff game.
Conclusion on the Best NFL Fights
There have been plenty of football fights between NFL players over the years. Some brawls take place minutes before kick-off while others happen in a mid-game during the NFL season. NFL team rivals and division games generally raise the tensions between teams, but some brawls occur between individuals.
Related Posts
Why Do Football Players Wear Visors