NFL

30 Times NFL Fans Showed Complete Lack Of Class

Darren Ryding - April 22, 2024

NFL

30 Times NFL Fans Showed Complete Lack Of Class

Darren Ryding - April 22, 2024

Football wouldn’t be the sport we love or anything even close without the fans. They create the atmosphere inside the stadiums and give the game a sense of meaning. But sometimes, fans bring football into disrepute. On many occasions, they’ve displayed an utter lack of class and made extremely negative headlines they were supposedly cheering on.

For example, fan fights are common across the NFL, and there are many other embarrassing incidents involving supporters from every franchise. Of course, some teams have worse reputations – yes, we are looking at you Philly – but there are bad apples in every bunch. Check out 30 times NFL fans showed a complete lack of class via Sports Illustrated below.

30. Bloody Brawl (2021)

One of the wildest fan brawls went down during a Rams-Chargers preseason game at SoFi stadium. A man wearing an Aaron Donald jersey had a shouting match with three other fans in front of him. Tensions appeared to be cooling and he turned his back. Suddenly, a woman behind the three men threw her beer at his back. Aaron Donald 2.0 immediately swung around and the fight began (via Mediaite).

It didn’t go well for him because they pummeled him and tore the shirt off his back. Finally, after several minutes, security intervened. But the fan’s face was bloody and beaten. Meanwhile, the woman who showed complete lack of class by instigating everything was perfectly fine. She was worse than anybody else in the situation because her action led to much worse action.

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29. Stop the Jets (2021)

For a long time, Jets fans had a reputation for being some of the worst in the NFL. However, these days, they’re not as badly behaved. That’s probably because years of losing football have reduced their spirit. One member of Gang Green rekindled their fighting spirit. After a harrowing defeat at the hands of the Dolphins, they weren’t in a good mood (via N.Y. Daily News).

There was a clash in the stadium before another in the parking lot. A Jets fan was embroiled in a skirmish with at least one Dolphins fan. But he suffered a bad beating after throwing the first punch. It was his fault because he could have walked away. Meanwhile, a parking attendant strolled by without getting involved. They all showed a lack of class.

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28. The Eagle Has Landed (2020)

Lincoln Financial Field didn’t host fans until October 19 because of the global health crisis. However, Philadelphia supporters made up for lost time very quickly. Widely regarded as the worst fans in U.S. sports, the Philly faithful remained true to the cause. “The City of Brotherly Love” never feels more ironic than on a cold night in Pennsylvania (via NBC Sports).

For reasons unknown, three men became angry with each other. First, they insulted each other and then began swinging haymakers. They showed the lack of class that Eagles fans are famous for. A Ravens supporter came off on the wrong end of a beating. He received a black eye for his troubles. This wasn’t the souvenir he wanted before he went home to Baltimore.

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27. Gender Balance (2021)

Pittsburgh hosted the Detroit Lions in Week 2. They duly won a bruising encounter 26-20 but there was another story after the game. Footage emerged of a bizarre brawl involving a woman and a man at Heinz field. First, she told him, “you can get the f*** out!” then swung a right hand at the man. His immediate instinct was to swing back but other fans stopped him.

The situation threatened to escalate as several people became involved. Finally, security arrived on the scene. But of course, they made to take the man away. One voice yelled, “She hit him first.” It’s unknown what happened next but hopefully, they ejected her from the stadium too. Both individuals showed a lack of class but she was the instigator (via Newsweek).

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26. Three Jags and a Bear (2021)

The 2021 draft saw Chicago and Jacksonville draft two of the most exciting rookie quarterbacks in recent history in Justin Fields and Trevor Lawrence. Then they proceeded to have dreadful seasons. The Bears hosted the Jaguars in October but suffered a tight defeat. It was a tough start to the season for both sets of fans. After the game, one man felt aggrieved and continuously told a pair of Jags fans where to go (via Huffington Post).

One of them confronted him and asked him if he wanted to fight. But the Bears fan punched him in the face and knocked him down. Suddenly, it escalated and multiple men were involved. They swarmed him and kicked him to the ground. However, the Bears fan stumbled back to his feet. It’s unknown what happened after this but everybody showed a lack of class.

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25. Buffalo Wild Wings (2015)

San Francisco fans developed a nasty reputation in 2015. They had a terrible week in September when a group battered a Vikings fan. This was bad enough but things became worse. Another posse targeted a Steelers fan outside an L.A. Buffalo Wild Wings. They couldn’t even keep their carnage to their city. However, their lack of class cost them badly.

Fortunately, the Steelers fan escaped before the Niners group could attack. Then they tried to pick a fight with another group of men. This was a mistake because the predators became the prey. They received a brutal beating from the gang they targeted. The police came to the scene but they didn’t arrest anybody (via Deadspin). It was undignified for everybody involved.

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24. Welcome Home (2021)

SoFi Stadium officially welcomed fans back for the first time on September 12, 2021. The global health crisis delayed the venue’s ability to hold crowds. Chicago traveled to L.A. to play the Rams in an NFC clash. In recent years, Rams fans have become some of the worst-behaved in the NFL. They probably don’t deserve their stadium because they fight so much.

Tension was rife from the moment they entered the arena. TMZ Sports released footage of fans facing off from their seats. This came early in the game but it got worse. Later, the same group of fans ran into each other again. This time the cold war became hot as a brawl ignited. Security intervened but the damage to their faces and reputations was done.

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23. Ray Rice Costume (2014)

NFL fans don’t have to be in the stadium to disgrace themselves. Some of them push the boundaries of taste in everyday life too. A clear example came in 2014 after the Ray Rice incident. Rice was one of the best running backs in the league but destroyed his career. The former Ravens star knocked his wife unconscious and dragged her body out of an elevator in a New Jersey casino.

Most people agree that this was disgraceful but not everybody. One fan decided to use the Rice scandal as the basis for his Halloween costume. He wore a Rice jersey and used a blow-up doll to represent the player’s wife. Then, he walked around, dragging the doll by the foot (via Daily Mail). His lack of class was deplorable but it shows that there are some sick people out there.

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22. TV Turbulence (2021)

NFL fans are an emotional bunch. Some of them take this to the next level. They are overly invested and prone to uncontrollable tantrums when their teams lose. Unfortunately, their television sometimes suffers the consequences. One ludicrous video saw a Steelers fan destroy his TV with a ladder. He felt infuriated because Baker Mayfield dissected his team.

Of course, his immediate reaction saw him grab a ladder from the next room. Then, he bludgeoned his set before punching it with his fist (via Audacy). Another clip from 2017 saw a Cowboys fan throw himself at his TV. He did this because the Packers scored a winning field goal against his beloved team (via Sporting News). Usually, fans feel remorse after episodes of stupidity.

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21. Homophobic Slurs (2021)

Jackson Mahomes is a controversial individual as the younger brother of Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes. He has used his brother’s name to build his brand on TikTok and other social platforms. He is slightly insufferable because of his stupid pranks and misbehavior in restaurants (via Golf Digest). However, he also suffered homophobic abuse at an NFL game.

Mahomes watched his brother’s team take on Denver at Empower Field. He was with Patrick’s fiancee Brittney Matthews when a fan verbally abused him. The individual altered Mahomes’ name to make a homophobic slur. Then, Matthews turned around and scolded the person for their lack of class (via FOX News).

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20. Taking A Knee (2020)

2020 was a very socially-charged time in American history. This affected many NFL players because of the racial divisions in society. Kansas City welcomed the Texans to Arrowhead Stadium on opening week. The teams wanted to make a gesture in support of equality. However, some fans didn’t appreciate it and booed their efforts (via AP News).

They showed a lack of class because it wasn’t about politics. The players interlocked arms and knelt during the anthem to make a statement. This moment proved divisive on social media because some people thought they pandered to leftist politics. Others felt that these people were missing the point. The athletes just wanted everybody to receive the same respect.

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19. Field Invasion (2021)

Let’s leave the profound behind and look at pure stupidity. Field invasions from fans are nothing new in any sports. There’s always one idiot who can’t resist the urge to run onto the field. It never ends well because security will catch them. Many of them face criminal charges and at a minimum receive a ban from entering the stadium. They also look stupid.

An excellent example occurred in October 2021. Pittsburgh hosted the Seahawks at Heinz Field when a fan ran onto the grass. The Seattle offense was on the field when play stopped. Police chased the offender but he tripped over his own feet. He probably paid hundreds of dollars to attend the game but left as a laughingstock. This lack of class was very costly (via CBS Local).

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18. Restroom Antics (2021)

Football stadium restrooms aren’t the most hygienic environments. Nonetheless, a pair of young Eagles fans couldn’t resist the urge to share a stall in Charlotte. The randy duo traveled for Philly’s game against the Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. That’s when a young woman went into the men’s restroom with her companion. TMZ reported that she was between 14 and 16 years old.

Police came to the scene and removed the pair from the stadium. However, they didn’t arrest them for public indecency. That’s because they couldn’t prove that they were doing the deed. Of course, it had to be a pair of Eagles fans because of the franchise’s reputation. It was a humiliating moment for the couple because the whole world saw their indiscretion.

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17. Fight Club (2021)

Many people prefer to watch football games at home on TV. They can see all of the action without worrying about the weather. Meanwhile, they can eat what they want and it’s a lot cheaper. Another benefit is that they don’t have to deal with morons fighting. Tickets cost a fortune, especially for elite teams like the Chiefs. Even so, some fans still get into fights.

A couple of brawls broke out during the first few weeks of the 2021 season. One saw multiple people involved as they were leaving Arrowhead Stadium. Another left a man unconscious after the fight. This isn’t the best environment for children because it’s dangerous. It can also be very traumatic too. Some people have a total lack of class and don’t care (via Fansided).

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16. Beer in the Face (2021)

Sometimes emotions get the better of people. Watching a football game should be a nice day out but tensions can escalate. One video showed a Steelers fan arguing loudly with a female Ravens fan in front of him. It’s unknown what started the disagreement but it culminated with her throwing her beer in his face. Hilariously, half of it landed on a child who immediately began to cry (via Sports Illustrated).

Then, the man erupted and unleashed a stream of verbal abuse. Instantly, everybody around them jumped up to defuse the situation. Those fans deserve credit because the security didn’t arrive until things settled down. The drunk man was an emotional wreck but he didn’t lay a finger on the woman. It was a messy situation and both of them displayed a lack of class.

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15. Inappropriate Actions (2019)

It’s not easy to be a woman in the sports world let alone the NFL. That’s especially true in the media because they constantly have to prove their investment and knowledge. This isn’t fair, but it’s the reality of the situation. Meanwhile, some dinosaur fans treat female sports reporters and presenters differently from men. They overstep their boundaries and make the women feel uncomfortable.

A striking incident occurred at the Tampa Bay practice field in 2019. ESPN’s Jenna Laine was working there when a fan came up behind her. First, he allegedly touched her on the head then he called her ‘sexy.’ She released a statement on the incident because it was inappropriate. Laine wanted men to understand this is unacceptable in modern society.

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14. Eagles Lost Twice (2021)

Another crowd fight when down as the Cowboys beat the Eagles in Week 18. Dallas blew Philadelphia away with a massive 51-26 scoreline. This is a strong rivalry and the result didn’t please the Philly fans. However, one Eagles supporter bit off more than he could chew. He became embroiled in a verbal dispute with two Dallas fans. Soon things turned physical.

One of the Dallas supporters strode toward his antagonizer and said “You want to fight?” Then, he unleashed a beating on his foe and left him splattered on the floor. He also showed a lack of class by beating the man next to him. Luckily, fans prevented him from stamping on his victim because security was very late. Just another day in the NFL.

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13. Snowball Effect (2021)

It’s never a good idea to throw something onto a sports field. If a fan hits a player with any kind of object they could earn a lifetime ban. Even snowballs aren’t a good idea. It may seem innocent but it’s easy to pick up a piece of ice. Some people even conceal heavier objects inside the snow. On December 26, the Seahawks hosted the Chicago Bears in Seattle.

One fan showed a lack of class by throwing snow at the Bears players. He almost hit Jimmy Graham after the tight end scored a touchdown. Late in the game, Nick Foles and his teammates took a knee. Once again, the Seahawks fan launched snowballs at the team (via The Spun). It was dumb because one person can’t hide from security cameras.

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12. Browns Brawl (2020)

2020 was a strange time for the NFL because of the global health crisis. Many franchises exercised caution and imposed fan limitations. There were fewer people attending games and they had to wear mandatory face coverings. Usually, this would reduce the atmosphere in a stadium. However, Cleveland stayed through to the spirit of NFL fan violence from the start (via Michigan Live).

The Browns played the Bengals in Week One. There were only 8,000 people at the game because of restrictions. They also had to remain six feet apart from other ticket holders. Somehow, Browns fans still managed to have a brawl. They threw fists as social distancing went out of the window. In the end, their lack of class saw security throw them out.

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11. Double Knockout (2021)

The Rams hosted the Titans at SoFi Stadium in a top-end clash. In the end, Matthew Stafford’s interceptions proved costly. He handed Tennessee the points in a discouraging loss. Meanwhile, there was chaos in the stands. A brawl broke out involving two Rams fans and a Titans fan. One of the formers went toe-to-toe with the others and knocked them both out.

First, the Rams jersey-wearing man savagely punched the Titans supporter. He barrel-rolled down the steps unconscious. Then, he KO’ed another fan with another punch. Another individual showed a lack of class by stepping on the man’s head as he passed by (via Newsweek). The rampaging Ram fan walked away after his double knockout. It was a remarkable display of violence.

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10. Get Off the Girl! (2021)

These days fights too often break out in NFL stadiums. They’re always for stupid reasons as well. Usually, a pair of drunk men create a completely avoidable situation. Sure, the videos are always entertaining. But these skirmishes often ruin the day for many innocent bystanders. Often, the security throws the wrong people out of the stadium. Sometimes people suffer injuries too.

The Ravens played the Packers in 2021 (via N.Y. Post). Suddenly, a scuffle broke out between two men in the crowd. One of them threw a punch. Then the Ravens’ fan bellyflopped toward his rival. But he landed on an innocent blonde woman instead. The surrounding crowd shouted at him to get off. Their lack of class could have seriously hurt the lady who just wanted to watch the game.

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9. Sid Brooks Snowball (1995)

Brooks was a long-serving equipment manager for USC and the Chargers. He was also an unwitting victim in one of the most deplorable NFL fan incidents ever. A veteran of the Vietnam and Korean wars, Brooks spent 27 years with the franchise. The former Air Force serviceman received 15 minutes of unwanted fame in 1995. San Diego played the Giants on a snowy winter’s day.

However, a snowball fight erupted and a lump of ice knocked Brooks unconscious. He lay stricken on the floor for half a minute. Meanwhile, police arrested 15 people during the incident. Law enforcement and security ejected another 175 people from the stadium (via S.F. Gate). Crazily, there were 27,000 no-shows that day because of the weather so it wasn’t even a full arena.

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8. Turn the Tables (2020)

The “Bills Mafia” is insane. They are the only franchise with a vendetta against furniture. In 2020, their fans went crazy after they won a playoff game. Videos emerged of the Mafia jumping off cars and walls onto fold-up tables. This traditional trend shows why they are the wildest fans in the NFL. In one video, a man jumped off his car and appeared to break his leg on a table.

Another lit himself on fire before smashing through the offending table. Moreover, his friends showed a lack of class by pouring beer on top of him after. More footage from the Bills’ tailgate showed a man pick up up a woman and slamming her through a table (via NESN). It’s reached a stage where the franchise has banned fans from smashing tables in the stadium. But they did it anyway.

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7. Raiders-Niners Brawl (2011)

There are a lot of fan brawls on this list but this one is arguably the worst because it turned into a literal gun battle. The Niners hosted the Raiders at Candlestick Park in 2011. These two franchises maintain a fierce rivalry but it escalated into something much darker. Oakland and San Francisco agreed never to play preseason games because of these events.

One man received two gunshots after the game. Incredibly, he managed to drive his truck through to security before collapsing. Meanwhile, they found another unconscious man in one of the stadium restrooms. It’s insane because people go to a game for escapism. They expect to come home without bullet holes in their bodies. But one man wasn’t that lucky (via Bleacher Report).

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6. Where’s My Hat? (2021)

The Packers played the Cardinals in Week 8 of the 2021 season. In the end, Green Bay won the game after a scintillating finish. Kyler Murray threw a late interception that cost his team and it finished 24-21 in favor of Green Bay. Meanwhile, there was anarchy in the stadium. For some reason, a man in a Seahawks jersey sat with the Cardinals’ fans. His novelty hat fell off and he demanded it back.

This was stupid because he was looking for trouble. Unfortunately, it found him in a way that he didn’t expect. Video footage emerged of Cardinals’ fans beating the living daylights out of him (via the N.Y. Daily News). He could have enjoyed the game as a neutral fan without inciting any anger. Instead, he infuriated the people around him. He paid the price for his lack of class.

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5. Patriots Parade (2019)

The Patriots defeated the Rams in Super Bowl LIII to end the 2018 season in style. They marked the occasion with a traditional parade through the streets of Boston. This seemed like a lovely way for all of their fans to gather and share the experience. However, some fans showed a lack of class. They drank too much and the event became a lot rowdier than organizers intended.

Multiple brawls broke out during the parade (via NESN). Flashpoints erupted like skirmishes on a battlefield. One mass riot saw fans throw a man underneath a car. Drunken morons threw each other against shop windows as the clash escalated. The police had their work cut out because over a million people lined the streets. But a loud minority stained their victory.

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4. Throwing Trash

The Dallas Cowboys had a strong regular season in 2021. Their 12-5 record was one of the best in the NFL and they had high playoffs hopes. They met the 49ers in the wild-card round and expected to win. San Francisco had a decent team but they weren’t as consistent as Dallas. However, they fell short against the Niners as they lost 23-17 (via CBS Sports).

There was an ugly scene after the game because the fans weren’t happy. They launched a maelstrom of trash onto the field. Originally, it was thought they were targeting their team. But they were throwing garbage at the officials. In the words of QB Dak Prescott: “Credit to them, then.” Their lack of class didn’t faze the Cowboys star (via USA Today), who later apologized profusely for his thoughtless words.

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3. Michael Irvin’s Injury (1999)

Philadelphia Eagles fans hate the Dallas Cowboys. But sometimes this manifests itself in a deplorable way. Irvin was one of the best wide receivers of his generation. However, the Eagles didn’t appreciate him very much. The receiver caught a pass from Troy Aikman in the first quarter of their 1999 game. Unfortunately, two Eagles players hit him at the same time and he fell awkwardly (via NBC Sports).

Irvin twisted his neck and left the field on a stretcher. Sadly, the injury ended his career because it was too dangerous for him to play again. Furthermore, the Eagles fans showed a classic lack of class. They booed the stricken Irvin as he lay motionless on the stretcher. It’s fair to say that they didn’t know that this was the end for him. Nonetheless, it was still horrible because he was in agony.

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2. Sex Toy on the Field (2021)

The Buffalo Bills are a special group of fans. They constantly show a lack of class but do so in the most hilarious way. A case in point is their relatively recent dildo tradition. It began in 2016 when the Bills played the Patriots (via N.Y. Post). A fan threw a sex toy onto the field to the glee of the crowd. Since then, multiple supporters have repeated the action against their fierce rivals.

In 2021, Buffalo routed the Patriots in the AFC Wild Card round. Rookie QB Mac Jones threw a touchdown pass to Kendrick Bourne. Suddenly, the receiver pointed to the ground in confusion. Of course, the dildo made its reappearance. Instantly, the footage went viral to the delight of NFL fans across the league. It’s fair to say that many parents had difficult conversations with their kids after.

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1. Eagles Hate Santa (1968)

Will anything ever top this fan exhibition? Philadelphia has a well-earned reputation as the toughest sports city in the U.S. However, they took it to the next level in 1968 (via NBC Sports). It’s important to give some context. This was a terrible season for the Eagles and their fans weren’t happy. They loathed head coach Joe Kuharich and created the catchy chant, “Joe must go!”

The Eagles front office failed to read the room. They decided that it was a good idea to show some festive spirit. Santa Claus strode onto the field but this tipped the fans over the edge. They immediately bombarded the hapless figure with snowballs. Of course, it was a lack of class from the fans but it became iconic. It’s also the most Philly story of all time.

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30 Times NFL Fans Showed Complete Lack Of Class

30 Times NFL Fans Showed Complete Lack Of Class

30. Bloody Brawl (2021)

29. Stop the Jets (2021)

28. The Eagle Has Landed (2020)

27. Gender Balance (2021)

26. Three Jags and a Bear (2021)

25. Buffalo Wild Wings (2015)

24. Welcome Home (2021)

23. Ray Rice Costume (2014)

22. TV Turbulence (2021)

21. Homophobic Slurs (2021)

20. Taking A Knee (2020)

19. Field Invasion (2021)

18. Restroom Antics (2021)

17. Fight Club (2021)

16. Beer in the Face (2021)

15. Inappropriate Actions (2019)

14. Eagles Lost Twice (2021)

13. Snowball Effect (2021)

12. Browns Brawl (2020)

11. Double Knockout (2021)

10. Get Off the Girl! (2021)

9. Sid Brooks Snowball (1995)

8. Turn the Tables (2020)

7. Raiders-Niners Brawl (2011)

6. Where’s My Hat? (2021)

5. Patriots Parade (2019)

4. Throwing Trash

3. Michael Irvin’s Injury (1999)

2. Sex Toy on the Field (2021)

1. Eagles Hate Santa (1968)

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