The NFL has a lot of players who come in and out of the league, who make names for themselves and gain a following from fans of their respective teams and opposing fans who respect their hustle in the league. However, there are players who everyone loves to hate, whether it’s because of how good they are, off-the-field controversies, or controversies on the field. From dirty antics on the field to dark demons off the field, here at TPS, we’re going to explore the most hated NFL players of all time.
Here are 25 of the most hated NFL Players of all time.
Which NFL player do you hate the most?
Ndamukong Suh
Suh may be a Super Bowl 55 champion and a five-time Pro Bowler, but he is remembered for his dirty style of play during his time in the league. Suh also stomped on the arm of Packers guard Evan Smith, which netted him a two-game suspension without pay. Suh has been fined over $600,000 for personal fouls, and Forbes named Suh the most hated NFL player for his actions. Fans also disliked Suh for his on-field conduct and lack of public apology or remorse for his actions.
Vontaze Burfict
Burfict was a hard-hitting linebacker during the 2010s, but he was extremely dirty during his playing career. Burfict’s hits were tremendous and illegal, which resulted in fines and suspensions from the league. One of Burfict’s notable hits was on Antonio Brown during the 2015 Wildcard Round against the Steelers. Burfict’s NFL career concluded after making a helmet-to-helmet hit on Jack Doyle in a week four game against the Colts, resulting in a suspension for the 2019 season during his brief time with the Raiders.
Terrell Owens
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Owens is regarded as one of the best wide receivers in the NFL, but he’s had a reputation on the field for excessive celebrations whenever he scored a touchdown. Most notable celebrations include the time he ran to the center of the Cowboys’ logo and celebrated scoring twice, and was tackled by George Teague as a result, and pulled a Sharpie marker out of his sock and signed a football during a 2002 game against the Seahawks. Owens also faced criticism for how he left the 49ers and Eagles, as well as his public criticism of his teammates during his playing days.
Tom Brady
Yeah, TB12 may have seven Super Bowl championships with the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and has all the accomplishments we all want. However, TB12 is a classic love-to-hate story due to the constant winning from the Patriots, the accusations from “Deflategate,” and the Patriots being involved with “Spygate” back in 2007. Regardless, TB12 will be a first-ballot Hall of Famer despite making many NFL fans jealous of all his success on the field.
Patrick Mahomes
Similar to Tom Brady, Mahomes has etched a name for himself in the league and made the Chiefs a championship dynasty. Some NFL fans hate Mahomes for his success and constant winning, while other fans really find his wife, Brittany Mahomes, and brother Jackson Mahomes extremely irritating. Despite that, Mahomes is going to continue winning for the Chiefs, and fans will continue to get sick of it.
Travis Kelce
Similar to Mahomes, Kelce is part of the Chiefs’ dynasty that won’t stop winning, complemented by his unique style of play on the field. Fans dislike Kelce for his public relationship with Taylor Swift, which has drawn the ire of fans who can’t stand all of the new Chiefs bandwagon fans hoping to get on board their dynasty train. Despite all the criticism, Kelce is a virtual lock for the Hall of Fame in Canton.
Jay Cutler
When fans think of quarterbacks who are good but couldn’t care less about using their talents, they think about Cutler. NFL fans hate Cutler’s on-field demeanor, with his body language showing fans he didn’t care about his performance, nor did he care whether he threw more interceptions in games than touchdowns. Cutler was also criticized for his lack of toughness during the 2011 NFC Championship game when he chose to sit out the second half because of a knee injury, which was revealed to be an MCL Sprain. Cutler has been questioned about that decision to this day.
Chad Johnson
Similar to Terrell Owens, Johnson was heavily disliked in his heyday for his flamboyant celebrations, on-field antics, trash-talking, and controversial statements and actions. One of Johnson’s notable celebrations included him wearing a jacket with “Future H.O.F. 20??” during a Monday Night game against the Baltimore Ravens in 2007. People disliked Johnson for changing his name to “Ochocinco,” which demonstrated his narcissism and appeared to be more for self-promotion. Johnson was also a “me-first” type of player, who got on the nerves of many, and someone who could have been more committed to football.
Eli Apple
When fans think of a cornerback who is beyond irritating, the first name that comes to mind is Eli Apple. Apple is very hated for its on-field performance, controversial statements, and lack of humility. Landon Collins, who played with Apple on the New York Giants, referred to him as a “cancer” in the locker room. Fans also hated Apple for his performance in Super Bowl 56, where he was burned in coverage, and one of the reasons why the Cincinnati Bengals lost that game.
Greg Hardy
Hardy had a promising career in the NFL. Then, fans turned on him fast for his domestic violence charges, and he was found guilty of assaulting his ex-girlfriend and communicating threats. Hardy was released by the Carolina Panthers and signed with the Dallas Cowboys, but that relationship didn’t last long, as Hardy drew criticism for his inappropriate tweets, tardiness, and being a bad influence on younger players. Hardy was released after the 2015 season and hasn’t been back in the league ever since.
Ray Lewis
Lewis is arguably one of the greatest middle linebackers to play in the NFL. Fans outside of Baltimore despised Lewis’ strong play style on defense, while other fans don’t like the guy for his alleged involvement in the murders of Jacinth Baker and Richard Lollar. Lewis was indicted, but the charges were dismissed. Lewis also invokes the name of God in everything, which also irritates some fans. Despite that, Lewis is enshrined in Canton.
Rae Carruth
Carruth had a decent rookie season, but everything fell apart for him on the field due to injuries. Then, Carruth was found guilty of being involved in the murder of his then-girlfriend, Cherica Adams, who was eight months pregnant with their child, and Carruth was sentenced to 18 years in prison. Carruth had a lack of remorse until he apologized in 2018, which also disgusted fans. The child was saved and graduated from high school in 2021.
Conrad Dobler
The late Conrad Dobler was dubbed the dirtiest player by Sports Illustrated in 1977. Fans and opposing players hated Dobler, but he relished the hate and was proud of it. He treated games like street fights by eye-gouging his opponent, twisting their face masks, whipping their legs, and spitting and biting his opponent. Dobler’s antics wouldn’t last a second in today’s NFL.
James Harrison
Harrison wasn’t just fierce but a bully on the field against opposing offenses. Fans of opposing teams disliked Harrison for his lack of sportsmanship, controversial actions, and moves, particularly being released by the Pittsburgh Steelers and immediately signed by the New England Patriots days later. Harrison was one of the scariest defensive players to line up against, and fans hated how he crushed the competition.
Michael Vick
Vick may have been one of the most electric quarterbacks to play in the league during the 2000s, but once the stories about him being involved with illegal dogfights came out, fans immediately turned against him. Vick was suspended by the league and spent a couple of years in prison for his role in these fights. Vick was released and redeemed himself from his horrific past, but some fans will never forgive him for the dogfights. Never mess with man’s best friend.
Ryan Leaf
Leaf is considered one of the biggest draft busts of all time. Fans disliked him for his immaturity, poor work ethic, lack of self-discipline, and negative attitude towards coaches, teammates, and the media. Leaf even faked a hand injury to go golfing instead of focusing on football. Leaf also ran into a ton of substance abuse and legal trouble after his NFL career imploded, leaving a bitter taste for NFL fans everywhere.
Albert Haynesworth
Haynesworth is hated by fans for his on-field behavior, from when he stomped on Andre Gurode’s head during his Titan days, giving up on plays, lack of commitment, and overall laziness after he signed a massive seven-year, $100-million deal with Washington in 2009. Haynesworth even said, “If you’ve got haters, that means you’re doing something right.”
Hines Ward
Ward may be admired by Steelers fans, but outside of Pittsburgh, fans detested his aggressiveness, reckless style of play, and a rule was named after him after he delivered a blindside hit to Keith Rivers that broke his jaw. Ward was hard-hitting, physical, and was named the NFL’s dirtiest player in 2009 for his aggressive blocking on offense.
Ben Roethlisberger
While Roethlisberger was a successful quarterback and was admired in the “Steel City,” fans outside of Pittsburgh despised him. Roethlisberger was described as a guy who was difficult with the media, had a history of criticizing teammates, had been accused of sexual assault twice, resulting in a six-game suspension, which was reduced to four, admitted to alcohol addiction, and had been called a diva.
Aaron Rodgers
Yes, Rodgers will be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. However, Rodgers has faced backlash for his diva behavior, overinflated ego, stance on vaccines and alternative medicines, taking a personal trip to Egypt instead of attending minicamp, his difficulty working with coaches and teammates in the past, and decimating opposing teams in his prime, most notably, the Chicago Bears.
Tyreek Hill
Hill is one of the fastest wide receivers to grace a football field. However, Hill is hated for his dark past, which includes being investigated for domestic violence and battery against his son, trash-talking on the field, his trolling on social media, his public detainment before the first game of the 2024 NFL season, even though he was released, and wanting out of Miami, and then saying he wants to stay in Miami. Hill may be talented, but he carries a lot of baggage.
Brett Favre
Favre was amazing during his playing days with the Green Bay Packers, but fans began to turn on him when he retired, then un-retired. Favre had allegations of sexually harassing a New York Jets reporter, controversial public statements, putting himself above his team, and, most recently, his alleged involvement in the Mississippi welfare scandal, which has NFL fans perceiving Favre further in a negative light.
Antonio Brown
Brown used to be loved and admired in the NFL, but Brown took a blow torch to his NFL career with his on-the-field antics, horrible behavior off the field, posting an Instagram live of the Steelers coaches talking smack about the New England Patriots, throwing teammates under the bus, getting the Oakland Raiders to release him due to his antics, alleged sexual assaults, and taking his helmet and shoulder pads off during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers week 17 game against the Jets. The list goes on, and Brown caused a lot of this implosion on himself.
Bill Romanowski
Romanowski may be a four-time Super Bowl Champion with the San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos, but dirty play garnered a lot of hate from NFL fans everywhere. Fans disliked Romanowski for his aggressive play, his admission to using steroids, spitting on opponents, getting into fights with his opponents, dislocating Shannon Sharpe’s elbow in a 2002 game, and punching his own teammate, Marcus Williams, in the face in 2003. Romanowski admitted to playing the game with a lot of intensity and hate towards his opponents during his playing career. If Romanowski played in today’s NFL, he would be banned from the league because of his dirtiness.
Deshaun Watson
Where do we begin? Watson was once beloved for his style of play and athleticism with the Houston Texans. Then, over two dozen sexual misconduct and assault allegations came to light in 2021. Fans immediately jumped ship and wanted nothing to do with Watson. The Texans traded him to the Cleveland Browns in 2022, and NFL fans immediately started hating them for letting him play and giving him a contract extension. Fans also hated Watson’s massive dip in production when he did play for the Browns, but when he was injured in 2023, Joe Flacco outperformed him and led the Browns to the playoffs. Watson’s career in Cleveland is likely over due to a re-ruptured Achilles injury, and fans hope he never plays football again.
