NFL Players Who Have Had Altercations With Fans
Several NFL players have had notable confrontations with fans during games or events. DK Metcalf confronted a fan near the Steelers' sideline, pulling the fan's shirt and swinging at him. Sources differ on the motive: a fan said it was because Metcalf called him by his full name, while NFL Network cited derogatory language toward Metcalf and a remark about his mother.
In Week 1 of the 2025 season, Lamar Jackson was involved in an incident where a fan slapped the helmets of Jackson and DeAndre Hopkins. Jackson shoved the fan back. Jackson faced no discipline, while the fan was indefinitely banned from NFL games.
Joey Bosa's January 2023 incident in Philadelphia featured a heated exchange with a heckler who questioned officiating fines, to which Bosa replied with an explicit tirade.
In November 2023 in Philadelphia, Jordan Phillips confronted a fan and Shaq Lawson shoved another fan amid threats from the crowd as the Bills pushed for a playoff run.
Quinton Jefferson's December 10, 2017 encounter with Jaguars fans occurred after he was nearly hit by flying objects. Jaguars fans involved were later banned from EverBank Field.
Shaun Ellis's December 21, 2008 snowball incident with Seahawks fans led to a $10,000 fine for Ellis and a later lawsuit from a fan he struck with a snowball.
Charles Woodson and Lincoln Kennedy were involved in a November 1999 snowball fight with Broncos fans at Mile High. Woodson threw a snowball that hit a woman, and Kennedy pursued a fan. Approximately eight fans were arrested following the incident.
