Football is a violent game by nature, but some players seemed to take that a little too literally. While their on-field skills were sometimes questionable, their ability to throw hands, start chaos, or just straight-up rumble was Hall of Fame-worthy.
These guys made more headlines for brawls than big plays and may have been more suited for the octagon than the gridiron. These NFL stars knew how to make it physical, whether pregame scuffles, midgame melees, or post-whistle showdowns.
20. Andre Johnson
He had a solid NFL career, but he’s most remembered for beating the brakes off Cortland Finnegan. That helmetless beatdown became an instant classic in NFL fight lore.
19. Albert Haynesworth
He was a menace when motivated, but his foot stomp on Andre Gurode will forever overshadow his stats. Haynesworth treated the field like a wrestling ring, not in a good way.
18. Aqib Talib
Talib was a solid corner but was even better at creating chaos. Whether it was chain-snatching or throwing punches, he brought WWE energy to every game.
17. Michael Crabtree
Crabtree never backed down, especially when Talib was around. His commitment to fighting one dude across multiple seasons is impressive in a very un-football way.
16. Richie Incognito
His whole career was fueled by rage, intensity, and a pinch of controversy. If there was a scrum, odds were that Incognito was either in it or had started it.
15. Steve Smith Sr.
He wasn’t afraid of anyone, regardless of size or position. Pound for pound, he may have been the most feisty player in league history.
14. Odell Beckham Jr.
He’s had a great career, but people forget how many fights he’s been in. From kicking nets to Josh Norman showdowns, OBJ was ready to go off at any moment.
13. Josh Norman
Norman turned trash talk into a combat sport. The man’s entire brand was confrontational and often escalated quickly.
12. Vontaze Burfict
If a fight was happening, Burfict was either instigating or finishing it. His football career was practically a highlight reel of personal fouls.
11. DeAngelo Hall
Hall talked a big game and was always down to back it up—verbally or physically. He played with a chip on his shoulder the size of a helmet.
10. James Harrison
Harrison was scary on the field and scarier in a skirmish. He didn’t fight often, but when he did, it was like watching a grizzly bear get poked.
9. LeGarrette Blount
His college punch still gets replayed, and his NFL scrappiness never faded. Blount ran angrily and occasionally punched angrily, too.
8. Martellus Bennett
Bennett always kept it honest, and that sometimes included throwing hands. He once suplexed a guy in practice like he was auditioning for Monday Night Raw.
7. Ndamukong Suh
Suh never met a post-whistle moment he couldn’t turn into a problem. His hits were mean, but his extracurriculars were even meaner.
6. Jalen Ramsey
Ramsey talks like a boxer and occasionally throws punches like one, too. He once took on a whole team in Jacksonville and looked ready to keep going.
5. Kyle Turley
He famously ripped off a defender’s helmet and threw it across the field like a Frisbee. That moment alone cements his spot on this list.
4. Myles Garrett
The helmet swing heard ’round the world. Garrett crossed the line from fight to felony with one infamous moment.
3. Cortland Finnegan
Finnegan lived to annoy and provoke, and he was shockingly good at both. He made fights happen the way quarterbacks make completions.
2. Bill Romanowski
Romano was fighting teammates, opponents, trainers—you name it. He had Hall of Fame rage and a tiny filter.
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1. Aaron Donald
He was better at playing football than fighting, but he’s built like a UFC heavyweight and fights like one, too. Donald may be the best defensive player of this era, but that joint-practice melee where he wielded helmets like dual swords? Legendary.
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