10. James Harrison
James Harrison is a former linebacker who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Cincinnati Bengals, and the New England Patriots. He was known for his aggressive and violent style of play, which often resulted in fines and suspensions. He holds the record for the most fines in a single season, with $125,000 in 2010. His most controversial play was a helmet-to-helmet hit on Cleveland Browns receiver Mohamed Massaquoi, which knocked him out of the game and earned Harrison a $75,000 fine.
9. Albert Haynesworth
Albert Haynesworth is a former defensive tackle who played for the Tennessee Titans, the Washington Redskins, the New England Patriots, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was one of the highest-paid players in NFL history, but also one of the most disappointing and dirty. His most infamous play was when he stomped on the face of Dallas Cowboys center Andre Gurode, who had lost his helmet, causing him to bleed profusely and need 30 stitches. Haynesworth was suspended for five games, the longest suspension for an on-field incident in NFL history.
8. Hines Ward
Hines Ward is a former wide receiver who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was a four-time Pro Bowler and a two-time Super Bowl champion. He was also known for his hard-hitting blocks, which often blindsided unsuspecting defenders and caused injuries. He was voted the dirtiest player in the NFL by his peers in a 2009 Sports Illustrated poll. His most controversial play was a block on Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Keith Rivers, which broke his jaw and ended his rookie season.
7. Rodney Harrison
Rodney Harrison is a former safety who played for the San Diego Chargers and the New England Patriots. He was a two-time Pro Bowler and a two-time Super Bowl champion. He was also known for his ruthless and reckless hits, which earned him the nickname “The Hitman”. He was fined more than $200,000 and suspended four times in his career for illegal hits. His most controversial play was a helmet-to-helmet hit on Indianapolis Colts receiver Marvin Harrison, which gave him a concussion and sparked a brawl between the teams.
6. Richie Incognito
Richie Incognito is a former offensive guard who played for the St. Louis Rams, the Miami Dolphins, the Buffalo Bills, and the Oakland Raiders. He was a four-time Pro Bowler and a two-time All-Pro. He was also known for his bullying and abusive behavior, both on and off the field. He was suspended for eight games in 2013 for his role in the harassment of his teammate Jonathan Martin, which led to a scandal and an investigation by the NFL. His most controversial play was when he punched Houston Texans defensive end Antonio Smith in the face, which resulted in a $35,000 fine and a one-game suspension.
5. Jack Tatum
Jack Tatum is a former safety who played for the Oakland Raiders and the Houston Oilers. He was a three-time Pro Bowler and a Super Bowl champion. He was also known for his devastating and dangerous hits, which earned him the nickname “The Assassin”. He was involved in several controversial plays, but the most notorious one was when he hit New England Patriots receiver Darryl Stingley, which paralyzed him from the neck down and ended his career. Tatum never apologized or showed remorse for the hit, which caused a lasting animosity between the teams.
4. Ndamukong Suh
Ndamukong Suh is a former defensive tackle who played for the Detroit Lions, the Miami Dolphins, the Los Angeles Rams, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was one of the most dominant and disruptive players in his position, but also one of the most fined and suspended for his dirty and dangerous plays. He was accused of stomping, kicking, punching, and grabbing the facemasks of his opponents, as well as intentionally stepping on the injured legs of Aaron Rodgers and Matt Schaub. His most controversial play was when he slammed the head of Green Bay Packers lineman Evan Dietrich-Smith into the ground and then stomped on his arm, which resulted in a $30,000 fine and a two-game suspension.
3. Conrad Dobler
Conrad Dobler was a former guard who played for the St. Louis Cardinals, the New Orleans Saints, and the Buffalo Bills. He was known for his nasty and violent style of play, which earned him the nickname “The Dirtiest Player in Pro Football History” by Sports Illustrated. He was notorious for biting, spitting, punching, kicking, and gouging the eyes of his opponents, as well as using foreign objects such as scissors and fishhooks to injure them. His most infamous play was when he stomped on the face of Dallas Cowboys center Andre Gurode, who had lost his helmet, causing him to bleed profusely and need 30 stitches. Dobler was suspended for five games, the longest suspension for an on-field incident in NFL history.
2. Bill Romanowski
Bill Romanowski was a former linebacker who played for the San Francisco 49ers, the Philadelphia Eagles, the Denver Broncos, and the Oakland Raiders. He was a four-time Super Bowl champion and a two-time Pro Bowler, but also one of the most hated and feared players in the league. He was involved in several incidents of unsportsmanlike conduct, such as spitting on J.J. Stokes, breaking Kerry Collins’ jaw, and throwing a football at Bryan Cox’s groin. His most controversial play was when he ripped off the helmet of his teammate Marcus Williams during practice and punched him in the eye, which fractured his orbital bone and ended his career. Romanowski was sued by Williams for $3.8 million and settled out of court.
1. Vontaze Burfict
Vontaze Burfict is a former linebacker who played for the Cincinnati Bengals and the Oakland Raiders. He was an undrafted free agent who became a Pro Bowler and a second-team All-Pro, but also one of the most penalized and suspended players in NFL history. He was notorious for his helmet-to-helmet hits, late hits, cheap shots, and personal fouls, which caused him to be fined over $5.3 million and suspended for 22 games due to 14 separate incidents. His most controversial play was when he hit Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Antonio Brown in the head, which gave him a concussion and sparked a brawl between the teams. Burfict was suspended for three games and later called the hit “legal” and accused Brown of faking the injury.
