10. Cam Newton
Cam Newton, of course, made the cut when Sporting News recently named the 40 most despised NFL players in history. He was ranked 20th on the list. Despite having all the talent in the world, Cam Newton appeared to have given up on a play with a live ball at his feet and didn’t even try to retrieve it in his lone Super Bowl appearance. In the news conference following the Super Bowl loss, Newton sulked and demonstrated to millions worldwide that he is a bitter loser. Following that Super Bowl loss, Newton’s level of fan respect was never the same.
9. Ndamukong Suh
From the moment Ndamukong Suh set foot on the campus of Nebraska in 2005, everyone knew he would become a star in the NFL. The lineman, who was 6-foot-4 and 313 pounds, possessed a remarkable mix of strength and speed that is infrequently seen at the NCAA level. The Lions’ star, Suh, became more focused as his popularity grew. It must have been too light because Suh began to lash out on the field. Suh started making dirty moves that seemed to occur every game, such as kicking opponents in the helmet and stomping on them during scrums. After Matt Schaub let go of the ball in one game, he even booted him when it wasn’t sunny. The NFL and its fan base turned against the once-loved Suh due to his cheap shots and lack of regret for them.
8. Terrell Owens
Although Owens was a remarkably gifted receiver, he was also an exceptionally egotistical athlete who destroyed many franchises throughout his playing career. When Owens forced his way out of San Francisco, he spent two years in Philadelphia, where his two-year stay ended with him performing sit-ups in a driveway before the Eagles suspended him. Owens reappeared in Dallas, and that too had a disastrous outcome. Owens’ 15-year career ended with Hall of Fame stats after stops in Buffalo and Cincinnati. Owens was inducted into the Hall of Fame, but his absence from the event re-ignited the controversy.
7. Bill Romanowski
Bill Romanowski was the individual who was ideally suited for the harsh game of football. He embodied the stereotype of the archetypal tough guy to the point where most supporters and even his teammates dislike him. While in the NFL, Romanowski has committed a long list of unethical acts. His 1995 head kick to Arizona Cardinals fullback Larry Centers and 1997 spitting in the face of San Francisco 49ers wide receiver J.J. Stokes are two of his more infamously nasty deeds. Romanowski received a sizable fine for numerous illegal hits and a punch thrown at Gonzalez during the 1999 campaign. This confrontation and the mindset that accompanied it put Romanowski on this list.
6. Colin Kaepernick
Former professional athlete turned businessman Colin Kaepernick is a liberal political and social crusader. Because of the stigma he brings, NFL teams are just no longer hiring him. Everywhere he goes, scandal follows, and most team owners get involved. Recently, Kaepernick has gained attention for bringing up the country’s racial issues. The most despised player in the NFL is Colin Kaepernick, a backup quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers who has also sparked a wave of protests worldwide by refusing to stand for the national anthem.
5. Tom Brady
Tom Brady, the quarterback for the New England Patriots, may be the NFL player who divides fans the most regarding their opinions. This may be because he has won three Super Bowls or some fans detest his competitive character. Winning is the single most important factor in why Brady is still so despised across the nation. Brady is still winning and beating everyone’s favourite team throughout the country despite having played in three decades and becoming 44 years old in August. Additionally, he doesn’t appear to be slowing down. The NFL’s fan base cannot be won over even though he has established himself on a new team at an age when most quarterbacks are enjoying retirement.
4. Ray Lewis
Ray Lewis, who was recently inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018, is perhaps the best middle linebacker in NFL history. Throughout his 17-year career, he served as a captain for the Baltimore Ravens and was adored by most of his colleagues. As a result of his dominance at the MLB position, he was a real pain for the rival fan bases. And if some people didn’t dislike him for his play, they did so because he was charged with murder in 2000. Many question that judgment even though he was declared not guilty. In any case, he is a player who many despise, even due to his frequent and consistent remarks about religion. He was renowned for including the word “God” in nearly every phrase.
3. Michael Vick
Michael Vick, in his prime, was one of the most adaptable quarterbacks ever to play the game. He was a delight to watch for the first six years of his NFL career. Unfortunately, when he was found guilty in 2007 for his role in dogfighting, everything came to a screaming halt. He ultimately spent 21 months behind bars and had his NFL career suspended for two years. As you may imagine, this infuriated almost all of the fans. Michael Vick has made amends with the legal system and the football community, but his reputation has not yet fully recovered.
2. Aaron Rodgers
Many people are perplexed by the animosity toward Aaron Rodgers. His statistics speak for him; he is undoubtedly one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. But today is seen as one of the most selfish players on the field; according to some, Rodgers is also a bad leader and a whiner. He’s likely fallen victim to his hype, which is causing problems not just with fans, but also, it seems, with other players. According to a semi-scientific Twitter study, Aaron Rodgers is the most hated NFL player, with 266,850 negative tweets about him.
1. Antonio Brown
Nobody will soon forget Antonio Brown’s historic walkout during the Buccaneers’ 28-24 victory over the Jets at East Rutherford, New Jersey’s Metlife Stadium. No matter the fanbase, there’s something about taking your ball and walking away while representing the Super Bowl champs that don’t sit well with NFL fans. In the third quarter of the game, he left the Tampa sideline and headed for the locker room. Whether you agree with Brown or not, if you value professionalism, you probably won’t find his behavior acceptable. Even his most ardent followers have turned away from him because of his antics off the field, including frostbitten feet, helmet problems, sexual abuse allegations, and social media meltdowns.
