The following is a list of suspensions in the National Football League (NFL). Most NFL suspensions have been for players, but several coaches, owners, general managers, and game officials have also been suspended.
In 1997, in the wake of the O. J. Simpson murder trial, the league under Commissioner Paul Tagliabue adopted a Violent Crime Policy which gave the league broad powers to fine and suspend players for violent crimes following a conviction. [1] : 143 In 2000, the league revised its Violent Crime Policy to allow the league to suspend for non-violent crimes and other off-the-field actions. This was the Personal Conduct Policy. [1] : 143
After Roger Goodell became commissioner in 2006, the league began cracking down on players performing violent hits, as well as handing out more frequent suspensions for violating the league's personal conduct and substance abuse policies. In March 2007, Goodell introduced a revised Personal Conduct Policy which strengthened the existing conduct rules. [1] : 144 Following the 2011 NFL season, Goodell handed down one of the most severe suspensions in league history when he suspended eight players and coaches for their involvement in the New Orleans Saints bounty scandal. [2] [3] [4]
Date suspended | Suspension length | Name | Position | Team at the time of suspension | Reason | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
December 17, 1925 | Life (reinstated in 1926) [5] | Art Folz | QB | Chicago Cardinals | Involvement in the 1925 Chicago Cardinals–Milwaukee Badgers scandal | [6] |
April 3, 1947 | Life [a] | Frank Filchock | QB [b] | New York Giants | Fixing the 1946 NFL Championship Game | [7] |
Merle Hapes | RB | |||||
November 22, 1947 | 1 game | Jack Matheson | OE | Chicago Bears | Conduct detrimental to the league | [8] |
April 17, 1963 | Entire 1963 season | Alex Karras | DT | Detroit Lions | Betting on NFL games | [7] |
Paul Hornung | HB [c] | Green Bay Packers | ||||
July 27, 1982 | 3 games | Roger Carr [d] | WR | Baltimore Colts | Conduct detrimental to the team | [9] |
May 20, 1983 | Indefinite (reinstated in June 1984) [10] | Art Schlichter | QB | Baltimore Colts | Betting on NFL games and other sporting events | [11] |
August 2, 1983 | Entire 1983 season | Mike Reilly | LB | Los Angeles Rams | Being convicted of vehicular manslaughter | [12] |
October 9, 1986 | 1 game | Greg Townsend | DE | Los Angeles Raiders | Unsportsmanlike conduct, stemming from his participation in a brawl versus the Kansas City Chiefs on October 5, 1986 | [13] |
November 24, 1986 | 2 games | Charles Martin | DE | Green Bay Packers | Body-slamming Chicago Bears quarterback Jim McMahon | [14] |
August 30, 1990 | 6 games [d] | Eric Dickerson | RB | Indianapolis Colts | Conduct detrimental to the team | [15] |
November 8, 1991 | 4 games [d] | Eric Dickerson | RB | Indianapolis Colts | Conduct detrimental to the team | [16] |
November 16, 1994 | 1 game [d] | Andre Rison | WR | Atlanta Falcons | Showing up late to multiple team meetings | [17] |
September 23, 1996 | Entire 1996 season [d] | Jeff George | QB | Atlanta Falcons | Violation of the league's personal conduct policy, stemming from an argument during a game with Falcons head coach June Jones | [18] |
November 17, 1998 | 1 game [d] | Derrick Thomas | OLB | Kansas City Chiefs | Unsportsmanlike conduct, stemming from multiple personal fouls in a loss against the Denver Broncos | [19] |
December 17, 1999 | Indefinite | Rae Carruth | WR | Free agent | Violation of the league's Violent Crime Policy, stemming from murder charge | [20] |
March 14, 2000 | 1 game | Jumbo Elliott | OT | New York Jets | Violation of the league's Violent Crime Policy | [21] |
March 14, 2000 | 1 game | Matt O'Dwyer | G | Cincinnati Bengals | Violation of the league's Violent Crime Policy | [21] |
March 14, 2000 | 1 game | Denard Walker | CB | Tennessee Titans | Violation of the league's Violent Crime Policy | [21] |
August 24, 2000 | 1 game | Mario Bates | RB | Arizona Cardinals | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy | [22] |
September 20, 2000 | 2 games | Mustafah Muhammad | DB | Indianapolis Colts | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy | [23] |
July 26, 2001 | 1 game | Michael Pittman | RB | Arizona Cardinals | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy | [24] |
August 16, 2001 | Entire 2001 season [d] | Terry Glenn | WR | New England Patriots | Violation of team rules, stemming from his failure to report to training camp | [25] |
October 9, 2001 | 1 game | Leon Searcy | OT | Baltimore Ravens | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy | [26] |
November 22, 2001 | 1 game [d] | Gerard Warren | DT | Cleveland Browns | Conduct detrimental to the team | [27] |
Mike Sellers | FB | |||||
Lamar Chapman | CB | |||||
December 11, 2001 | 4 games [d] | R. Jay Soward | WR | Jacksonville Jaguars | Violating team rules | [28] |
December 17, 2001 | 4 games [d] | Albert Connell | WR | New Orleans Saints | Conduct detrimental to the team (stealing from teammate Deuce McAllister) | [29] |
March 19, 2002 | 1 game | Victor Riley | LT | Free agent | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy | [30] |
September 1, 2002 | 4 games | Ron Warner | DE | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Undisclosed | [31] |
October 24, 2002 | 1 game | Rodney Harrison | S | San Diego Chargers | Helmet-to-helmet collision on Oakland Raiders wide receiver Jerry Rice | [32] |
November 21, 2002 | 1 game [d] | Steve Smith | WR | Carolina Panthers | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy, stemming from fighting teammate Anthony Bright during practice | [33] |
August 29, 2003 | 1 game [d] | Derrick Rodgers | LB | New Orleans Saints | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy | [34] |
June 22, 2004 | 3 games | Michael Pittman | RB | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy, stemming from a domestic violence incident | [35] |
September 6, 2004 | 1 game | Leonardo Carson | DT | Dallas Cowboys | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy, stemming from being convicted of burglary and kidnapping | [36] |
October 18, 2004 | 1 game | Dwayne Carswell | TE | Denver Broncos | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy, stemming from a domestic violence incident | [37] |
June 15, 2005 | 2 games | Mike Doss | S | Indianapolis Colts | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy, stemming from alleged possession of firearms | [38] |
August 20, 2005 | 1 game | Brad Hopkins | OL | Tennessee Titans | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy, stemming from a domestic violence incident | [39] |
December 15, 2005 | 1 game | Wayne Hunter | OL | Seattle Seahawks | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy | [40] |
October 2, 2006 | 5 games | Albert Haynesworth | DT | Tennessee Titans | Stomping on Dallas Cowboys center Andre Gurode | [41] |
October 6, 2006 | 2 games | Chris Henry | WR | Cincinnati Bengals | Alleged possessions of firearms | [42] |
November 22, 2006 | 1 game | Ricky Manning | CB | Chicago Bears | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy, stemming from a domestic violence incident | [43] |
May 15, 2007 | Entire 2007 season | Adam Jones | CB | Tennessee Titans | Attacking a stripper and threatening a security guard's life | [44] |
May 15, 2007 | 8 games | Chris Henry | WR | Cincinnati Bengals | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy | [45] |
June 4, 2007 | 8 games | Tank Johnson | DT | Chicago Bears | Alleged possession of six firearms and violation of probation on other charges | [46] |
July 13, 2007 | 2 games | Sam Brandon | S | Denver Broncos | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy | [47] |
July 18, 2007 | 2 games | Jared Allen | DE | Kansas City Chiefs | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy, stemming from two DUI arrests | [48] |
July 27, 2007 | Indefinite (reinstated in July 2009) [49] | Michael Vick | QB | Atlanta Falcons | Involvement in the Bad Newz Kennels dog fighting scandal | [50] |
July 27, 2007 | 2 games [d] | Jeremy Bridges | OG | Carolina Panthers | Misdemeanor assault charges | [51] |
November 5, 2007 | 2 games [d] | Justin Durant | LB | Jacksonville Jaguars | Violation of team rules, stemming from an arrest | [52] |
Richard Collier | OT | |||||
July 14, 2008 | 3 games | Darrion Scott | DE | Free agent | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy, stemming from child endangerment charges | [53] |
August 1, 2008 | 1 game | Fabian Washington | CB | Baltimore Ravens | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy | [54] |
August 2, 2008 | 2 games [d] | Steve Smith | WR | Carolina Panthers | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy, stemming from fighting teammate Ken Lucas during training camp | [55] |
August 5, 2008 | 3 games (later reduced to 1 game) | Brandon Marshall | WR | Denver Broncos | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy, stemming from various off the field incidents | [56] |
August 30, 2008 | 4 games | Bryant McKinnie | OT | Minnesota Vikings | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy | [57] |
September 28, 2008 | 1 game | Eric Smith | DT | New York Jets | Helmet-to-helmet collision against Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Anquan Boldin | [58] |
October 3, 2008 | 1 game [d] | Tommie Harris | DT | Chicago Bears | Violation of team rules | [59] |
October 14, 2008 | 4 games | Adam Jones | CB | Dallas Cowboys | Involvement in an altercation with a bodyguard | [60] |
November 2, 2008 | 1 game [d] | Larry Johnson | RB | Kansas City Chiefs | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy | [61] |
November 18, 2008 | 1 game [d] | Kellen Winslow II | TE | Cleveland Browns | Conduct detrimental to the team | [62] |
December 8, 2008 | 4 games [d] | Plaxico Burress | WR | New York Giants | Accidental shooting with a firearm | [63] |
April 9, 2009 | 3 games | Marshawn Lynch | RB | Buffalo Bills | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy | [64] |
July 7, 2009 | 1 game | Michael Boley | LB | New York Giants | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy | [65] |
August 13, 2009 | Entire 2009 season | Donté Stallworth | WR | Cleveland Browns | Crashed into and killed a pedestrian while DUI | [66] |
September 23, 2009 | Until release from prison in 2011 | Plaxico Burress | WR | Free agent | Aforementioned accidental shooting | [67] |
October 19, 2009 | 1 game | Dante Wesley | CB | Carolina Panthers | Launching himself against Tampa Bay Buccaneer punt returner Clifton Smith | [68] |
October 29, 2009 | 1 game [d] | Larry Johnson | RB | Kansas City Chiefs | Conduct detrimental to the team, stemming from using gay slurs on Twitter | [69] |
April 21, 2010 | 6 games (later reduced to 4 games) | Ben Roethlisberger | QB | Pittsburgh Steelers | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy | [70] |
June 3, 2010 | 1 game | Quinn Ojinnaka | OL | Atlanta Falcons | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy | [71] |
July 1, 2010 | 3 games | Vincent Jackson | WR | San Diego Chargers | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy | [72] |
August 31, 2010 | 1 game | Aqib Talib | CB | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy | [73] |
September 1, 2010 | 1 game | Maurice Purify | WR | Cincinnati Bengals | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy | [74] |
September 27, 2010 | 1 game | Tony McDaniel | DT | Miami Dolphins | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy, stemming from an arrest for battery | [75] |
October 20, 2010 | 1 game [d] | Pat McAfee | P | Indianapolis Colts | Conduct detrimental to the team | [76] |
December 7, 2010 | 4 games [d] | Albert Haynesworth | DT | Washington Redskins | Conduct detrimental to the team | [77] |
January 3, 2011 | 1 game [d] | Brandon Deaderick | NT | New England Patriots | Violation of team rules | [78] |
August 18, 2011 | 5 games | Terrelle Pryor | QB | Oakland Raiders | Involvement in receiving improper benefits while at Ohio State | [79] |
September 22, 2011 | 3 games | Cedric Benson | HB | Cincinnati Bengals | Misdemeanor assault | [80] |
September 22, 2011 | 2 games | Brandon Underwood | CB | Free agent | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy | [81] |
October 25, 2011 | Entire 2011 season | Chris Cook | CB | Minnesota Vikings | Domestic assault charges | [82] |
November 29, 2011 | 2 games | Ndamukong Suh | DT | Detroit Lions | Stomping of Green Bay Packers lineman Evan Dietrich-Smith | [83] |
December 13, 2011 | 1 game | James Harrison | LB | Pittsburgh Steelers | Violent tackle on Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy | [84] |
May 2, 2012 | Entire 2012 season (later overturned) [85] | Jonathan Vilma | LB | New Orleans Saints | Involvement in the New Orleans Saints bounty program | [86] |
8 games (later overturned) [85] | Anthony Hargrove | DE | Green Bay Packers | |||
4 games (later overturned) [85] | Will Smith | DE | New Orleans Saints | |||
3 games (later overturned) [85] | Scott Fujita | LB | Cleveland Browns | |||
August 20, 2012 | 3 games | Aaron Berry | CB | Free agent | Two arrests during the 2012 offseason | [87] |
August 30, 2012 | 1 game | Kenny Britt | WR | Tennessee Titans | Various incidents involving police | [88] |
September 25, 2012 | 1 game | Joe Mays | LB | Denver Broncos | Illegal hit on Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub | [89] |
October 16, 2012 | 2 games [d] | Alameda Ta'amu | NT | Pittsburgh Steelers | Off-field arrest | [90] |
October 22, 2012 | 3 games | Donald Washington | CB | Free agent | Violation of league rules while with the Kansas City Chiefs | [91] |
December 10, 2012 | 3 games | Brandon Jacobs | RB | San Francisco 49ers | Violation of the team's social media policy | [92] |
December 11, 2012 | 1 game | Rashard Mendenhall | RB | Pittsburgh Steelers | Conduct detrimental to the team | [93] |
August 20, 2013 | 1 game | Antonio Smith | DE | Houston Texans | Removing and swinging Miami Dolphins guard Richie Incognito's helmet | [94] |
November 24, 2012 | 2 games | Jabar Gaffney | WR | Free agent | Failure to report an arrest from 2010 to the league | [95] |
September 16, 2013 | 1 game (later overturned) | Dashon Goldson | FS | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Helmet-to-helmet hit on New Orleans Saints running back Darren Sproles | [96] |
October 21, 2013 | 2 games (later reduced to one game) | Brandon Meriweather | FS | Washington Redskins | Repeated violations of the league's helmet-to-helmet policy | [97] |
November 4, 2013 | Indefinite [d] (reinstated Feb. 2014) [98] | Richie Incognito | OG | Miami Dolphins | Detrimental conduct | [99] |
November 18, 2013 | 1 game | Erik Walden | LB | Indianapolis Colts | Headbutting Tennessee Titans tight end Delanie Walker | [100] |
November 18, 2013 | 1 game | Dashon Goldson | FS | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Repeated violations of the league's player safety policy | [101] |
November 25, 2013 | 1 game | Michael Griffin | FS | Tennessee Titans | Repeated violations of the league's player safety policy | [102] |
May 11, 2014 | Indefinite [d] (reinstated one week later) [103] | Don Jones | SS | Miami Dolphins | Violations of the team's social media policy | [104] |
August 5, 2014 | Indefinite [d] (reinstated five days later) [105] | Martellus Bennett | TE | Chicago Bears | Conduct detrimental to the team, after an altercation with rookie CB Kyle Fuller in practice | [106] |
August 25, 2014 | 2 games | Brandon Meriweather | SS | Washington Redskins | Illegal hit on Baltimore Ravens WR Torrey Smith | [107] |
August 26, 2014 | Indefinite [d] | Dimitri Patterson | CB | New York Jets | Unexplained absence from the team's training camp | [108] |
September 2, 2014 | 10 games | Josh Brent | NT | Dallas Cowboys | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy, stemming from being convicted of manslaughter | [109] |
September 8, 2014 | Indefinite [e] (appealed and overturned two months later) [110] | Ray Rice | RB | Baltimore Ravens | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy, stemming from a domestic violence incident | [111] |
October 6, 2014 | Indefinite [d] (reinstated one week later) [112] | Derrick Shelby | DE | Miami Dolphins | Conduct detrimental to the team | [113] |
October 25, 2014 | 2 games [d] | C. J. Mosley | DT | Detroit Lions | Conduct detrimental to the team and violations of team rules | [114] |
October 28, 2014 | 2 games [d] | Joe Morgan | WR | New Orleans Saints | Undisclosed | [115] |
November 18, 2014 | Indefinite (reinstated in Feb. 2015) [116] | Adrian Peterson | RB | Minnesota Vikings | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy | [117] |
November 23, 2014 | 1 game [d] | David Amerson | CB | Washington Redskins | Violation of team rules | [118] |
December 22, 2014 | 1 game | Dominic Raiola | C | Detroit Lions | Stomping on the leg of Chicago Bears defensive tackle Ego Ferguson | [119] |
December 27, 2014 | 1 game [d] | Josh Gordon | WR | Cleveland Browns | Violation of team rules | [120] |
December 29, 2014 | 1 game (later appealed and reduced to a $70,000 fine) [121] | Ndamukong Suh | DT | Detroit Lions | Stepping on the leg of Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers | [122] |
January 23, 2015 | 2 games [d] | Trent Richardson | RB | Indianapolis Colts | Undisclosed | [123] |
April 22, 2015 | 10 games (later reduced to 4 games) [124] | Greg Hardy | DE | Dallas Cowboys | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy, stemming from a domestic abuse charge | [125] |
May 11, 2015 | 4 games | Tom Brady | QB | New England Patriots | Involvement in the Deflategate scandal | [126] |
July 31, 2015 | 1 game | Orson Charles | TE | New Orleans Saints | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy | [127] |
September 3, 2015 | 1 game [d] | T. J. Ward | SS | Denver Broncos | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy | [128] |
September 5, 2015 | 2 games | Zeke Motta | S | Free agent | Undisclosed | [129] |
September 8, 2015 | 4 games | Brandon Spikes | LB | Free agent | Undisclosed | [130] |
September 8, 2015 | 6 games | Mike Williams | WR | Free agent | Undisclosed | [130] |
September 8, 2015 | 3 games | Jonathan Dwyer | RB | Free agent | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy, stemming from a domestic violence arrest | [130] |
September 8, 2015 | 6 games | Jermaine Cunningham | OLB | Free agent | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy | [130] |
September 8, 2015 | 6 games | Rodney Austin | OG | Free agent | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy, stemming from a guilty domestic violence charge | [130] |
September 11, 2015 | 4 games | IK Enemkpali | DE | Buffalo Bills | Punching and breaking the jaw of New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith during an locker room altercation | [131] |
September 14, 2015 | 1 game | Chris Culliver | CB | Washington Redskins | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy | [132] |
October 15, 2015 | Indefinite [d] (reinstated four days later) [133] | Derrick Coleman | FB | Seattle Seahawks | Violation of team rules, stemming from an arrest on charges of vehicular assault and hit and run | [134] |
October 19, 2015 | 4 games | Quincy Enunwa | WR | New York Jets | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy | [135] |
November 9, 2015 | 1 game | Aqib Talib | CB | Denver Broncos | Poking the eye of Indianapolis Colts tight end Dwayne Allen | [136] |
November 10, 2015 | 4 games | Joseph Randle | RB | Free agent | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy | [137] |
November 16, 2015 | 2 games | Junior Galette | OLB | Washington Redskins | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy | [138] |
December 21, 2015 | 1 game | Odell Beckham Jr. | WR | New York Giants | Helmet-to-helmet collision on Carolina Panthers cornerback Josh Norman | [139] |
January 11, 2016 | 3 games | Vontaze Burfict | LB | Cincinnati Bengals | Repeated violations of safety-related playing rules | [140] |
April 25, 2016 | 4 games | Tom Brady | QB | New England Patriots | Originally suspended in May 2015 and reinstated in Sep. 2015, but was overruled by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in April 2016 | [141] |
June 30, 2016 | 1 game | Sheldon Richardson | DE | New York Jets | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy | [142] |
August 12, 2016 | 2 games | Andrew Quarless | TE | Free agent | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy | [143] |
August 16, 2016 | 2 games [d] | K'Waun Williams | CB | Cleveland Browns | Conduct detrimental to the team | [144] |
August 17, 2016 | 1 game | Josh Brown | K | New York Giants | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy | [145] |
August 29, 2016 | 2 games | Prince Shembo | LB | Free agent | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy, stemming from charges of animal cruelty | [146] |
September 16, 2016 | 2 games | Manny Lawson | LB | Free agent | Undisclosed | [147] |
October 14, 2016 | 4 games | Derrick Coleman | FB | Free agent | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy, stemming from a guilty domestic violence charge | [148] |
August 11, 2017 | 6 games | Ezekiel Elliott | RB | Dallas Cowboys | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy, stemming from a domestic violence case | [149] |
August 23, 2017 | 1 game | Adam Jones | CB | Cincinnati Bengals | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy, stemming from a guilty obstruction charge | [150] |
August 30, 2017 | 3 games | Vontaze Burfict | LB | Cincinnati Bengals | Violation of the league's player safety policies, stemming from a hit on Kansas City Chiefs fullback Anthony Sherman | [151] |
September 8, 2017 | 6 games | Josh Brown | K | Free agent | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy | [152] |
September 20, 2017 | Indefinite [d] (reinstated a week later) [153] | Lawrence Timmons | LB | Miami Dolphins | Conduct detrimental to the team, stemming from not showing up for team-related events | [154] |
September 30, 2017 | 2 games (later reduced to 1 game) [155] | Danny Trevathan | LB | Chicago Bears | Helmet-to-helmet collision on Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams | [156] |
October 11, 2017 | 1 game [d] | Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie | CB | New York Giants | Violation of team rules | [157] |
October 20, 2017 | 1 game | Marshawn Lynch | RB | Oakland Raiders | Making contact with a game official | [158] |
October 20, 2017 | 1 game | Andrew Sendejo | S | Minnesota Vikings | Helmet-to-helmet collision on Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Mike Wallace | [159] |
October 31, 2017 | Indefinite [d] (reinstated a week later) [160] | Janoris Jenkins | CB | New York Giants | Violation of team rules | [161] |
November 6, 2017 | 1 game | Mike Evans | WR | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Violation of unsportsmanlike conduct and unnecessary roughness rules | [162] |
November 27, 2017 | 2 games (later reduced to 1 game) [163] | Aqib Talib | CB | Denver Broncos | Unsportsmanlike conduct, stemming from a fight during a game that got both players ejected | [164] |
Michael Crabtree | WR | Oakland Raiders | ||||
December 4, 2017 | 1 game | Rob Gronkowski | TE | New England Patriots | Intentionally falling on the neck of Buffalo Bills cornerback Tre'Davious White while he was on the ground | [165] |
December 5, 2017 | 1 game | JuJu Smith-Schuster | WR | Pittsburgh Steelers | Violations of safety-related playing rules | [166] |
George Iloka | FS | Cincinnati Bengals | ||||
December 6, 2017 | 1 game [d] | Marcus Peters | CB | Kansas City Chiefs | Leaving the field of play before the game had ended | [167] |
December 18, 2017 | 2 games | Thomas Davis Sr. | LB | Carolina Panthers | Illegal hit on Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams | [168] |
December 28, 2017 | 1 game [d] | Eli Apple | CB | New York Giants | Conduct detrimental to the team | [169] |
June 15, 2018 | 6 games | Roy Miller | DT | Free agent | Undisclosed | [170] |
June 28, 2018 | 3 games | Jameis Winston | QB | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy, stemming from a sexual harassment accusation | [171] |
June 29, 2018 | 1 game | Nigel Bradham | LB | Philadelphia Eagles | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy, stemming from a 2016 arrest | [172] |
July 20, 2018 | 1 game | Dante Fowler | DE | Jacksonville Jaguars | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy | [173] |
August 12, 2018 | 1 game [d] | Jalen Ramsey | CB | Jacksonville Jaguars | Violation of team rules | [174] |
August 21, 2018 | 4 games | Jimmy Smith | CB | Baltimore Ravens | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy | [175] |
October 2, 2018 | 8 games | Mychal Kendricks | LB | Seattle Seahawks | Violation of the Personal Conduct Policy, stemming from a guilty plea to insider trading | [176] |
November 26, 2018 | 1 game | Leonard Fournette | RB | Jacksonville Jaguars | Fighting Buffalo Bills defensive end Shaq Lawson during a game | [177] |
September 30, 2019 | Remainder of the 2019 season (12 games) | Vontaze Burfict | LB | Oakland Raiders | Repeat violation of the league's player safety policies, stemming from a hit on Indianapolis Colts tight end Jack Doyle | [178] |
November 15, 2019 | Indefinite (reinstated February 12, 2020) [179] | Myles Garrett | DE | Cleveland Browns | Violated unnecessary roughness and unsportsmanlike conduct rules, fighting, removing the helmet of an opponent, using a helmet as a weapon | [180] |
November 15, 2019 | 1 game | Larry Ogunjobi | DT | Cleveland Browns | Unnecessary roughness | [180] |
November 15, 2019 | 3 games (later reduced to 2 games) | Maurkice Pouncey | C | Pittsburgh Steelers | Fighting | [180] |
December 3, 2024 | 3 games | Azeez Al-Shaair | LB | Houston Texans | Illegal hit on Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, fighting | [181] |
December 4, 2024 | 1 game [d] | Diontae Johnson | WR | Baltimore Ravens | Conduct detrimental to the team | [182] |
December 16, 2024 | Remainder of the 2024 season [d] (3 games) | De'Vondre Campbell | LB | San Francisco 49ers | Conduct detrimental to the team | [183] |
The NFL has two separate policies for substances that can lead to suspension. One policy concerns the use of banned drugs that are specifically indicated to improve athletic performance, performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs). The other policy concerns "substances of abuse" and includes drugs that may not enhance performance, but are indulged in for recreational purposes, including alcohol and marijuana related incidents.
Date suspended | Suspension length | Name | Position | Team at the time of suspension | Reason | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
December 18, 1978 | 1 game [d] | Chuck Fairbanks | Head coach | New England Patriots | Breaching his contract with the Patriots by joining the Colorado Buffaloes | [647] |
September 1, 2007 | 5 games | Wade Wilson | Quarterbacks coach | Dallas Cowboys | Purchasing and using performance-enhancing drugs | [648] |
August 31, 2010 | 30 days [d] | Travis Jones | Defensive line coach | New Orleans Saints | Involvement in a real estate scam | [649] |
December 13, 2010 | Indefinite [d] | Sal Alosi | Head strength and conditioning coach | New York Jets | Tripping Miami Dolphins cornerback Nolan Carroll | [650] |
September 9, 2011 | 2 games | Andy Moeller | Offensive line coach | Baltimore Ravens | Violation of team rules, stemming from an arrest after driving under the influence | [651] |
March 21, 2012 | Entire 2012 season | Gregg Williams | Defensive coordinator | St. Louis Rams | Involvement in the New Orleans Saints bounty program | [3] [4] |
Sean Payton | Head coach | New Orleans Saints | ||||
6 games | Joe Vitt | Asst. head coach | ||||
July 18, 2014 | 3 games [d] | Mike Priefer | Special teams coordinator | Minnesota Vikings | Allegations of homophobic remarks | [652] |
August 2, 2015 | 6 games [d] | Aaron Kromer | Offensive line coach | Buffalo Bills | Allegations of punching a teenager | [653] |
September 7, 2015 | Indefinite [d] | Andy Moeller | Offensive line coach | Cleveland Browns | Undisclosed reasons | [654] |
Date suspended | Suspension length | Name | Position | Team at the time of suspension | Reason | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
December 10, 1968 | 1 game, ineligible for 1968 postseason | Norm Schachter | Referee | — | Lost track of downs near the end of a Bears-Rams game | [655] |
Joe Connell | Umpire | — | ||||
Burl Toler | Head linesman | — | ||||
Jack Fette | Line judge | — | ||||
Adrian Burke | Back judge | — | ||||
George Ellis | Field judge | — | ||||
October 1977 | 2 games | Gerry Hart | Umpire | — | Failure to allow the game's final play to be set in motion | |
December 1980 | 1980 postseason | Dale Hamer | Head linesman | — | Allowing a fumble return to stand, even though a penalty was committed during the play | |
Bama Glass | Line judge | — | ||||
November 1984 | 1 game | Jack Fette | Line judge | — | Poor conduct towards fans | |
October 7, 1988 | 2 games | Armen Terzian | Replay judge | — | Failure to call for a review of a safety that should have been ruled a touchback | |
March 15, 1999 | Entire 1999 season | Edward J. DeBartolo Jr. | Owner | San Francisco 49ers | Involvement in a Louisiana gambling scandal | [656] |
March 21, 2012 | 8 games | Mickey Loomis | General manager | New Orleans Saints | Involvement in the New Orleans Saints bounty program | [3] [4] |
November 22, 2013 | 1 game | Roy Ellison | Umpire | — | Use of profanity against Washington Redskins offensive tackle Trent Williams | [657] |
September 2, 2014 | 6 games | Jim Irsay | Owner | Indianapolis Colts | Driving under the influence of oxycodone and hydrocodone | [658] |
March 30, 2015 | 4 games | Ray Farmer | General manager | Cleveland Browns | Sending texts to Browns personnel during games in 2014, which violated the league's electronic device policy | [659] |
May 6, 2015 | Indefinite [d] (later reinstated in Sep. 2015) [660] | John Jastremski | Assistant equipment handler | New England Patriots | Involvement in the Deflategate scandal | [661] |
Jim McNally | Gameday attendant | [661] | ||||
October 15, 2015 | 1 game | Rob Vernatchi | Side judge | — | Failure to recognize an errant 18-second runoff in the fourth quarter of a Steelers-Chargers game | [662] |
July 17, 2018 | 5 games [d] | Steve Keim | General manager | Arizona Cardinals | Pleading guilty to a DUI charge | [663] |
December 14, 2018 | 1 game | Roy Ellison | Umpire | — | Confrontation with Bills player Jerry Hughes, placed on administrative leave, then fined one game check | [655] |
August 2, 2022 | 11 weeks | Stephen Ross | Owner | Miami Dolphins | Tampering with Tom Brady and Sean Payton following a six-month investigation stemming from Brian Flores' racial discrimination lawsuit against the league | [664] |
On April 10, 2007, the National Football League (NFL) introduced a new conduct policy to help control on and off-field behavior by its players and preserve the league's public image. The policy, introduced by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, implements a tougher, new personal-conduct policy, and under conditions of the previous policy handed down two of the harshest suspensions in NFL history for off-field misdeeds. Each player that has been suspended must reapply for reinstatement. The policy only applies to the player's personal lives and image in the public spotlight. The NFL conducts separate investigations for drug and alcohol abuse and performance enhancement.
Jerrell Alexander Freeman is an American former professional football linebacker who played in the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football for the Mary Hardin-Baylor Crusaders and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Tennessee Titans of the NFL in 2008. He then played three seasons in the CFL for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, where he led the league in tackles in 2011. In 2012, he signed with the NFL's Indianapolis Colts, and also later played for the Chicago Bears.
Justin Carl Blackmon is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oklahoma State Cowboys, twice earning unanimous All-American honors before being selected by the Jaguars fifth overall in the 2012 NFL draft. With Jacksonville, he was suspended for the first four games of the 2013 season for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy and was suspended indefinitely for another violation later that year and has not played since. Blackmon was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2024.
Silas Raynard Redd Jr. is a former American football running back. He played college football at Penn State and USC, and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Washington Redskins in 2014.
Frank Alexander is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners. He was selected by the Panthers in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL draft.
LaVon Brazill is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Ohio Bobcats was selected by the Colts in the sixth round of the 2012 NFL draft. He was released after his second suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy.
Asa Rashaan Webster Jackson is an American former professional football cornerback and current football coach. He was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the fifth round of the 2012 NFL draft. He played college football for California Polytechnic State University.
Joshua Caleb Gordon, nicknamed "Flash", is an American former professional football wide receiver who played eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Baylor Bears and was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the second round of the 2012 NFL Supplemental draft. Throughout his career, Gordon has been lauded for his on-field production, but has also faced several suspensions for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.
Stedman D. Bailey is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the West Virginia Mountaineers, earning first-team All-American honors in 2012. Bailey was selected by the St. Louis Rams in the third round of the 2013 NFL draft. He retired in 2015 following life-threatening injuries he sustained from being shot in the head.
Dion Rory Jordan is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oregon Ducks and was selected by the Miami Dolphins with the third pick of the 2013 NFL draft. He was also a member of the Seattle Seahawks, Oakland Raiders and San Francisco 49ers.
Oday Aboushi is a Palestinian-American former American football offensive guard. He played college football at Virginia and was selected by the New York Jets in the fifth round of the 2013 NFL draft. He was also a member of the Houston Texans, Seattle Seahawks, Oakland Raiders, Arizona Cardinals, Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Chargers and Los Angeles Rams.
Armonty Charles Bryant is a former American football defensive end. He was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the seventh round of the 2013 NFL draft. He played college football for the Division II East Central Tigers of Ada, Oklahoma.
Joshua Daniel Mauro is an English-born former American football defensive end. He played college football at Stanford. Mauro has also played for the New York Giants and Jacksonville Jaguars.
Randy Gregory is an American professional football linebacker. He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, and was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 2015 NFL draft.
Karlos Jermell Williams Sr. is a former American football running back. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL draft. He played college football at Florida State.
Jalen Carnell Collins, nicknamed "Snacks", is an American former professional football cornerback. He played college football at LSU and was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the second round of the 2015 NFL draft. Collins has also been a member of the Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Wildcats, Tampa Bay Vipers, Toronto Argonauts, and Edmonton Elks.
David Ja Rodd Irving is a former American football defensive tackle. He played college football at Iowa State University, and was a member of the Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs and Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL).
Kentrell Brothers is an American former professional football linebacker. He played college football at the University of Missouri. He was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL draft.
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