Top 10 Best Fights in NFL History

With two of the manliest teams of the decade in the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers squaring off against each other in Week 9, it’s only fitting to take a look back at the greatest fights in NFL history.

It usually starts with a shove, followed by a push, and before you know it, two players are going back-and-forth, and the crowd’s reaction says it all. 

Everyone loves to see two men break out into a fight. It's in our blood; it’s in our DNA. So when two larger-than-life athletes start throwing punches, fans become mesmerized.  

From the Dante Hall’s to the Brandon Jacobs’, fans go crazy when these titans battle amongst each other.

So grab a bag of popcorn and get your friends to huddle around the computer screen, because things are going to get a little heated on these upcoming slides.  

10. Brandon Jacobs vs. Muhammad Wilkerson

When I was thinking of classic fights for this list, Brandon Jacobs is the first guy that came to mind.  

He’s never reluctant to pull any punches, and his emotions seem to get the best of him at times; as seen here versus Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson).  

Jacobs is from Louisiana, and I just can’t help but think Lil' Wayne and Lil Boosie’s “Louisianimal” track was written with Jacobs in mind.

9. Big Ben gets his lights turned out

If any directors are viewing this slide, a movie must be made based on Ben Roethlisberger’s career.

From the off-field troubles to the Super Bowl victories, to Richard Seymour dropping him on the field, it’s been one crazy ride.  

If Big Ben didn’t know he shouldn’t put his hands on Seymour, he undoubtedly knows now. This wasn’t necessarily a fight, because Seymour just put him down, and whether Roethlisberger took a dive or not, it still looked awesome.  

And for that, it lands on the list.

8. Bengal vs. Steelers

Oh, the scuffles between divisional foes just never gets old.

Just when you thought the third quarter was coming to an end, and voila'—we have ourselves a melee on the field.  

The benches clear and these two teams get into a shoving contest before the refs break up the fun.

7. T.O. poses one too many times

Alright, this wasn’t really a fight, but this is one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen in the NFL.

Let me set the scene.

Terrell Owens showed complete and utter disrespect for the Dallas Cowboys when he scored a touchdown and posed with the football in the middle of the Dallas star at midfield after scoring a touchdown.  

After he scored again, T.O. went back for seconds, except this time Cowboys safety George Teague met him at midfield to defend his turf.  

From a pure pride-for-your-team standpoint, I thought this was beyond awesome, and I have the ultimate respect for Teague after seeing this.

6. Redskins vs. Falcons

LaRon Landry hits Matt Ryan late and the Atlanta Falcons bench erupts.

Falcons coach Mike Smith doesn’t take too kindly to the late hit on his quarterback and the team follows.

Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall reacts, and we’ve got ourselves a ruckus on the Falcons' sideline.

You gotta love the way the Falcons reacted to a late hit on their franchise player.

5. Santana Moss vs. Corey Webster

Santana Moss blocks Corey Webster on the outside, fists start flying, Moss’ helmet flies off, and it is on like Donkey Kong.

Moss connects with a right hand and Webster gets the takedown.

I have to give that round to Webster since he instigated the clinch, scored the takedown and moved right into mount—but really, we all win.

4. Brandon Jacobs vs. Dante Hall

Again, Brandon Jacobs loves a good brawl, and quite frankly, I love to watch him brawl.

Redskins cornerback Deangelo Hall won’t back down from a good scrap either, even though he’s completely out-muscled here.

Jacobs is like twice the receiver's size, but it’s not the size of the dog in the fight right?

Sometimes that can be the case, but when you’re facing a man who has a boxing background and loves to lower the boom on opponents, you have to choose your battles wisely.

3. Preseason scrap: Saints vs. Texans

This is a classic case of a friendly scrimmage between two teams before the season going terribly wrong in 2009.  

Everyone knows Jeremy Shockey has a short fuse, and when Houston linebacker DeMeco Ryans lit that fire, Shockey erupted.  

The two went back-and-forth and had to be separated. That’s when I knew, as a New Orleans Saints fan, that this would be no ordinary season.

2. Buddy Ryans punches… the offensive coordinator?

It was a “total classless act,” but it was so much fun to watch.

Houston Oilers coach Buddy Ryans had a disagreement with his offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride and threw a straight cross at the coach on the sidelines.  

What else would you expect from the father of larger-than-life personalities Rex and Bob Ryan?

1. Andre Johnson vs. Courtland Finnegan

Andre Johnson did what every other wide receiver has always wanted to do.

The Tennessee Titans' Courtland Finnegan is thought of to be one of the dirtiest players in the league, and when he crossed paths with Andre Johnson, Johnson put him in his place.  

I remember when this whole thing went down, as my friend called to tell me Johnson was ejected from the game for getting into a fight.

Knowing Johnson’s personality, I was like “you must have the name wrong. There’s no way he got ejected for fighting.”  

It just so turns out that one of the most soft-spoken guys in the league doesn’t put up with dirty players—and the league rejoiced for Johnson's good deeds.