The 6 Most Insane On-Field Fights in NFL History

Elton John once vocalized, "Saturday night's alright for fighting." But some NFL players proved that Sundays can produce some brawling as well.

Considering that the majority of the energy exerted by players consists of knocking heads and throwing each other to the ground on a routine basis, actual fights are a rarity in the game of football.

The NFL is stringent in limiting the unnecessary violence that occurs on the field. After watching these six tussles, this is one aspect of the game that we can all do without.

6. Albert Haynesworth's Stomp

It's hard to classify this moronic incident as a fight, because one side didn't have much of a chance to retaliate.

Albert Haynesworth has made many poor decisions both on and off the field. However, this incident in October 2006 was his most despicable act.

After Dallas Cowboys running back Julius Jones scored a touchdown, Haynesworth—playing as a member of the Tennessee Titans—removed the helmet from center Andre Gurode. Then, while Gurode was on the ground, Haynesworth decided to stomp on his head. The footprint caused a gash near Gurode's eye.

Combined with the the fact that he took off his helmet while still on the field, Haynesworth was ejected from the contest. One day later, the defensive tackle was suspended five games without pay by the league.

5. Joey Porter vs. William Green

Joey Porter will be remembered for his giant mouth. His words have gotten him in numerous verbal altercations.

But in 2004, the Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker got more than he bargained for.

Less than an hour prior to the start of the game, Porter and Cleveland Browns running back William Green began throwing punches at one another and even spit in each other's faces. Green's teammate Terrelle Smith was also involved.

The end result was ejections of both Porter and Green before the game even kicked off, as well as a pair of $10,000 fines from the NFL. Physically, Green left with a bloodied lower lip.

4. Chuck Bednarik vs. Chuck Noll

Before Chuck Noll was coaching the Pittsburgh Steelers to four Super Bowl championships, he was engaging in verbal and physical battles with Chuck Bednarik—one of the toughest players in the annals of the NFL.

While a member of the Cleveland Browns, Noll smashed Bednarik in the face during a punt.

Four years later, the two met again when the Browns and Bednarik's Eagles faced off in Philadelphia. The "last of the 60-minute men" got his best shot in after the final whistle blew, punching Noll and causing a fracas involving multiple players.

Commissioner Bert Bell levied a heavy fine against Bednarik and told him to issue a personal apology. That attempt at sincerity didn't result in any retaliation from Noll but didn't exactly warm his heart either.

3. The Bounty Bowl

The reason this game—which featured multiple skirmishes—ranks so high is because the backdrop of this 1989 encounter between the Eagles and Cowboys on Thanksgiving is so outlandish.

A rivalry between two bitter NFC East foes hit a new high when then-Dallas head coach Jimmy Johnson alleged that Philly head coach Buddy Ryan had taken out a bounty on two of his players, quarterback Troy Aikman and kicker Luis Zendejas.

During a lopsided Turkey Day tussle in which the Eagles prevailed by a score of 27-0, Philadelphia linebacker Jessie Small was seen placing a hard tackle on Zendejas after a kickoff that caused a concussion. It also was the impetus for short tempers among both teams.

The biggest fight of the game starts at the 2:14 mark of the video.

2. Cortland Finnegan vs. Andre Johnson

The most recent notable throw-down on this list is also arguably the most vicious and most sudden.

In recent years, Tennessee Titans cornerback Cortland Finnegan had a reputation of being an instigator toward opposing receivers.

Well, that reputation was verified on November 28, 2010 against the usually calm Andre Johnson.

The Houston Texans wideout had been battling Finnegan for a majority of the contest. Then, in the fourth period, Johnson's fuse blew.

Right from the start of the play, the two engaged and pulled each other's helmets off. Johnson forced Finnegan to the ground and then punched him twice in the jaw before being pulled away.

Both were ejected and fined $25,000 each, but neither received a suspension.

1. Buddy Ryan vs. Kevin Gilbride

In 1993, the Houston Oilers hired Buddy Ryan (three years removed from the Eagles) as their defensive coordinator. The wizard behind the '85 Chicago Bears defense vowed that he would lead a hard-hitting group in Houston.

The most surprising target was the team's offensive coordinator, Kevin Gilbride.

Several times during the season, the cantankerous Ryan was heavily critical of Gilbride's run-and-shoot offense. During the last game of the regular season, between the Oilers and New York Jets in the Astrodome, the two came to blows.

Following a fumble by backup QB Cody Carlson, they began arguing. Then Ryan took a swing and connected with Gilbride's jaw, forcing Oilers players to separate them.

Unfortunately for Houston, Ryan's celebrated defense was noticeably absent when Joe Montana and the Kansas City Chiefs went into the dome and beat the Oilers 28-20 in the AFC Divisional Playoffs.