The Biggest Controversies From The 2024 NFL Season

The Controversy: After Tua Tagovailoa, quarterback for the Miami Dolphins, suffered a concussion during the team's game against the Buffalo Bills on September 12, 2024, and left the game. In the days following the concussion, it was not clear if Tagovailoa would be placed on injured reserve during the season or if the injury would influence his career decisions going forward.

Tagovailoa had experienced numerous concussions earlier in his career and briefly considered retiring as a result. 

The Outcome: Tagovailoa was placed on injured reserve following what was his third diagnosed concussion in two years. He was required to sit out at least four games per NFL concussion protocol. 

With increasing concerns over concussions and the long-term consequences of head injuries, fans and former players alike expressed concern for Tagovailoa's return to the field at all. Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce said, “I'll be honest, I'd tell him to retire. It's not worth it.” Additionally, Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez stated, 

If I'm him, at this point, I'm seriously considering retiring from football. If that was my son, I'd be like, 'It might be time.' This stuff is not what you play around with.

The Controversy: During the third quarter of the match-up between the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams on December 12, 2024, Niners linebacker De’Vondre was tapped to replace the ailing Dre Greenlaw. 

Greenlaw, playing his first game since an Achilles tendon injury, had soreness in his knee and needed to exit. When coach Kyle Shanahan told Campbell to substitute for Greenlaw, Campbell refused.

The Outcome: Campbell's defiance surprised Shanahan and his teammates alike. Campbell left the field, missing out on watching as his team lost the game. Campbell had been removed from the starting lineup when Greenlaw returned, perhaps influencing his decision. 

After the game, Shanahan said Campbell gave him no reason but that the linebacker's future was unclear: 

We’ll figure out something, but I don’t know that right now.

Campbell's teammates were furious about what happened. Tight end George Kittle said,

It's hard to win football games when someone doesn't want to play football… I think that’s ignorant. And I think it’s just dumb. It’s just stupid, and it’s very immature. I just don’t see how you could do something like that to your team.

He continued,

It's one person making a selfish decision. I've never been around anybody that's ever done that, and I hope I'm never around anybody who does that again.

Charvarious Ward, a cornerback for the 49ers, put it this way:

That's some sucka s**t, it definitely hurt the team… He's probably going to get cut soon.

The 49ers later suspended Campbell for three games.

The Controversy: En route to the first game of the season, wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins Tyreek Hill was pulled over for speeding. Hill initially refused to keep his window rolled down after the police instructed him to do so. As the exchange between Hill and the police continued, Hill was detained, handcuffed, and forced to the ground outside the stadium where the traffic stop took place. 

Fans nearby documented the entire event on video. When his teammate Calais Campbell stopped to try to defuse the situation as he drove by, he was also handcuffed. 

The Outcome: Hill was ticketed for not wearing a seatbelt and for reckless driving. Hill's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said “To see my client in my handcuffs, some of the video that we're seeing is unnecessary… There's no reason that Tyreek should've been treated that way.”

For his part, Hill acknowledged,

I could have let down my window in that instant. But the thing about me is, I don't want attention. I don't want to be cameras-out, phones-on-you in that moment. But at the end of the day, I'm human. I've got to follow rules. I've got to do what everyone else would do. Now, does that give them the right to literally beat the dog out of me? Absolutely not… But at the end of the day, I wish I could go back and do things a bit differently.

One of the officers involved was placed on administrative leave pending an investigation of the incident. 

Controversy: Quarterback for the Cleveland Browns Deshaun Watson has remained a contentious player since he was sued by two dozen massage therapists for sexual harassment and sexual assault in 2021. Watson was suspended for 11 games in 2022 and fined $5 million as a result of the charges.

Watson returned to the field after he was reinstated in November and played the rest of the season. During the 2023 season, Watson experienced a shoulder injury in November and did not return to the game. 

Watson's lackluster performance during the 2024 season brought questions about his ability to lead the Browns. He was the lowest-rated quarterback in the NFL going into Cleveland's game against the Cincinnati Bengals, the contest during which he experienced an achilles tendon injury. 

When it was clear that Watson was hurt, Cleveland Browns fans started cheering. Watson was booed as he was carted off the field as well.

Outcome:  Watson's treated by fans was immediately criticized by Cleveland players and coaches.  Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett commented how Watson was treated:

We don’t boo guys who are injured on the field, especially when the cart comes out… We should be ashamed of ourselves as Browns and as fans to boo anyone and their downfall.

He continued, 

Y'all see him work his ass off to get back in here and put a smile on his face, try to put everything that's outside the facility behind him. Death threats come to his house, going after his family, no one deserves that… The man does pretty much everything right. Has been a model citizen through college and most of the pros.

Backup quarterback Jameis Winston said, 

I am very upset with the reaction to a man that's had the world against him for the past four years, and he put his body and life on the line for this city every single day. Regardless of your perception, regardless of what you thought should happen with him… When I first got here, I knew these were amazing fans, but Deshaun was treated badly, and now he has to overcome another obstacle.

NBA great LeBron James chimed in as well:

Cleveland Fans! Y’all know how much we’ve been through throughout the years, both good, bad, and indifferent. With that being said, booing anyone that’s down with an injury, let alone your own player, is LAME!! To the ones who didn’t, I respect you.”

The Controversy: Azeez Al-Shaair, linebacker for the Houston Texans, was suspended by the NFL for three games on December 3, 2024. The suspension came on the heels of a late hit on Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence during the game the previous weekend.

The NFL's statement about the suspension didn't just talk about that one hit, however. Earlier in the season, Al-Shaair was fined for unnecessary roughness as well as for a late it on Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard. As a result, NFL Vice President of Football Operations made it clear in his letter to Al-Shaair that,

Your lack of sportsmanship and respect for the game of football and all those who play, coach, and enjoy watching it, is troubling and does not reflect the core values of the NFL… Your continued disregard for NFL playing rules puts the health and safety of both you and your opponents in jeopardy and will not be tolerated.

The Outcome: When word of the suspension came down, Texans general manager Nick Caserio verbalized his frustration:

I think where we take umbrage is the picture that’s been painted about Azeez, his intentions, who he is as a person — quite frankly it’s bulls**t.

Caserio also said that the Texans and other NFL teams want “consistency from the league” and that the decision against Al-Shaair reflected “no consistency at all relative to the level of discipline that's been handed down.”

Al-Shaair apologized for the hit on social media and is expected to appeal the suspension. 

ESPM's Kimberly A. Martin noted, 

There are people in the NFL, players and coaches and execs who played in college, played the league, who feel like the suspension was excessive, and feel like the suspension was ridiculous.

She also indicated that the decision troubles players because it signals a change in the game itself by bringing "to the forefront how people feel like you can't play defense anymore.” 

The Controversy: On October 5, 2024, New England Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers was arrested for domestic violence and drug possession. Peppers, who is also captain on the team, reportedly pushed his girlfriend and placed his hands around her neck. 

After he was taken into custody, Peppers posted bail and waived a future court date appearance. According to his lawyer, Mark Brofsky, evidence “sheds real doubt on the allegations” and Peppers himself denied wrongdoing. 

The Outcome: After Peppers was arrested, there were questions about his status with the Patriots. Initially, Jerod Mayo, the Patriots' head coach, said, “We don’t know enough to say he shouldn’t be in the building.”

Team owner Robert Kraft went on record about what could happen going forward:

When you read the [police report] initially, it turns your stomach… Once he goes on the Commissioner Exempt list, they do their independent checking. We’re doing ours. If what was reported is true, he’s gone.

In terms of the “Commissioner Exempt list,” Kraft was referring to the individuals in the NFL who have “special player status” due to “unusual circumstances.” Peppers will still get paid, he can attend team meetings and workouts, and he can receive treatments but is not allowed to play football in practice or attend games.