There are plenty of players in the NFL that are hated among fans. Whether the reason be their off-the-field incidents, elaborate celebrations, or diva personality, these players make fans particularly angry. Here is every NFL team’s most hated player in 2024:
Los Angeles Chargers: Eli Apple
The cornerback position features plenty of divas and trash-talkers, but unlike other players with this type of behavior, Eli Apple doesn’t have dominant play on the field to back it up.
After the Bengals had won three straight games against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, Eli Apple decided to call Arrowhead Stadium, “Burrowhead” before the 2022 AFC championship game. The comment didn’t go over well in Kansas City. Now with a chip on their shoulder, the Chiefs played extra hard and beat Cincinnati by a score of 23-20. That was the last game Apple played as a Bengal, as he was cut during the following offseason.
Denver Broncos: Jerry Jeudy
While Jerry Jeudy no longer plays for the Broncos, there aren’t any current Broncos that recieve much hate, and Broncos fans certainly still hate him after his 235-yard performance against the Broncos in week 13 of the 2024 season. As a Bronco, Jeudy consistently underperformed from his preseason hype, and was one of the league’s more overrated players. Jeudy had notoriously lackluster production at Mile High, thus Broncos fans were usually disappointed by his play when attending home games.
Cleveland Browns: Deshaun Watson
Good luck trying to find someone who actually likes Deshaun Watson. The former Texans’ QB earned plenty of hate for his many off-the-field incidents and his lack of responsibility for them. And to make matters worse, an already hated player is now getting paid $46 million per year in guaranteed money. Watson sure is glad his contract is fully guaranteed because his play on the Browns has been mediocre at best. So Browns fans also hate Watson, if they didn’t already.
New England Patriots: Stefon Diggs
Stefon Diggs has been one of the NFL’s top receivers for many years, but he has also built himself a reputation for being a troublemaker, a diva, and a locker-room cancer. Stefon Diggs was initially disgruntled with the Vikings’ organization and requested a trade. He was then traded to Buffalo.
Four years later, Diggs was disgruntled by the Bills’ organization and requested a trade. After a one-year stint in Houston, the Texans decided that Diggs wasn’t worth the headache, and traded him to the Patriots. If the Patriots don’t make the playoffs in the next few years, you can bet Diggs will be going somewhere new.
Washington Commanders: Von Miller
After the Bills traded away Stefon Diggs two offseasons ago, and traded Von Miller in the last offseason, getting rid of all of their players that fans dislike. While Von Miller is a hall-of-fame lock, the renowned outside linebacker has one of the most penalties of any linebacker since 2011. Panthers fans have also had a disdain for Miller after he abruptly ended the team’s Super Bowl run in 2015. And more recently, Miller was suspended for four games of the 2024 season for breaking the NFL’s personal conduct policy.
Houston Texans: Azeez Al-Shaair
The Texans had a productive 2025 offseason, getting rid of their most hated player, Stefon Diggs. However, Houston’s linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair has garnered hate from his cheap hit toward Trevor Lawrence in week 13, which ended Lawrence’s season. You can see the clip for yourself, but this hit on Lawrence looks like no accident.
Indianapolis Colts: Anthony Richardson
The Colts’ third-year quarterback Anthony Richardson would easily avoided this list if it hadn’t been for an infamous incident last season. Heading into week 8 of 2024, Richardson had shown some flashes during his young NFL career but was yet to develop into a consistent starter.
During the week 8 matchup in Houston, Richardson asked to sit out because he was “Too Tired”. This incident caused Richardson to get benched for the following game and caused several former NFL players, such as Chase Daniel and Ryan Kelly to criticize the young Colts’ QB.
Miami Dolphins: Tyreek Hill
Tyreek Hill gives fans plenty of reasons to hate him. His unabashed personality and elaborate touchdown celebrations have garnered their fair share of ire, but Hill also left a dynasty for a rebuilding Dolphins team, simply because the Fins offered him more money. Fortunately, justice has been served, as the Chiefs won back-to-back Super Bowls without their star wideout, and Tyreek Hill is yet to win a playoff game with his new team.
Dallas Cowboys: Dak Prescott
Being the star quarterback of the most hated NFL team is bound to garner some hate, even though Dak Prescott isn’t a bad person. However, Prescott has also earned the ire of his own fans for his many playoff shortcomings, especially a recent blowout wild card loss to the 7th-seeded Packers.
It was also quite annoying when Prescott automatically became a frontrunner in the 2023 MVP race because he beat up a bunch of bad teams. Plenty of recent trade rumors have involved Dallas’s QB, so Dak could improve his reputation on a different team.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence
The Jaguars don’t have any players who are universally hated, but Trevor Lawrence is a player who has earned some ire from Jacksonville fans. Heading into the league, Lawrence was dubbed a generational talent and a potential face of the franchise.
However, through four years in the NFL, Lawrence has yet to live up to those sky-high expectations. The Jacksonville QB has definitely had his moments but hasn’t developed into a consistent top-ten quarterback. But despite Lawrence not playing like an elite QB, he is paid like one, with the third highest-paying contract in the NFL.
Tennessee Titans: Will Levis
When the Titans drafted quarterback Will Levis 33rd overall in the 2023 NFL draft, the rookie QB was labeled a boom-or-bust prospect. After starting 21 games in the NFL, Will Levis has turned into a bust rather than a boom. Levis will likely play a backup role in the Titans’ QB room in 2025. Tenessee fans have mainly hated Levis’s repeated and horrendous turnovers, costing the team many winnable games.
Las Vegas Raiders: Desmond Ridder
The Raiders don’t really have any players who are universally hated, but they do have Desmond Ridder, who garnered plenty of hate during his time in Atlanta. When Desmond Ridder was drafted 74th overall in 2022, he was expected to be a plus starter, with his NFL comparison on his prospect profile being Alex Smith.
However, Ridder did not meet these expectations during his 16 games as an NFL starter, with his turnover problems being a focal point of criticism. Many Falcons fans felt that Ridder’s poor play was holding back a team with a solid defense and many powerful offensive weapons. Atlanta’s 6-3 record with Kirk Cousins to start this season has already proven that point correct, as the Falcons went 8-8 with Ridder at quarterback with a similar team around him.
Buffalo Bills: Sean McDermott
Sean McDermott has recorded a .656 winning percentage through his eight seasons of head coaching the Bills, a tenure that only Andy Reid has beaten. However, McDermott has gotten some recent heat for seven playoff berths without a Super Bowl win will fester some impatience, especially for a franchise without a Lombardi Trophy.
McDermott is 0-4 against the Chiefs in the postseason, as his lack of aggressive play calling and anticipation of blitzes late in games has continuously cost them wins against Kansas City. If the Bills experience another early playoff exit, the organization may part ways with their winningest head coach in franchise history.
Philadelphia Eagles: Nick Sirianni
Just one year and a half ago, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni led his team to a surprising 14-3 record and a Super Bowl appearance. But since then, Sirianni has not been viewed very highly by Philly fans. After collapsing down the stretch and a disastrous playoff showing in 2023, plenty of criticism has gone toward the Eagles head coach.
Despite the team starting 6-2 in 2024, Eagles fans repeatedly chanted “Fire Nick”, and Sirianni has repeatedly taunted fans for it. As you can see, this fan-coach relationship is looking pretty rocky. But Nick Sirianni has also received hate for his play calling, especially in crunch time, and his over-aggressiveness on fourth downs.
New York Giants: Russell Wilson
Early in his career, Russell Wilson was a fun underdog story, as he was drafted in the third round and still became one of the league’s best quarterbacks. But Seahawks players began speaking publicly about Wilson’s diva, me-first personality, which would later lead to Wilson getting traded to the Broncos.
Russell Wilson then had an uncharacteristically awful first season in Denver, winning the hatred of Broncos fans. And to add salt to the wound, we’re all sick of Wilson repeatedly saying, “Broncos country, let’s ride,” even after embarrassing losses.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Baker Mayfield
Baker Mayfield hasn’t received as much ire today as when he played in Cleveland, but fans still hate the former Browns quarterback for several reasons. Being the No.1 overall pick, Browns fans expected elite quarterback play from Mayfield and instead got an inconsistent journeyman. But fans of all teams were annoyed by Baker’s entitled attitude, and constantly seeing him in ads while Mayfield was having a subpar 2019 season. And even today, Baker Mayfield is overrated, as he only recorded his career-best season because he gets to throw to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin in Tampa Bay.
Green Bay Packers: Jaire Alexander
Jaire Alexander is another trash-talking corner who has gotten on plenty of fans’ nerves, especially Vikings fans. Down the stretch of the 2022 season, Alexander trash-talked Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson and then held the 2022 offensive player of the year to just two catches.
Jaire was also suspended for a game during the 2023 season because he walked onto the field during the coin toss and wasn’t the captain. His mistake almost cost the Packers’ season, as the game he missed was crucial to his teams’ playoff hopes, and coincidentally against the Vikings.
Kansas City Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes
Nobody likes a winner. But the saying, “They hate us cause they ain’t us”, doesn’t explain all the hate Patrick Mahomes receives. At least Tom Brady didn’t have relatives who constantly post on TikTok about how the Chiefs are winning. But what fans hate even more than a constant winner is a constant winner who continuously gets better treatment from the refs. And on the rare occasion that Mahomes gets an unfair call, he whines and complains. I can see why this attitude especially rubs Saints and Lions fans the wrong way, as both teams have faced infamously poor treatment from the zebras over the years.
Minnesota Vikings: Patrick Peterson
While Patrick Peterson plays for the Vikings, he has mainly been hated by fans of his former team, the Arizona Cardinals. While playing in Arizona, the all-pro corner requested a trade amid the 2018 season. After the trade request was denied, Peterson openly criticized the Cardinals general manager, Steve Keim. After Patrick Peterson was eventually traded to Minnesota, he then played his former team in 2022, where he talked a ton of trash during the game, resenting the team he spent a decade playing for.
Detroit Lions: Allen Robinson
The Lions are one of the most well-liked teams in the NFL, making it quite challenging to find a player on the roster who fans actively dislike. The closest player I could find on the Lions to fit that description is Allen Robinson, who I didn’t even know was playing for Detroit until I checked the team’s roster. Allen Robinson is mostly just hated by the fantasy football community for severely underperforming in the 2016, 2021, and 2022 seasons, when fantasy managers drafted him in the early rounds.
Chicago Bears: Tyrique Stevenson
Saying that it’s unsafe for Tyrique Stevenson to walk the streets of Chicago would be an understatement. In a week 7 showdown, the Bears led by three points against the Commanders with 2 seconds remaining in regulation, Washington needed a hail mary. Tyrique Stevenson was busy taunting the Washington fans while the final play was occurring, and by the time Stevenson realized where he was supposed to be, it was too late because the man Stevenson was supposed to cover, caught a touchdown pass to end the game.
It’s a shame because Tyrique Stevenson was one of the NFL’s best and underratedrookies in 2023, displaying a level of dominance at the cornerback position that takes most rookies a couple of seasons to show. However, Stevenson’s career may be defined by that one blunder. But at least he’s loved by Commander’s fans.
Atlanta Falcons: Kyle Pitts
Ever since Kyle Pitts entered the NFL, fans have despised him. Pitts initially received loads of criticism for being picked fourth overall as a tight end. Pitts was then attacked for getting over 1,000 yards in his rookie season but only scoring one touchdown. During the following season, the young tight end earned more hate for severely underperforming, getting less than half of the yardage of his previous season.
Kyle Pitts improved in 2023 but still did not come close to his 2021 production, and the hate continued to pile up. Pitts has also been hated for his lack of effort on the field and his unwillingness to block. While many fans genuinely dislike Kyle Pitts as a player, many of the Kyle Pitts haters are only mad at him for tanking their fantasy team.
Baltimore Ravens: Lamar Jackson
Lamar Jackson has been an hated NFL player by some fans, but it’s especially analysts that take a disliking to the Ravens QB, and for a plethora of reasons. Jackson’s dual-threat style of play, his proneness to injury, his lack of playoff success, representing himself without an agent- the list goes on. While most of these criticisms aren’t justified, enough people hate Lamar Jackson that he gets a spot on this list.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers will go down as one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history, and also one of the most hated. The former league MVP has earned the ire of fans for his arrogance and condescending manner towards teammates.
Fans have also disliked Rodgers for his countless conspiracy theories, and lying multiple times about his vaccination status back in 2021. And another reason why Rodgers has attracted hate from fans, is his constant desire for attention, constantly causing media drama, and stirring the pot for attention, which is just kind of annoying.
New Orleans Saints: Tyrann Mathieu
While Tyrann Mathieu has not done anything to attract hatred from his current fanbase, Chiefs fans don’t exactly have a fondness for their former safety. In 2021, Tyrann Mathieu decided to criticize his own fans by calling them, “The most toxic fanbase in all of sports.” These comments might have been a factor in why the Chiefs decided not to resign the all-pro safety after the 2021 season.
Carolina Panthers: David Tepper
Despite being one of the NFL’s newest owners, David Tepper is already the NFL’s most hated owner, just 6 years into his ownership. The Panthers are yet to record a winning season under Tepper, and it likely won’t happen anytime soon, as the franchise is currently in complete disarray.
Tepper’s persistent micromanaging has done nothing for the Panthers, as he was allegedly involved with the decisions to draft quarterback Bryce Young and trade away star running back Christian McCaffrey. If that wasn’t egregious enough, David Tepper threw a beverage at a Jaguars fan last season, fining him $300K.
Los Angeles Rams: Tre’Davious White
Many fans have expressed hate for Rams’ cornerback and former Bills’ cornerback Tre’Dvious White, but not for anything justified. In 2020, Tre’Davious White opted out of the 2020 NFL season due to Covid concerns. Following the backlash from fans, White called Bills fans “Selfish” for their criticism as he opts not to play during the 2020 season. However, the Bills’ former All-Pro corner hasn’t done anything to garner criticism since that incident.
San Francisco 49ers: Brandon Aiyuk
49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has spent most of his career as a generally well-liked player, but that has recently changed. Brandon Aiyuk received some hate from 49ers fans in the offseason for being disgruntled with the organization and requesting a trade. This trade never happened, but the San Francisco wideout has noticeably underperformed this season after signing the massive contract.
Before Aiyuk’s season-ending injury, he was on pace to miss his 2023 yardage total by over 400 yards. Opposing defenses have finally put more focus into defending Aiyuk, but he hasn’t responded like a true No. 1 receiver should. But remember, he is being paid like a No.1 receiver. Now it’s easy to see why San Francisco fans have turned on their wide receiver.
Seattle Seahawks: DK Metcalf
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf has attracted plenty of hate throughout his 6-year NFL career. Opposing fans dislike Metcalf for his dirty play and occasional outbursts on the sidelines. Seattle fans dislike Metcalf because he costs his team yardage via the yellow flag. No receiver has been penalized more since 2019 than DK Metcalf. And Metcalf has also earned ire for his fumbling problems, having lost the football the 9th most times of any receiver since 2019.
New York Jets: Sauce Gardner
Jets’ cornerback Sauce Gardner has covered the league’s top receivers and earned multiple first team all-pro accolades since his rookie year in 2022, but has earned some hate from fans in the process. Gardner has earned ire for his overly-aggressive playstyle, and has been labeled as “overrated” by many scouting directors.
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