The NFL’s image is built on competition, tradition and spectacle. But for all the drama on the field, some of the league’s darkest NFL scandals have unfolded far away from kickoff.
From courtrooms to locker rooms, NFL scandals have exposed everything from criminal activity to toxic cultures and league-wide denial. These incidents have forced the NFL to answer for its policies, its leadership, and its priorities when the cameras aren’t rolling.
This list focuses exclusively on the controversies that took place off the field. These are 10 of the most damaging NFL scandals in the history of American football.
1. Aaron Hernandez murder conviction (2013)
In June 2013, police arrested New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez and charged him with the murder of Odin Lloyd.
The Patriots released him later that same day. In 2015, a jury convicted Hernandez of first-degree murder, and the court sentenced him to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
He was also tried for a separate 2012 double homicide but was acquitted in 2017. The Patriots moved quickly to distance themselves, removing his name and likeness from team materials and official merchandise.
On April 19, 2017, Hernandez died by suicide in his prison cell. A posthumous examination revealed he had advanced CTE, a degenerative brain disease linked to repeated head trauma. The diagnosis prompted renewed debate over player safety and long-term health risks, and remains one of the most significant off-field NFL scandals.
2. Ray Rice elevator incident (2014)
In February 2014, police arrested Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice after an altercation with his then-fiancée in an Atlantic City casino. Security footage initially showed Rice dragging her unconscious body from an elevator. He was indicted in March, but avoided jail after entering a pretrial intervention program.
Soon after, the NFL suspended Rice for two games. The light punishment drew immediate backlash, with critics accusing the league of failing to take domestic violence seriously.
In September, a second video emerged showing the actual punch inside the elevator. Public outcry intensified, and the Ravens terminated Rice’s contract the same day.
The NFL also suspended Rice indefinitely, though he was later reinstated after an appeal. The case prompted a full review of league conduct policies and led to tougher penalties for future domestic violence incidents.
3. Michael Vick dogfighting conviction (2007)
In April 2007, police raided a Virginia property owned by Falcons quarterback Michael Vick. The investigation uncovered an illegal dogfighting operation. That July, Vick was indicted on federal charges and soon pleaded guilty to conspiracy before receiving a sentence of 23 months in prison.
At the time, Vick was one of the league’s most prominent stars. The NFL suspended him indefinitely, and he lost major endorsement deals.
Public opinion turned sharply, with animal rights groups leading calls for accountability. In 2008, he filed for bankruptcy while still serving his sentence.
Following his release in 2009, Vick returned to the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles. He went on to play several more seasons, even earning a Pro Bowl selection. Needless to say, his comeback drew mixed reactions.
4. NFL’s concussion lawsuits (2013)
In 2013, the NFL reached a landmark settlement with thousands of former players who sued the league over head trauma. The players claimed the NFL had ignored medical evidence and failed to warn them about long-term risks. While the league denied wrongdoing, it agreed to a $765million settlement.
Over time, more retirees joined the case, and the total payout exceeded $1billion.
The agreement covered compensation, medical exams, and research funding. It also acknowledged the link between repeated head trauma and CTE, a brain condition diagnosed in dozens of former players.
The case marked a turning point in how the NFL approached player safety. In response, the league introduced rule changes, stricter protocols, and mandatory sideline evaluations.
Even so, critics argued that reform came too late. The concussion crisis remains one of the most far-reaching NFL scandals in league history.
5. Deshaun Watson lawsuits (2021)
In March 2021, a woman filed the first of many civil lawsuits against Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson. Over two dozen women accused him of sexual misconduct during massage appointments.
Although multiple grand juries declined to issue criminal charges, Watson faced 26 civil suits and eventually settled most of them.
As the legal process unfolded, Watson missed the entirety of the 2021 season. In 2022, he was traded to the Cleveland Browns, where he signed a fully guaranteed $230m contract that sparked backlash.
The NFL launched its own investigation and handed down a six-game suspension.
However, following an appeal, the league extended the suspension to 11 games and fined Watson $5m. The situation drew criticism of the NFL’s disciplinary standards and messaging.
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6. O.J. Simpson murder trial (1994)
Former NFL running back O.J. Simpson was charged with the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman. The trial, broadcast live across the nation, became one of the most watched legal events in U.S. history. Simpson pleaded not guilty and was acquitted in October 1995 after a lengthy trial.
Although the murders occurred more than a decade after his retirement, Simpson remained one of the NFL’s most recognizable alumni. The case blurred the lines between celebrity, sport, and criminal justice.
Public reaction split sharply, and the media frenzy helped reshape how outlets covered high-profile trials in the years that followed.
In 1997, a civil court found Simpson liable for both deaths and ordered him to pay $33.5m. While the NFL was not involved and faced no fallout, the case still casts a long shadow.
7. Washington Commanders workplace scandal (2020)
In July 2020, The Washington Post published a report in which 15 former female employees accused team executives of sexual harassment and verbal abuse.
The allegations detailed a toxic workplace culture that spanned over a decade. As pressure mounted, the team hired an outside firm to conduct a formal investigation.
Soon after, the NFL stepped in and took over the probe. Although the league issued a $10 million fine in 2021, critics condemned the decision not to release a written report.
The lack of transparency drew backlash from Congress and sparked further scrutiny. In response, former employees and advocacy groups demanded accountability.
Eventually, team owner Dan Snyder stepped away from day-to-day operations and later agreed to sell the franchise in 2023. While the scandal didn’t involve criminal charges, it forced the NFL to revisit its workplace standards.
8. Colin Kaepernick protest (2016)
In 2016, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial injustice. His actions sparked nationwide debate.
While some praised the gesture as a powerful stand, others, including political leaders, criticised it as unpatriotic.
Following that season, Kaepernick opted out of his contract and entered free agency. Despite his experience and prior success, no NFL team signed him.
Critics even argued that owners had informally agreed to keep him out of the league due to his protests. In 2027, Kaepernick filed a grievance against the NFL, claiming collusion.
Eventually, the league settled the case in 2019 for an undisclosed sum. Although the NFL later expressed support for social justice causes, many viewed its handling of Kaepernick’s situation as contradictory. His absence from the league remains a flashpoint in discussions around race, protest, and power, cementing it as one of the most polarizing NFL scandals.
9. Rae Carruth murder conspiracy (1999)
Rae Carruth’s case remains one of the most chilling crimes in NFL history. The Carolina Panthers wide receiver conspired to murder his pregnant girlfriend, Cherica Adams, in 1999.
She was shot in a drive-by while following Carruth’s vehicle, and although she managed to call 911 and identify him, she died weeks later. Her baby survived but suffered lasting brain damage.
Carruth fled the state as police closed in, eventually found hiding in a car trunk in Tennessee. In 2001, he was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder and sentenced to nearly 19 years in prison. His fall from first-round draft pick to convicted felon was swift and irreversible.
The NFL distanced itself quickly, but questions around player conduct and league culture lingered. Carruth was released in 2018, but his name is forever linked to one of football’s most unforgivable scandals.
10. Jon Gruden leaks and resignation (2021)
Jon Gruden’s return to the Raiders ended in disgrace when a cache of offensive emails was leaked in 2021. The messages, discovered during the NFL’s probe into the Washington Commanders, included racist, misogynistic, and homophobic remarks. After the first email was made public, a steady stream followed, and Gruden resigned within days.
He had signed a 10-year, $100 million deal in 2018. That deal ended abruptly, along with his media work and public image.
Gruden later filed a lawsuit, accusing the league of selectively leaking the emails to sabotage his career. The NFL denied any wrongdoing, and the legal fight continues.
The scandal reignited debates about who the NFL chooses to protect. Gruden’s downfall was messy and public, but the lack of transparency around the wider email investigation raised even more uncomfortable questions.
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