The NFL has worked long and hard to manipulate its reputation as a global brand in recent years, but most of that effort and attention has been directed at the players.
And the reality is—that there are still quite a few rather questionable characters in and around the league that don’t wear a uniform on Sundays.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at 10 of the biggest dirtbags that are in NFL front offices, on coaching staffs, and in other key roles in organizations.
Who are the most infamous behind-the-scenes dirtbags in the NFL?
Woody Johnson, Owner, New York Jets
Woody Johnson has been embroiled in numerous controversies and caught many, many allegations over the years—beyond just being one of the worst owners in the NFL… Perhaps even all of the professional sports!
I mean, for starters… He, in many ways, set the Patriots dynasty in motion and doomed his own franchise when he bought the Jets. The sale officially went through in January of 2000—just two weeks after Bill Belichick famously let the organization, citing “various uncertainties surrounding [his] position as it relates to the new ownership.”
But like I said, with Johnson, the issues run way deeper than what actually takes place on the football field.
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This is scary to think about, considering what a powerful person he has become politically… After all, Johnson served as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom under Donald Trump during his presidency.
And during that time, well… things didn’t exactly go smoothly. The State Department was literally forced to investigate Johnson after multiple staffers accused him of making inappropriate comments about issues concerning race, personal appearance, and Black History Month.
This shouldn’t be surprising, though, considering he hails from a rather troubled family. Some people believe his great-grandfather, Robert Wood Johnson I, was cursed because of the unscrupulous methods he used to build the Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical fortune.
Johnson is just one of those people that you never hear anyone have something good to say about—and he is undeniably one of the biggest scumbags that the NFL has to offer!
Dave Canales, Head Coach, Carolina Panthers
Look… everyone loves a redemption story… I get it.
But it is hard to read the stories that have come out about now Carolina Panthers head coach, Dave Canales and not think that he is a bad guy.
For those who didn’t catch the media firestorm that came out after he wrote his book: “This Marriage? The Question That Changed Everything.” — Canales admitted to a series of infidelities and poor treatment of his wife, Lizzy.
“From the start of our relationship, I was binge drinking and going out with friends, without Lizzy,” Canales wrote. “Before I was ever unfaithful to her, I was already there in my mind. Bad habits combined with addiction made it hard for me to resist temptation. It was a pattern I knew well before we started dating.”
Canales continued to explain that through their Christian Faith, he was able to overcome his demons, and the couple was able to get back on track, but I don’t know… Something doesn’t sit right here.
I get the whole Evangelical, mission-type of thing… and you could make an argument that he is trying to help other people stay—or get back on the straight and narrow.
But he ultimately ended up humiliating his wife in the process by making all of this information public. Kinda seems like a different version of the same narcissistic behavior that got him in hot water, to begin with, if you ask me!
David Tepper, Owner, Carolina Panthers
David Tepper, the notorious billionaire owner of the Carolina Panthers, has faced significant backlash in recent years for his management style and business practices… and frankly, just being a terrible person.
Tepper, who made his fortune in hedge funds, has been accused of creating, fostering, and basically relishing in a toxic work environment.
And anytime one of his questionable decisions hurts his team, his employees or his players, he is the first one to point a finger and blame someone else. Additionally, his involvement in a failed real estate deal for the Panthers’ new headquarters led to lawsuits and financial losses, further tarnishing his reputation. If you are going to be a rich supervillain type of character—you have to at least do a good job with the money part!
One of the most controversial incidents involving Tepper occurred during the Panthers’ tumultuous 2021 season, when the owner got caught on camera dumping a drink on a fan who was heckling him. No shocker here, but the incident went insanely viral.
It is stunning that a man with his power and stature succumb to such childish behavior, especially in a business where public relations is so critical.
He feels like one of those guys that, for the next decade, every few months, we are going to hear about some other despicable thing he’s done in his past or the present! He does not seem like a likely candidate for a redemption arc by any stretch of the imagination.
Al Michaels, Broadcaster
Al Michaels is undeniably on the shortlist for being one of the greatest sports commentators to ever do it—and he has gained increasing fame over the last couple of decades for the role that he has played announcing NFL games.
That said… he isn’t exactly the kind of guy that you would want to sit down and grab a beer with.
He somehow still has a reputation for being a consummate professional, but more often than not, he ends up making remarks that are off-color or out of touch.
Say… for example… like the time he said the Giants were coming off “a worse week than Harvey Weinstein”—you know… the Harvey Weinstein… The notorious sexual predator… Just some lighthearted jocularity on Monday Night Football with Al!
Beyond his poor judgment of when and how to open his mouth, Al has become a surly, unpleasant jerk in his old age and, as a result, is becoming increasingly less popular with younger fans.
Jerry Jones, Owner, Dallas Cowboys
Jerry Jones is one of the most recognizable figures in the NFL, and there is no doubt about that. And he has contributed a lot to the growth of the league.
BUT! His behavior off the field, whether it be scandals or just his general demeanor as a human being, and his controversial decisions as the owner of the Cowboys, tends to overshadow the role he played in growing the league.
For starters, there is his larger-than-life persona. Many believe—and it is hard to argue otherwise—that he seeks the spotlight too often and is more interested in making himself the face of the franchise rather than allowing the players and coaches to take center stage.
Fans and critics have also begrudged Jones’s willingness to overlook the transgressions of troubled players—who have the right level of on-field talent. Granted, all NFL teams do this to some extent, but the Cowboys tend to take it to another level… Say, for example, like signing Greg Hardy. How is that not going to reflect poorly on his moral compass?
I guess we shouldn’t be surprised that the oil mogul, who, as recently as 2022, paid upwards of $3 million dollars to a woman and her mother as part of a paternity suit.
Just a standup guy, through and through!
He has also run afoul of certain segments of Cowboys fans, who resent his unceremonious firings of longtime Cowboys personnel who were fan favorites, like head coach Tom Landry and general manager Tex Schramm.
Honestly, there are few more reviled figures in sports than Jerry Jones!
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Roger Goodell, Commissioner
Some may view Roger Goodell as a mere lightning rod for general animosity among fans and media members, and that should be directed at the owners. It is hard to deny that with the level of controversy that has arisen during his tenure, he isn’t part of the problem.
Granted, he has overseen a tremendous period of growth for the league in terms of revenue and global reach, but there is a reason that many of his decisions have drawn significant criticism from fans, players, and even the owners alike.
The man is a massive hypocrite—and he cares only about public perception. A classic example of this would be his controversial handling of the Ray Rice domestic violence case, where Goodell initially gave Rice a two-game suspension, only to increase it to an indefinite suspension after public outcry and the release of a disturbing video.
At the end of the day, Roger Goodell cares about two things… and neither of them are player safety, the fans, or even football!
He cares about making money and inflating his own ego—that is it!
Sean Payton, Head Coach, Denver Broncos
Sean Payton, currently the head coach of the Denver Broncos, is a highly respected figure in the NFL for his offensive acumen and leadership. After all, he did lead one of the most potent offenses of its time down in New Orleans. However, his career has not been without controversy, most notably the infamous Bountygate scandal during his tenure in the Big Easy.
He and his staff offered players bonuses for injuring opposing players and knocking them out of games!
Nasty stuff.
The way that Payton treats his players has also been scrutinized.
While some of his former players praise his strategic mind and ability to get the best out of his team, there have been a ton of reports of tension and discontent within his locker rooms because he can be such a jerk to work with.
Stan Kroenke, Owner, Los Angeles Rams
In a league that is filled with billionaire owners that are at times disliked by the fans of their own teams, Stan Kroenke, the owner of the Los Angeles Rams, is a special case.
The real estate mogul has had a tumultuous tenure in the NFL, albeit—a successful one… but one that has been marked by significant controversy and criticism.
Kroenke, who owns multiple sports franchises, has often been accused of prioritizing profit over the welfare of fans and communities, like when he ripped the rams out of St. Louis in 2016 and moved them west to reclaim Los Angeles as their home city.
Never mind the fact that he tried to back out of covering the bill for the tens of millions of dollars in legal expenses that resulted from that departure.
The case against Kroenke and the Rams, filed by St. Louis Regional Convention and Sports Complex Authority, raged on for four years, as key stake holders in the City alleged that the league broke its own relocation guidelines, misled the public on its plans to leave the city and cost the city millions in revenue.
All 32 teams were subsequently roped in, and it cost them millions in legal fees, which Kroenke had promised to cover in exchange for their support. However, he got what he needed out of them and betrayed them.
Just a complete dirtbag!
Blaise Taylor, Former Scout, Tennessee Titans
Thankfully, Blaise Taylor, a former scout for the Tennessee Titans, is no longer employed by an NFL organization, but his transgressions were so stunningly horrific—that he needs to be mentioned on this list.
Taylor shocked the NFL community when he was arrested on suspicion of murder in June 2023, as he allegedly poisoned his pregnant girlfriend, killing her and the unborn child.
Doesn’t get any worse than that.
Chris Foerster, Run Game Coordinator, San Francisco 49ers
Chris Foerster, who is currently employed as the run game coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers, is a seasoned NFL coach whose career took a dramatic turn in 2017.
Foerster’s downfall began when a video surfaced of him snorting a white powdery substance, believed by many to be cocaine, before a team meeting.
This incident took place while he was an assistant coach for the Miami Dolphins—and ultimately led to his resignation and subsequent public admission of substance abuse issues.
Of course, we don’t want to villainize addiction if that was the case… and Foerster has done a great job of repairing his reputation and getting back into the league… but that doesn’t change the fact that he partook in some dirtbag behavior during his time in the NFL!
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