Every good story needs a villain. NFL fans have no problem creating their own villains these days, do they? There have always been “hated” NFL players. For the longest time, Tom Brady was arguably the king of this hill because he was beating everyone’s favorite teams. Peyton Manning once held this title for similar reasons.
Not every great player in the NFL is hated but a lot of the time, that is what will do it for certain fan bases, at least. You win too much, people start to hate you for it. But there are a variety of reasons why NFL fans hate certain players. Maybe they feel they are overpaid. Maybe they’ve gotten into trouble off the field. Maybe they are “corny”.
Whatever the reason(s), I think we can safely say these next 10 players we’re going to discuss are among the most hated in the NFL. And there is certainly room for debate here, or for more players to be in consideration.
10 most hated NFL players in 2023
10. Baker Mayfield, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Although Baker Mayfield is getting picked on a little too much these days, it’s indisputable that he is still one of the most hated players in the NFL. People have loved to hate on Baker Mayfield dating back to his time at Oklahoma when he certainly made a lot of enemies by grabbing himself on the sideline, talking trash demonstratively, and stabbing the middle of the field with the OU flag.
As an NFL player, he hasn’t done much to further the hatred from fans other than playing poorly. Mayfield is actually an exceptional actor, as we have seen in his previous commercial work. He’s quite funny and likable, but he’s one of everyone’s favorite players to pick on. We’ll see how he can do in his first year as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
9. Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are “America’s Team”, right? Well, to some, they are “America’s most hated team”. There are not many stuck between loving or hating the Dallas Cowboys. They are either beloved or hated by the vast majority of football fans. Therefore, Dak Prescott is either beloved or hated by the vast majority of NFL fans.
As the starting QB of the Dallas Cowboys, he receives a ton of hype, much of which fans believe is undue. There was plenty of rejoicing last season when Prescott struggled, throwing 15 interceptions in 12 games. There are plenty of NFL fans out there who take odd joy in watching Prescott and the Cowboys depart from the playoffs. There are plenty of people who think Prescott is overpaid.
No doubt, he is one of the NFL’s most hated players, justified or not.
No. 8: Aaron Rodgers, QB, New York Jets
Aaron Rodgers has plenty of fans in New York these days, but he’s made an enemy out of a large majority of the NFL fan base. The four-time MVP has become somewhat of a major distraction over the last couple of years, following an oddly similar path to the man he took the Green Bay job from way back when — Brett Favre.
Rodgers’s indecisiveness and attention-grabbing the last couple of offseasons have rubbed a lot of people the wrong way, and not everyone has been on his side throughout the fiasco that has taken place between him and the Packers’ front office. Although many still love Aaron Rodgers, it’s fair to say he’s one of the most hated players in the NFL right now.
No. 7: Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs
There is no question about it — people hate Patrick Mahomes.
What’s the saying? They hate us ’cause they ain’t us?
That pretty well accurately describes us. Although some of the Mahomes hate comes from his general quirkiness — sounding a bit like Kermit the Frog, horrendously cringeworthy Hy-Vee and State Farm commercials — the majority of hate for Mahomes comes from the fact that he’s bordering on unbeatable these days. Everyone hates the cheat code. Everyone hates the best player in the league when he’s not on your team.
That’s the rite of passage. Patrick Mahomes is a mostly likable guy, even if he’s got some embarrassing family members. But he’s also one of the most hated players in the NFL by fans.
No. 6: Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is among the most hated players in the NFL, but why?
Well, aside from his Catching Kelce dating show, Kelce is simply one of the most dominant players in the NFL at his position — ever. And he’s going to let you know about it. Kelce is a big trash talker. He’s one of the NFL’s biggest personalities. He was once labeled by Von Miller as “Fake Gronk” and although that statement was hilarious at the time, Kelce has proven he might challenge Gronk’s legacy as the best tight end over the last 20 years in the NFL — maybe ever.
With that being said, Kelce is a bit over the top for some, and way over the top for others.
No. 5: Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens
For reasons I’ll never fully understand, Lamar Jackson is absolutely one of the most hated players in the NFL in 2023. People have hated Lamar Jackson since he came into the league, although I would say the “hatred” doesn’t come from the sect of NFL fans you really want to be associated with.
People have hated Lamar Jackson for his style of play. They have hated him for the fact that he represents himself without an agent. They have hated him for missing games the last couple of years. They have hated him for taking so long in his contract negotiations.
None of these reasons are justified, but they are all reasons why a lot of NFL fans seem to hate Lamar Jackson.
No. 4: Sauce Gardner, CB, New York Jets
Nobody loves a really good cornerback who talks a lot more than the fans of the team that guy plays for. And no one hates him more than just about everyone else. Sauce Gardner came into the NFL with high expectations as a big-time NFL Draft pick, and he lived up to them as a rookie. Some have called him the no. 1 overall cornerback in the NFL right now.
Those claims are a bit ludicrous, and Gardner is hated for the fact that he’s generated so much hype so quickly, he talks a lot of trash, and in his rookie year, people feel like he got away with a lot of penalties that weren’t called. Almost weekly, there were hotly contested debates about whether or not a “great play” in coverage from Gardner was actually an infraction that the officials simply didn’t call.
The debates will continue in 2023.
No. 3: JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, New England Patriots
How much really needs to be said here? JuJu Smith-Schuster has been more recognized for his addition to the social media platform TikTok than his on-field play since he arrived to the NFL.
Ju Ju Smith Schuster appears to be ok after the game. He went to the blue tent with an apparent hand injury but A little Tik Tok action!! #Steelers pic.twitter.com/lG1W4rag5t
— Bob Pompeani (@KDPomp) August 22, 2021
Smith-Schuster’s addiction to the Tok has made him one of the most hated players in all the NFL, and there’s really not much more that needs to be said. This is the bed he’s made.
No. 2: Deshaun Watson, QB, Cleveland Browns
Although some of this list is a bit tongue-in-cheek, I think it’s safe to say that the majority of NFL fans, perhaps even many Cleveland Browns fans, really don’t like — or hate — Deshaun Watson. Watson’s off-field issues over the last handful of years have turned around a career in which he started off as one of the league’s most widely embraced superstars for the worse. It’s been horrendous to witness and to have to cover.
To make matters worse, Watson received the largest fully-guaranteed contract in 2022 from the Cleveland Browns, $230 million in total money. The contract was structured in such a way that Watson would lose as little money as possible while he served an expected suspension from the NFL. Everything that has transpired with Watson for the last three years has made the majority of NFL fans hate him more and more.
No. 1: Russell Wilson, QB, Denver Broncos
Although it’s ridiculous that anyone would possibly be above Deshaun Watson on the NFL’s most hated players list for 2023, it’s pretty clear that no one is as hated among NFL fans and media as Russell Wilson.
Which is ridiculous.
Russell Wilson is hated for being cringeworthy or “corny” in many of the things that he does. He is hated by many Seattle Seahawks fans (unjustly) due to his former teammates turning them against him, or the fact that he deserted the team, or the fact that he seemingly had a falling out with Pete Carroll.
There were a large number of NFL fans, media, players, and former players who reveled in Russell Wilson’s struggles with the Denver Broncos in 2022. Many were seemingly enjoying each of his failures, getting satisfaction from the fact that Wilson’s play declined in 2022. It was such an odd, sad sight to behold.
Russ brings plenty upon himself from the “Let’s Ride” slogans to his borderline being a walking cliche at times. But this is one of the most successful QBs in NFL history and he should be much more revered than hated. And yet, he is not.