The National Football League (NFL) is the scene of action where intense battles occur, and mind-boggling athleticism and drama unfold whether you believe it or not. Despite the highly competitive nature of the sport, moments that are utterly hilarious in retrospect have brought on bouts of laughter for fans. They also serve as a cool down from the intensity and heightened stakes surrounding professional footbal.
Here, we look at the top 10 funniest moments in NFL history. The list was created by combining their comedic value, how much they have infiltrated the culture, and just plain media sensation.
Top 10 Hilarious NFL Moments
1. The Butt Fumble (2012)
Of course, you can't name some of the funniest moments in NFL history without including everyone's favorite Butt Fumble. This happened during a 2012 Thanksgiving Day game between the New York Jets and the New England Patriots.
Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez found himself in a tight spot, directly up against the buttocks of his lineman Brandon Moore. The hit resulted in Sanchez losing the ball, which was recovered by Patriots safety Steve Gregory, who took it into the end zone.
The play quickly went viral and became a metaphor for the Jets' season and Sanchez's downturn as an NFL quarterback. The Butt Fumble did bad enough after SNF had turned out for the week that it became SportsCenter's "Worst of the Worst" lowlight for 40 straight weeks before finally being put to rest in a mostly-peaceful ceremony there.
2. Premature Celebration by Leon Lett (1993)
In Super Bowl XXVII, the Dallas Cowboys' defensive superstar Leon Lett made a postseason blunder that remains among the best-known and most colossal goofs not only for what he did to neutralize such a takeaway but how chillingly Looney Tunes it all was. Lett started showboating as he headed toward the end zone after recovering a fumble. But he began to celebrate too early and was caught by Buffalo Bills defender Don Beebe, who swatted the ball out of his hands before Bebee touched down in time.
It only lasted for a second, but in that moment of overconfidence, Lett lost what would have been an easy touchdown, and the play was replayed millions of times as how you should always finish until the final whistle blows. Even though the Cowboys rolled to a comfortable victory in that game, Lett's blunder became one of the most infamous moments in Super Bowl history.
3. Jim Marshall: Wrong Way Run (1964)
In 1964, in a game against the San Francisco 49ers, one of Minnesota Viking's defensive ends, Jim Marshall, executed the most infamous miscue in his storied career. Marshall later scooped up a fumble and ran 66 yards the wrong way, resulting in two points for his opponent.
The priceless images of Marshall's confused face as his merciless trick was shown to him, along with the reactions of spectators and fellow players, were claimed for hilarity. Although the Vikings won this contest, Marshall would go on to a 20-year career in the NFL.
4. Worst Fake Punt in NFL History (2015)
The Indianapolis Colts ran perhaps the worst NFL fake punt in history against the New England Patriots. Most of the Colts were lined up wide with two over at the line of scrimmage.
The snap went to safety Colt Anderson, who was stopped for a loss. The trick play was so horribly executed and even more terribly conceived that it left fans, pundits, and probably players on the field scratching their collective heads.
The moment has gone down in history as an NFL blooper reel classic. It was debated and lampooned from sea to shining sports talk radio expressed sea, with the crux of most takes outlining how embarrassingly boneheaded Colts management had behaved. The play has been used ever since to warn of what can go wrong with an overly cluttered mind and over-competitive mentality.
5. The Hot Dog Incident (2009)
During a 2009 game versus the Oakland Raiders, Mark Sanchez was caught eating his hot dog on Denver's sidelines in another less consequential but equally amusing moment. The Jets were up by a mile, and Sanchez had the munchies.
The cameras captured this, and everyone talked about it quite soon through fans and media. Many called bullsh*t on Sanchez for his lack of professionalism, while others saw the act as charming and relatable.
6. The Mooning Randy Moss (2005)
In a playoff game at the Green Bay Packers 2005, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Randy Moss caught a touchdown pass and appeared to have fake mooned the crowd at Lambeau Field. That came after a tradition in which Packers fans would moon the visiting team's bus.
A firestorm erupted in the aftermath of that celebration, with commentator Joe Buck describing it as "a disgusting act." But most fans who saw the incident found it quite funny.
Since then, it has become one of the most memorable celebrations in NFL history. For better or worse, it opened a dialogue about the balance of sportsmanship vs. entertainment in football and has since become part of Moss' legacy as one of the game's most unique characters.
7. The 1998 Thanksgiving Day Coin Toss Fiasco
Running back Jerome Bettis of the Pittsburgh Steelers called heads during the overtime coin toss in a Thanksgiving Day clash with the Detroit Lions. It looked as if he called "tails." The referee heard heads. But there was confusion when they called tails and saw the coin land that way on the ground.
The Steelers claimed Bettis had called tails, but the referee's decision stood. However, the Lions received the ball and scored a touchdown with their first drive.
This exposed an opportunity for critical game time human error, and made changes to how coin tosses are run. Even a fair amount of comedy was involved, causing the heads of players, coaches, and fans to start spinning after everything had gone down.
8. Bill Belichick's Hoodies
Although not a single moment, the continuous hoodie-wearing love affair Bill Belichick has with his hoodies is an amusing treat for NFL fans. Despite the trademark cut sleeves of his hoodies, Belichick tends to take a slightly different and often rumpled approach.
This led to many memes, parodies, and merchandise based on the sartorial design. By fans and media alike, the reasons for Belichick's fashion accouterments have been much speculated over mystery, humor added to the stern face of the coach.
His hoodie is so omnipresent at this point that it's basically its own character, appearing in video games, advertisem*nts, and Halloween costumes. It's a little unintentional comedy, a sort of not-so-serious reminder that even in the cutthroat world of professional football, some things are just meant to be funny.
9. Gus Frerotte, Head Butt Celebration (1997)
During a 1997 game against the New York Giants, Washington Redskins quarterback Gus Frerotte scored a touchdown and celebrated by head-butting the padded concrete wall behind that end zone. However, the celebration blew up in their faces when Frerotte sprained his neck and had to leave the game.
This embarrassing moment of over-the-top jubilee will go down in NFL history as a blooper that Gus would prefer to forget. It was a cautionary reminder of the reckless abandon and how self-preservation is just as vital in victory.
Frerotte's head-butt is a staple of sports blooper reels, and an oft-cited case study in the world of celebration fails with good reason. It serves as a reminder that some of the best laughs also come from athletes unable to contain their emotions in times of stress.
10. The Fail Mary (2012)
A Hail Mary pass by Russell Wilson that looked like the Packers picked it off. However, the replacement above referees officiating due to a labor dispute awarded the Seahawks a touchdown.
It resulted in a surreal and almost comical scene of confusion, with one referee signaling touchdown because the two hazards offset each other. The call brought outrage from fans and media, ultimately resulting in the return of the locked-out officials just a few days later.
It was frustrating at the time for many, especially Packers fans, but it has become a funny part of playoff lore. It is a stark reminder of the rule chaos that can break out whenever something smells rotten in professional sports.
As we move on and enjoy the NFL games being played, there will be more future laughs. What a game of surprises is is anything but out of the question when it comes to possibly being written down on an index card. After all, there's potential for any other NFL gaffe.
