There can be many reasons why you hate specific NFL players. And when I say hate, I mean hate in the sports sense. Not the literal hate that there is too much of in the world today. But who are the most hated NFL players? There are some names that are out of the league that would be on the list if a team would pay them to be. Antonio Brown, Cam Newton, and Tom Brady to name a few. I came across a list that Ranker.com put together on this very topic.

What I found interesting is the lack of quarterbacks on the list. Guys like Joe Burrow, Patrick Mahomes, and Josh Allen are loved by their fan bases. But for every Chiefs fan who loves Mahomes, there are 3 Charges, Raiders, and Broncos fans that hate him. I would have more quarterbacks on this list. Of course wide receivers are well represented.

There are many ways to become one of the most hated NFL players. Being successful on the field is the easiest way to do this. Fans don’t like to see one fanbase experience all of the highs in an NFL season. I still remember looking at Patriots fans at the end of Brady’s run in New England and thinking they have no idea what being an NFL fan is actually like. They were spoiled, and they acted exactly how I would act if I had the GOAT for 2 decades. But I hated Tom Brady because of that. So while I don’t think there are enough quarterback s on this list, it’s got some good names. It’s the most hated NFL players.

11. RB Joe Mixon (Cincinnati Bengals)
(Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)

Mixon has largely kept his nose clean since he gotten to the NFL. But he was suspended for a year while at Oklahoma for punching a female. It seems like he’s grown since then, but that obviously still follows him.
10. QB Kirk Cousins (Minnesota Vikings)
(Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)

This one surprised me at first. But upon further review it makes sense. Vikings fans hate the version of Kirk we get during most primetime games. And opposing fan bases think “Primetime Kirk” is the real Kirk, then he hand 300+ yards on them and a couple touchdowns in a win.
9. QB Mitchell Trubisky (Pittsburgh Steelers)
(Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

I understand why Bears fans don’t like Trubisky. It’s tough to have a conversation with Bears fans (before Justin Fields showed up) without them bringing up Mitch was taken before Patrick Mahomes. That’s not his fault, but unfortunately it’s going to follow him his entire career. However long it lasts.
8. QB Jameis Winston (New Orleans Saints)
(Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)

Jameis is another example of a college kid making mistakes and having that never leave him. He had multiple incidents while at Florida State. It didn’t stop there with at least 1 public incident involving allegedly groping an Uber driver. This one makes sense.
7. WR Cole Beasley (New York Giants)
(Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)

He upset half of the country when he spoke out against the COVID vaccines and their effectiveness. I’m not going to get into if he was right or wrong about that. But it was a divisive issue at the time and he put himself in the conversation. Other than that he hasn’t done anything noteworthy that would put him on this list.
6. QB Baker Mayfield (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Baker is not everybody’s cup of tea. He had a ton of success in college and was not afraid to talk while having success. There was also video before his final year at OU where he tried (and failed) to out run law enforcement that didn’t go over well. His career got off to a nice start with Cleveland, but since has gone sideways.
5. WR Tyreek Hill (Miami Dolphins)
(Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)

Tyreek’s story also goes back to his college days. While at Oklahoma State Hill pleaded guilty to domestic abuse on his then pregnant girlfriend. He was investigate for child abuse while a member of the Kansas City Chiefs. And this offseason he settled with a man after allegedly slapping him in the back of the head over a dispute.
4. CB Jalen Ramsey (Miami Dolphins)
(Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

I don’t understand this one. He’s aloud corner who isn’t afraid to tell you how good he is. But there hasn’t been any legal trouble he gotten into. His tenure with the Jaguars ended a little ugly, but are there enough Jaguars fans to vote him on the list?
3. QB Aaron Rodgers (New York Jets)
(Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

Another guy who got caught up in the COVID discussion after the whole “immunized” vs “vaccinated”. Again, not going to get into that here. He’s won for a long time which makes him automatically not likable. And I think his general persona pushes people away from him… like his family.
2. WR Odell Beckham Jr. (Baltimore Ravens)
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Odell is a diva wide receiver. Not in the sense that he’s not willing to go over the middle to catch a ball. But the way he conducts himself off the field. He’s got a lot of “look at me” in him. But again, no legal trouble. I get why Giants and Browns fans aren’t fans of his. But the second most hated NFL player? I don’t see it.
1. QB Deshaun Watson (Cleveland Browns)
(Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)

Yup. Makes perfect sense. Most people don’t like people who are accused of 20+ sexual assaults, never accepts responsibility, and then signs the biggest guaranteed contract in NFL history. There is literally nothing else that makes him hated. But that was a big one.