Avery Johnson’s Family Breaks Silence on Dublin Fist Fight

Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson’s family issued a public apology on Sunday after a postgame altercation in Dublin, Ireland, involving his father, Mark, and older brother, Anthony.

The two were caught on video fighting outside Aviva Stadium following the Wildcats’ 24-21 season-opening loss to Iowa State in the Aer Lingus Classic, an incident that quickly spread across social media and drew widespread attention from the college football world.

In the video, Mark and Anthony can be seen wrestling on the ground as K-State fans attempted to separate them. According to multiple reports, no arrests were made following the scuffle, but the footage drew criticism and overshadowed what had been an otherwise encouraging debut for Johnson, who passed for 273 yards and two touchdowns while adding another score on the ground in his first start of the season.

On Sunday, the Johnson family released a statement acknowledging the incident and extending an apology to Kansas State and its supporters. “We sincerely apologize for our actions following yesterday’s football game in Ireland,” the statement reads. “Senseless bickering led to an unnecessary fight. We have resolved our differences and take full responsibility for our actions. We have apologized to our immediate and extended family, and now extend apologies to Kansas State University, its alumni, and its fans. We regret this incident, have learned from it, and are committed to ensuring it doesn’t happen again. Please accept our deepest apologies.”

For Kansas State, the episode creates an unwelcome distraction at a time when the program is trying to regroup from a narrow opening loss. Johnson’s play provided optimism that he can be a difference-maker in the Big 12 race, but the incident involving his family drew attention away from that storyline. Head coach Chris Klieman and his staff now face the challenge of keeping the focus on football as the Wildcats return home to prepare for nonconference action and a grueling league schedule.

The apology appears to be an attempt to close the matter quickly, though it will likely remain a talking point among fans and media. Kansas State’s ability to move past the incident and keep Johnson centered on leading the offense will be critical as the season progresses.