10 Times Cocky NFL Players Got Instantly Humbled

Brady and the New England Patriots broke record after record after record during the 2007 regular season. They became the first team to finish with a perfect 16-and-0 regular-season record. 

Their 589 points scored were a single-season record at the time. Brady became the first QB to throw 50 touchdowns in a season. Randy Moss’ 23 touchdown receptions also smashed the NFL record.

So, most of the NFL world scoffed at New York Giants’ wide receiver Plaxico Burress when he publicly stated that his team would beat New England 23-17 in Super Bowl 42. Obviously, big language for a 12.5-point underdog.

That led to this infamous soundbite by Tommy Terrific.

Funny enough, Plaxico overestimated both offenses in this one. The Giants would win 17-14, with Burress catching the game-winning touchdown from Eli Manning. And so ended the Patriots’ bid to complete the perfect 19-0 season.

Brady’s infamous scoff at Burress’ prediction is one of the few times where the GOAT looked absolutely foolish. He, too, underestimated the Giants’ defense, which sacked him five times in the legendary upset.

Anthony Smith: Week 14, 2007

Back to the 2007 Patriots and that undefeated season thing…

The Pittsburgh Steelers were one of the last few imposing opponents on the Patriots’ schedule. Coming into this game, Pittsburgh was 9-3, looking to hand the 12-0 Pats their first loss of the season.

Veteran Steelers safety Anthony Smith stirred the pot by guaranteeing a Steelers victory. Smith said, “We’re going to win.”

The Steelers hardly showed up in this game, though. That included Smith, who was notably burned in coverage for the Patriots’ epic “Flea Flicker” touchdown that began the Patriots’ onslaught.

The Patriots cruised to a 34-13 victory, and Belichick didn’t let Smith’s failed guarantee go unscathed. After the game, Belichick was quoted as saying, “We’ve played against a lot better safeties than him, I’ll tell you that.”

And, well, Smith was hardly heard from in the NFL again.

Mike Hilton: 2022 AFC Championship Game

After the Bengals upset the Buffalo Bills in the 2022 AFC Divisional Round, Mike Hilton decided to add fuel to a rapidly intensifying rivalry with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Going into that 2022 AFC title game, Joe Burrow had a perfect 3-0 record against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. That was highlighted by the thrilling comeback win in the 2021 AFC Championship Game at Arrowhead, plus two regular-season wins at home.

Even though Burrow had only played once at Arrowhead Stadium, Hilton boldly stated, “We’ll see y’all in Burrowhead,” after Cincy’s win over Buffalo.

Well, Mahomes and the Chiefs got the last laugh by winning 23-20 on a last-second field goal by Harrison Butker. Hilton, by the way, gave up five completions on six targets for 53 yards and one touchdown.

That’s why you don’t get too caught up too early as an NFL player, Mike.

Jalen Ramsey: Week 11, 2018

The Jacksonville Jaguars looked like a team on the rise after a thrilling 2017 Cinderella run. They were this-close to beating the dynastic Patriots in the AFC Championship Game and reaching their first Super Bowl in franchise history. 

Jacksonville’s two biggest statement wins that year were both at Heinz Field. They manhandled Ben Roethlisberger and the “Killer B’s” Pittsburgh Steelers in a regular-season contest and in the rematch in the Divisional Round.

Ahead of the 2018 season, Ramsey sat down for an interview with GQ. There, he threw shade at numerous NFL quarterbacks, including Roethlisberger.

“Big Ben [Roethlisberger], I think he’s decent at best… It’s not Big Ben, it’s [Antonio Brown]. Big Ben slings the ball a lot of the time. He just slings it, and his receivers go get it. He has a strong arm, but he ain’t all that. I played him twice last year, and he really disappointed me. He’ll be in the Hall of Fame and all that.”

Well, Big Ben and the Steelers made Ramsey eat his words in their Week 11, 2018 rematch. Ramsey allowed six catches for 80 yards, per PFF. That included a big reception to Antonio Brown on the Steelers’ game-winning drive…which was capped off with Big Ben’s game-winning rushing score:

After the win, Big Ben didn’t go to Ramsey’s trash-talking level. He applauded the All-Pro corner as a great player, but said, “I’m not going to fear anybody, no matter who they are.”

Yeah, Roethlisberger definitely remembered what you said, Jalen.

Freddie Mitchell: Super Bowl 39

Former Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Freddie Mitchell was the first example of how dumb it is to trash-talk the Patriots before a big game. It’s a darn shame for other former NFL players who didn’t take Mitchell’s lesson.

Before the Eagles and Patriots clashed in Super Bowl 39, Mitchell sat down for an interview with Dan Patrick. Mitchell pretended that he couldn’t name any players from the New England secondary, implying that they were a bunch of no-names.

He did, however, infamously state, “I got something for you, Harrison,” to then-Patriots safety Rodney Harrison.

As if the Patriots didn’t need more motivation…they held Mitchell to just one reception for 11 yards. Oh, and Harrison had two interceptions — including the game-sealing pick off Donovan McNabb — to secure New England’s repeat and status as a dynasty.

Bill Belichick, who was once a man of many words back in the day, embraced the opportunity to throw further shade at Mitchell:

“All he does is talk. He’s terrible, and you can print that. I was happy when he was in the game.”

To make matters worse for Freddie? He was released by the Eagles after the 2004 season and never played in the NFL again.

Richard Sherman: Super Bowl 49

There was a fun three-year stretch from 2012 to 2014 when Richard Sherman, Darrelle Revis, and Patrick Peterson all had a compelling case as the best cornerbacks in the NFL. Unlike Revis and Peterson, however, Sherman was always vocal about who he thought was number one: Himself.

So when Sherman’s Seattle Seahawks met Revis’ Patriots in Super Bowl 49, there was plenty of well-established beef. And don’t forget Sherman’s “U MAD BRO?” post to Tom Brady after Seattle beat the Pats in their 2012 regular-season meeting.

Sherman probably should have known that the Patriots were the last team that anyone should trash-talk. After Revis gave up a touchdown to Doug Baldwin, Sherman looked at the cameras and gestured that “Number 24 just got beat”:

Of course, Sherman and the Legion of Boom crumbled by giving up back-to-back touchdown drives to the Patriots in the fourth quarter. And when Russell Wilson was picked off by Malcolm Butler at the one-yard line to seal a New England win? Sherman’s reaction said it all:

Vontaze Burfict: Week 13, 2017

Vontaze Burfict is by far the dirtiest player in NFL history. He was suspended four times, totaling 22 games. Burfict also lost about $5.3 million in fines and forfeited salary from the games he missed.

Burfict was never liked around the NFL, but the Steelers and their fanbase had more beef with him than anyone else. He was the one who delivered the vicious hit to Le’Veon Bell in a 2015 game that caused the running back to tear his MCL and miss the remainder of the year.

When the two clubs met again in the 2015 Wild Card Round, Burfict took a costly penalty for his headshot on Antonio Brown. It set up Pittsburgh’s game-winning field goal, but Brown was unable to play in their subsequent Divisional Round loss.

Needless to say, Steelers rookie wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster delivered some comeuppance with this bone-crunching hit on Burfict during Pittsburgh’s Week 13, 2017 road game against the Cincinnati Bengals:

Smith-Schuster was only a rookie and had already had enough of Burfict’s antics. You don’t cheer for injuries…but Burfict was also lucky to have not been the victim of numerous cheap shots. Considering all the dirty hits he had committed.

Shedeur Sanders: The 2025 NFL Draft

Love or hate Shedeur Sanders, there’s no denying his level of extreme arrogance. He obviously got it from his father and former coach, Deion Sanders. And to be fair to “Coach Prime”, he let that arrogance and giant personality fuel a Hall of Fame career that produced two Super Bowl rings.

So, why wouldn’t you be brash and arrogant if you’re Shedeur Sanders? 

Unfortunately for the Colorado product, his ultimate “got humbled” experience came months before he even played his first NFL snap.

Sanders was the consensus No. 2 quarterback prospect behind Miami’s Cam Ward entering the 2025 NFL Draft. ESPN’s Mel Kiper had Sanders as the No. 5 overall prospect. NFL Media’s Daniel Jeremiah ranked him at No. 20 overall.

It was shocking enough when Sanders wasn’t selected in round one. Still available after round two? Even crazier. Round three? What in the world is going on? Is he still there after round four? What?!

The stunningly long wait finally ended when the Cleveland Browns drafted Sanders in round five at No. 144 overall.  Afterwards, multiple reports stated that Sanders failed to make a good impression in his pre-draft interviews.

Apparently, Sanders acted as if he would be an early-day-one pick, even declining to meet with some teams. One unnamed NFL coach who interviewed the Colorado product called Sanders “entitled.”

What can we say? Getting humbled comes in different forms. In Shedeur’s case, it happened by falling significantly in the NFL Draft. And his future with the team is questionable, too.

Cam Newton: Super Bowl 50

Newton already had a reputation as one of the NFL’s most arrogant and show-offy players by the time the 2015 season rolled around. But Newton was on another level that year, so whether you loved or hated him at the time, the dude was able to back it up.

Newton ran away with NFL MVP honors in 2015 after throwing for 3,837 yards and 35 touchdowns to go along with 636 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. Carolina finished 15-1 in the regular season, then ran through the NFC to reach Super Bowl 50.

Throughout the season, Newton made headlines with his excessive TD celebrations, including the “dab.” Had he led Carolina to victory over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50, the haters would’ve had to eat it.

But the Broncos humbled Newton all game long in Super Bowl 50. He was sacked six times, threw one interception, and strip-sacked twice, including once for the game’s first touchdown.

The Broncos defeated Carolina 24-10 to win the Super Bowl. Knowing he couldn’t back up his own words this time, Newton infamously walked out of his post-game presser

Translation: HE GOT HUMBLED. And now in 2026, he’s still getting humbled.

Matt Hasselbeck: 2003 Wild Card Round

It might be the most embarrassing case of an NFL player’s trash talk backfiring. It’s certainly the most memorable.

For you kids who weren’t born then or too young to remember. Here’s the stage: The Seahawks visited the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in the 2003 Divisional Round. The game required overtime. 

In those days, overtime was sudden death. Even in the postseason. So, of course, when the Seahawks won the coin toss, Hasselbeck elected to receive. Unfortunately, he also got way too ahead of himself here:

Well, Hasselbeck was somewhat right. Only one possession was needed to decide the game…

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is another key reminder that it’s best to save your trash talk for after the game.