When you really hate a football player, you can’t stand seeing them do well. That’s what makes hateable players even more worthy of your hate when they reach the Super Bowl. Over the course of the NFL‘s history, these 10 players have been the most hated to play in the sport’s big game.
15. LB Clay Matthews
Scott Kane, USA Today SportsMatthews has only played in one Super Bowl and won it all with the Packers, but most people outside of Green Bay don’t like him. He’s arrogant and can be a little dirty at times. That can give you an edge as a defender, but he tends to take it one step too far.
14. LB Terrell Suggs
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Suggs isn’t liked in general, and when he was patrolling the field for the Ravens’ in 2013, people hated him even more. He’s a very cocky guy, and backed it up with his team as they claimed the Super Bowl that season.
13. CB Rodney Harrison
Getty ImagesOne of many hated Patriots during their glory days, Harrison was one of the best defensive backs when he was around. Like many New England players, though, not everybody took kindly to the way he played. That’s why many rejoiced when David Tyree made the most improbable catch in Super Bowl history over him.
12. LB James Harrison
Getty ImagesHarrison has played for some very good Steelers teams, which has given him the opportunity to play in the Super Bowl. On the biggest stage, he’s an even more unlikeable player because he has so much adrenaline pumping. Fans who hate him must have dreaded watching his famous interception return against the Cardinals.
11. WR Randy Moss
Getty ImagesMoss was one of the NFL’s uniquely polarizing figures and in his record-breaking season with the Patriots, he was even more hated than usual. He put up a season few other receivers ever have, but it didn’t do his team much good. They famously lost their perfect season in the Super Bowl against the Giants.
10. QB Brett Favre
Getty ImagesFavre wasn't all that hated when he was actually playing in the Super Bowl, but he was hated toward the end of his career for flip flopping between playing and retiring. Either way, his playing style got on the nerves of his opponents sometimes, and it surely upset the Patriots when his Packers beat them in the Super Bowl.
9. QB Cam Newton
Jason Getz-USA Today SportsYou either love Cam Newton or you hate him. Some enjoy his antics and others think he's disrespectful to the game. He hasn't taken the NFL's main stage at the Super Bowl yet, but he will very soon. Some folks are sure to be strongly rooting against him.
8. WR Hines Ward
Getty ImagesWard was always known for being a guy who played to the echo of the whistle, which isn't something defenders took too kindly to. When dominating on the field, he was fun to watch for Steelers fans, but fans of most other teams despised him quite a bit.
7. CB Deion Sanders
Getty ImagesThere's no doubt Deion Sanders was entertaining to watch during his playing days, but his cockiness rubbed some people the wrong way. On football's biggest stage, he put on a show. For those who hated his over-the-top antics, that must have been hard to watch.
6. QB Ben Roethlisberger
Getty ImagesFor off-the-field and on-the-field reasons, not a ton of people are huge fans of Ben Roethlisberger, but he's one of the best signal-callers of his generation. He's already won two Super Bowls and figures to compete for a couple more by the time it's all said and done. You can be sure there will be millions of people rooting against him ever getting back.
5. LB Ray Lewis
David Mercer-USA Today SportsIronically, a big reason why people hate Lewis is because he was involved with a fatal stabbing following the Ravens' Super Bowl victory. Many think he was more involved than he cared to admit. Whatever the case may be, he also played in the Super Bowl in his final game and called it a career. It was a great one at that.
4. CB Richard Sherman
Tim Heitman-USA Today SportsOverall, Sherman isn't completely hated, but his post-NFC Championship Game tirade in January of 2014 fueled many people to hate him entering the Super Bowl that year. Clearly, he didn't care about any of that as he played a good game and the Seahawks won it all.
3. LB Lawrence Taylor
Getty ImagesLT redefined the linebacker position, turning it into a linebacker-defensive line hybrid pass rusher spot. He was dominant and he was nasty, and that's why plenty of people disliked him. This beast of a defensive player ended up playing in two Super Bowls with the Giants and was great in both.
2. WR Michael Irvin
Getty ImagesDating back to his college days, Michael Irvin was one of the cockiest football players of all time. He backed it up, though. He was a part of some great Cowboys squads and was a key weapon on several winning teams. He was at his best when the lights were brightest, so he stepped up in the Super Bowls he played in.
1. QB Tom Brady
Getty ImagesTom Brady is one of the most polarizing players in the NFL history, but the people who hate him, really despise him. Those people have had to watch Brady play in the Super Bowl quite a bit too. He's competed in the sport's biggest game six times and has won it four times. The Patriots' signal-caller has a few more chances to get back, and there are plenty of people praying he never plays in another Super Bowl.
