Fansided

Top 10 personal feuds in NFL history

By Patrick Morgan

Jan 9, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Wallace Gilberry (95) talks with referee John Parry (132) during the fourth quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Wild Card playoff football game at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 9, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Wallace Gilberry (95) talks with referee John Parry (132) during the fourth quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Wild Card playoff football game at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 11
Next

6. Bill Belichick vs. Eric Mangini

UNITED STATES – SEPTEMBER 09: New York Jets’ head coach Eric Mangini (left) shakes hands with his New England Patriots counterpart, Bill Belichick, after the Patriots’ 38-14 win over the Jets at Giants Stadium. (Photo by Ron Antonelli/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)
UNITED STATES – SEPTEMBER 09: New York Jets’ head coach Eric Mangini (left) shakes hands with his New England Patriots counterpart, Bill Belichick, after the Patriots’ 38-14 win over the Jets at Giants Stadium. (Photo by Ron Antonelli/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images) /

The Patriots and the Jets never really liked each other much to begin with, but the fallout from 2007’s Spygate really helped pour gasoline on the fire. Former Patriots assistant Eric Mangini had recently been appointed head coach of the New York Jets, and after an early September clash between the two AFC East rivals, Mangini complained to NFL officials that Bill Belichick and the Patriots had illegally filmed the Jets’ defensive signals.

And so began the Spygate scandal that rocked the league and forever called to question the integrity of the Patriots organization. Critics wanted asterisks added to New England’s three Super Bowl titles at the time, and overnight the Patriots became one of the most hated teams in professional sports.

Understandably, Belichick probably felt betrayed by his former pupil, and the two were forced to endure several icy post-game handshakes in the wake of Spygate. New England would go on to try and embarrass their opponents by running up the score in games, and the animosity between the Pats and the Jets may have even intensified when Mangini gave way to the brash and big-talking Rex Ryan.

Next: 5. Tom Brady vs. Roger Goodell

Home/Carolina Panthers