The Biggest Controversies That Dominated Football In 2023

The average viewership of an NFL game in 2023 was apparently around 17.9 million people. So, it goes without saying that football is one of the most beloved sports in the US. While basketball, ice hockey, and soccer may also pull in a lot of viewers, they have nothing on this sport. Unfortunately, while most of us watch the NFL because we want to see our favorite teams win and play amazing games, the results aren't always what gets people talking the most.

Sometimes, the compelling action on the field is overshadowed by one controversy or another. It's something we've gotten used to after so many years of watching football. However, that doesn't mean it's not still frustrating when these incidents become the talking point of the sport. It happened numerous times last year, with the biggest controversies that dominated football in 2023 still making waves today.

Super Bowl LVII didn't end in the exciting way it could have done

The Super Bowl is meant to be the highlight of the sporting calendar for football fans. Unfortunately, the climax of Super Bowl LVII didn't quite live up to what people were expecting. The Kansas City Chiefs took on the Philadelphia Eagles for the title, with the former coming out on top after an enthralling back-and-forth game. The win probably would have been more exciting, though, if it weren't for the controversial holding penalty near the end. There was the potential for a huge drive or defensive stop to keep people on the edge of their seats until the very end. Instead, we got an underwhelming field goal that left a bad taste in many people's mouths.

The NFL started selling tickets for a game that didn't happen

It's usually not a good idea to advertise a game that isn't going to happen. Unfortunately, that's what the NFL seemingly did in 2023 when they began selling tickets to a game between the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Arizona. The plan was for the pair to each make their bid for the conference title on neutral ground, but it required the Bills to beat the Cincinnati Bengals… Which they didn't. In fact, the whole situation may well have motivated the Bengals to beat the Bills and earn their spot in the matchup against the Chiefs. Here's hoping people got their refunds for those tickets.

Lovie Smith lost the Texans the number one pick and got fired

Usually, teams don't strive to be the worst. However, in the NFL, it can have its benefits. Towards the end of the last season, the Houston Texans had the worst record in the league, which meant they held the number one pick. Come April, that would mean having the first pick during the 2024 draft - a nice condolence for coming in last, right? So, you can imagine how upset fans were when coach Lovie Smith pushed his team to win their game against the Chicago Bears rather than driving it to overtime. This decision lost the Texans the number one overall pick and seemingly got Smith fired.

Tom Brady's exit interview wasn't the goodbye people were expecting

Coming into 2023, we knew that retirement was a big possibility for Tom Brady. After all, he'd left the NFL a year earlier, only to change his mind shortly after. There was a strong expectation that we'd only get one more season of Tom. So, when he got shellacked by the Cowboys during the NFL Wildcard Weekend, many fans were waiting for him to say goodbye in his interview. Rather than bowing out, though, he just said some thank yous and kept things pretty brief. The news we were waiting for eventually came via an ESPN report, leaving many disappointed that such a notable star wouldn't bow out in style.

The constant conversation about Aaron Rodgers retiring has caused plenty of frustration

Speaking of retirement, someone that fans have seemingly been waiting to leave the NFL is Aaron Rodgers. When talk first started regarding a potential exit, people were concerned. They didn't want to see the quarterback leave when he still had more to give. However, the conversation rears its ugly head each year, and every time, the general consensus seems to shift. By 2023, people were much more eager to see him go. Tired of the constant discussion about his career and his various controversies, fans just wanted the conversation to finally end. Rodgers seemingly isn't ready to go just yet, though, as he was still with the New York Jets when 2023 ended.

Thankfully, the biggest controversies that dominated football in 2023 are pretty small when you consider how much NFL content there is every year. Still, it's hard not to get frustrated with them sometimes, especially when it affects a favorite team or player. We don't doubt that 2024 will bring even more drama to the mix, although it hopefully won't overshadow all the great games to come.