Thursday night football's Cleveland Browns versus Pittsburgh Steelers clash saw an unprecedented incident instigate a brawl towards the end that had players on both sides ejected and facing suspension.
The spark that started it all came as defensive end Myles Garrett ripped the helmet off of Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph before using it as a weapon. He swung the helmet at Rudolph's head which prompted both benches, and mayhem, to break out.
Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey took serious issue with the strike and retaliated with a punch and kick towards the Browns player.
This is all ugly pic.twitter.com/9WQzcjZCCj
— CJ Fogler (@cjzero) November 15, 2019
Carnage ⛑️?
Cleveland's Myles Garrett ripped off Pittsburgh quarterback Mason Rudolph's helmet and hit him with it in the final seconds as the Browns' win over the Steelers ended with a wild brawl.— Sky Sports NFL (@SkySportsNFL) November 15, 2019
Garrett, Pouncey and Larry Ogunjobi, who can also be seen hitting Garrett after the incident, were all ejected.
Speaking after the game, Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield was highly critical of his teammate.
I don’t care, rivalry or not, we can’t do that. That’s kind of the history of what’s been going on here — hurting yourself — and that’s just endangering the other team. It’s inexcusable.
Browns coach Freddie Kitchens told reporters he was "embarrassed," by it all: “I’ve never seen that in my life.”
With a suspension likely, Garrett did speak briefly after the game and admitted he was wrong.
“I lost my cool, and I regret it,” Garrett said. “I appreciate when my team had my back, but it should have never got to that point.
“What I did was foolish and I shouldn’t allow myself to slip like that.”
Across the NFL, there was astonishment at it all.
Bro i can’t even believe that just happen.
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) November 15, 2019
That. Is. Insanity. Wow.
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) November 15, 2019
In all my life of football that might have been the craziest thing I have seen on a football field! They about to suspend Myles Garrett for 30 years! People getting stomped out, that was a hood fight! 🤦🏾♂️ Hate to see that in our game that’s not what pro football is about!
— Reggie Bush (@ReggieBush) November 15, 2019
As for Rudolph, he was equally damning during his post-match briefing: "I thought it was pretty cowardly, pretty bush league.”
The game itself finished in a 21 - 7 win for the Browns who move to 4-6, but it comes at a cost with a significant fall-out expected.
