Longest Player Suspensions in NFL History

The NFL has handed down severe suspensions for various violations, with some lasting multiple seasons or even indefinitely, significantly impacting player careers and team dynamics.

The top 3

  1. Longest Bans for Gambling Violations: Art Schlichter received a lifetime ban for gambling in 1983, though he was released in 1985 and not reinstated, while Paul Hornung and Alex Karras were suspended for the entire 1963 season for betting on NFL games but later reinstated. Calvin Ridley was suspended for at least one year for betting on NFL games in 2021.
  2. Most Games Missed for Substance Abuse: Players like Josh Gordon and Martavis Bryant have faced indefinite or multi-season suspensions for repeated violations of the NFL's substance abuse policy, with Gordon receiving his fifth ban in 2019 and Bryant an indefinite ban in 2018.
  3. Severe Suspensions for On-Field Misconduct: Vontaze Burfict received a 12-game suspension, the longest for an on-field infraction, in 2019 for a helmet-to-helmet hit, surpassing Albert Haynesworth's 5-game ban for stomping. Myles Garrett also received a 6-game suspension for swinging a helmet at an opponent.

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