10 Ugliest and Most Bitter Contract Holdouts in NFL History
In the NFL, holdouts have become as much a part of offseason headlines as draft rumors and training camp hype. While some disputes end quietly with new deals, others spiral into public drama, strained relationships, and long-term consequences.
These 15 holdouts were messy, strange, and in some cases, career-defining.
Duane Thomas
Credit: ebay
Duane Thomas didn’t just sit out in 1971; he shut down communication entirely. After a trade to New England collapsed, he returned to Dallas, refused to speak to teammates or coaches all year, and still led the league in touchdowns. He capped it off by dominating in Super Bowl VI. The Cowboys got a title, and Thomas proved silence can be a powerful message.
Bo Jackson
Credit: ebay
Tampa Bay drafted Bo Jackson first overall in 1986, even after he told them not to. Why? He believed the team sabotaged his final college baseball season by violating NCAA rules. Instead of signing, Bo went to play for the Royals. He joined the Raiders a year later, after baseball season ended. Tampa blew a top pick, and Bo became a two-sport legend on his own terms.
Le’Veon Bell
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
In 2018, Le’Veon Bell made a rare move: he skipped the entire season. Pittsburgh had tagged him for the second straight year, but the athlete, looking for long-term security, held out. He forfeited $14.5 million in the process. The Steelers moved on, and Bell signed with the Jets. While the payday came, his production never matched his Pittsburgh prime.
Darrelle Revis
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Darrelle Revis’s 2010 holdout played out on “Hard Knocks,” which makes it a rare reality-TV NFL standoff. The Jets’ cornerback, who came off an All-Pro season, skipped camp. Needless to say, tension rose, and Rex Ryan got involved. Eventually, Revis landed a four-year, $32 million deal just in time.
Emmitt Smith
Credit: ebay
After winning the Super Bowl and rushing title in 1992, Emmitt Smith wanted to be paid. Jerry Jones didn’t budge until the Cowboys lost their first two games without him. When Smith returned, Dallas rebounded, and he ended the season as MVP of Super Bowl XXVIII. His absence lasted just long enough to prove how vital he was to the team’s success.
Earl Thomas
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Earl Thomas skipped Seahawks camp in 2018 and played without a new deal. Four games in, he broke his leg and made a frustrated gesture toward his sideline. He felt misled and parted ways with Seattle before later joining Baltimore. His exit remains a cautionary tale about trust and communication between NFL players and teams during contract negotiations.
Kelly Stouffer
Credit: ebay
In 1987, rookie quarterback Kelly Stouffer sat out the entire season after failing to reach terms with the St. Louis Cardinals. Team owner Bill Bidwill told him he’d never play elsewhere, but that didn’t hold. Stouffer was traded to Seattle, where he fizzled. With just seven career touchdowns and 19 picks, his NFL journey never took off.
John Riggins
Credit: ebay
Sometimes taking a season off is the best way to recharge and win big when it counts. This was precisely what happened to John Riggins. The Washington running back walked away from football in 1980 over a contract dispute. One year later, new head coach Joe Gibbs talked him into returning with a no-trade clause. Riggins repaid the faith by setting a playoff rushing record in 1982 and winning Super Bowl MVP.
Eric Dickerson
Credit: ebay
Despite breaking the single-season rushing record in 1984, Eric Dickerson struggled to get the raise he wanted. By 1985, he was holding out. Things dragged on, and in 1987, the Rams traded him to the Colts. He remained productive, but the relationship with the Rams was never the same. They didn’t patch things until 2000, when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Chris Jones
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
In 2023, Chris Jones took holdout strategy to a new level by watching the Chiefs’ season opener from a luxury suite. The team lost, and a few days later, they reached a new one-year agreement. Jones returned, dominated, and helped Kansas City win another Super Bowl. The missed game cost him some fines, but it proved his value quickly.
Fred Dean
Credit: Wikipedia
Fred Dean wanted a raise before the 1984 season. The 49ers didn’t bite, so he missed 10 games. When he returned, he recorded four sacks in five games, added four more in the playoffs, and helped San Francisco win a Super Bowl. He didn’t start a single game that year but made every snap count.
Brandon Aiyuk
Credit: ebay
In 2024, Brandon Aiyuk’s contract situation was a major storyline. After skipping voluntary workouts and dropping cryptic videos, Aiyuk’s “hold-in” continued through training camp and the preseason. However, the tension ended on August 29, 2024, when he and the San Francisco 49ers agreed to a four-year, $120 million contract extension with $76 million in guarantees.
Cornelius Bennett
Credit: ebay
Cornelius Bennett, the No. 2 pick in 1987, never signed with the Colts. After a 102-day holdout, he was traded to Buffalo in a three-team deal. It worked out because Bennett helped lead the Bills to four straight Super Bowls and made five Pro Bowls. He even returned to Indianapolis late in his career, but not before showing how a messy rookie holdout can turn into long-term success.
JaMarcus Russell
Credit: ebay
This story is a warning: getting the bag doesn’t mean you’ll fill it with wins. JaMarcus Russell held out until Week 2 of his rookie season, demanding a record-setting rookie deal. The Raiders gave him $61 million, including $29 million guaranteed: that was the highlight. Russell went 7–18 as a starter, threw more picks than touchdowns, and was out of the league by age 25.
John Hannah
Credit: ebay
In 1977, Patriots linemen John Hannah and Leon Gray held out over contract issues. They shared an agent and a frustration with New England’s front office. Hannah eventually signed and played eight more years with eight Pro Bowls. The team may have stumbled that year, but Hannah proved elite linemen could stand firm for better deals.