NFL fans broke into a wild brawl during the preseason match between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday night.
The Steelers defeated the Jaguars in a preseason 16-15 thriller with undrafted rookie Tyler Snead scoring the winning points with just under two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. However, some fans could not focus on the action on the field as drama unfolded in the stands in Florida.
In a clip posted to social media, footage showed a fight between around a dozen fans in one of the lower tier sections behind the end zone at TIAA Bank Field. It appeared to begin as an altercation between rival supporters that escalated quickly in the fourth quarter.
Two fans exchanged heated words before one threw the first punch, sparking anarchic scenes. Supporters began piling in, climbing over seats to throw and take punches in equal measure.
The rival fans brawled and drinks were also tossed into the mix as other spectators in the section rushed away to safety. It seemed to briefly calm down before tempers once again flared as a group of fans cornered another.
Spectators cleared the area before S.A.F.E. Management - the security team at the stadium - finally intervened. It capped a disappointing ending to a preseason game between two franchises hoping to fine-tune their teams ahead of the 2022 NFL season.
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There were positives for the Steelers, as Mason Rudolph and first-round draft pick Kenny Pickett both threw a touchdown apiece in the win. The rookie quarterback impressed during his second preseason performance, completing six of seven passes for 76 yards and a touchdown.
Pickett threw two second-half touchdown passes against the Seattle Seahawks last week but he took to the field far earlier against the Jaguars. The 24-year-old played with and against starters and did not look out of place.
“The more and more you play, the more comfortable you get,” Pickett said. “That's just how it goes. The more reps I get, the better I feel in the system...
“Whatever number they have me as, I don't care. I'm going to go out there and play every single time as hard as I can.”
CJ Beathard also scored for the Jaguars in a losing effort. The 2022 NFL season begins on September 8 when the Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams host the Buffalo Bills.
