“F**k the Steelers!” Ex-Bengals star Vontaze Burfict claims he ‘deliberately’ played dirty against Pittsburgh because he ‘hated’ them

Vontaze Burfict played with the Bengals for seven seasons.

“F**k the Steelers!” Ex-Bengals star Vontaze Burfict claims he ‘deliberately’ played dirty against Pittsburgh because he ‘hated’ them

Vontaze Burfict (via The Guardian)

The NFL is a highly competitive league. The inter-divisional rivalries run deep as there is real hatred amongst some teams and their fanbases. The AFC North is one of the most competitive divisions in the league. The Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, and the Cincinnati Bengals have real animosity towards each other, which shows whenever they play.

The Cincinnati Bengals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers rivalry is one of the most fierce competitive encounters in the world. A lot of former players have had their career nights in the game. Hard hits are a staple during this game, and no one delivered more menacing hits to the Steelers than former Bengals’ linebacker Vontaze Burfict.

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The former Bengals’ linebacker acknowledged his controversial history against the Steelers. This is what Burfict said:

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I didn't hit people after the play all the time. Just the Steelers. F*** the Steelers.
Vontaze Burfict on playing against the Steelers

Burfict got physically punished and also punished others on the field. He had some of the most unforgettable hits. His hit on Antonio Brown remains infamous for everyone. Meanwhile, the hit that former Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster delivered to him became so famous that it was printed on shirts all over the city.

The Steelers-Bengals rivalry still remains fierce despite the lack of dangerous tackles and whatnot. That’s advantageous for the players’ health. The team’s fanbase would hope for that to continue rather than their star players getting injured.

Vontaze Burfict delivered a brutal hit on Antonio Brown back in 2016

The Pittsburgh Steelers were a fearsome team in the 2010s, largely thanks to their All-Pro receiver Antonio Brown. The former Steelers’ receiver was one of the best players at his position in the mid-2010s. However, according to Pittsburgh radio host Colin Dunlap, one incident changed Brown’s life.

Cincinnati Bengals player Vontaze Burfict's hit on Antonio Brown
Vontaze Burfict’s hit on Antonio Brown (via ESPN)

It happened during the AFC Wild Card game back in 2016. The game was played between the Pittsburgh Steelers and their AFC North rivals, the Cincinnati Bengals. Cincinnati had a ferocious linebacker in Vontaze Burfict, whose brutal hit on Brown changed the receiver’s life.

Dunlap opened up about the incident on his radio show. 

He started to be someone who was afraid everyone was out to get him, he never smiled after that all that much - he became somebody different. And for me, every single incident, it all happened after the Burfict hit.
Colin Dunlap via Radio

Burfict played for the Bengals from 2012 to 2018. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2013 and was an All-Pro team selection the same year. Burfict hasn’t officially announced his retirement yet but played his last game in the NFL back in 2019 for the Oakland Raiders.

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