A preseason NFL contest between the Dallas Cowboys and LA Rams drew more headlines outside SoFi Stadium than inside after a violent fight between fans of each team turned into an unnecessary bloodbath.
The game itself was of little interest, as Stetson Bennett outdueled Trey Lance to an underwhelming 13-12 victory for the Rams. Fans were more interested in the jacked referee who went viral and the ongoing turmoil surrounding CeeDee Lamb’s contract negotiations.
It wasn’t until Monday that perhaps the most shocking story came out of the game: a series of fights outside the stadium in Los Angeles involving fans of both teams.
Cowboys fan account Vaqueros Gang posted several videos on Instagram of fan violence that took place outside the stadium, evoking regrettable captions like “Some people should not drink as much as they do,” and “Chill guys…it’s only pre season.”
The worst damage was done to a Rams fan in an Aaron Donald jersey, who got up displaying a bloody face after taking a hit from a Dallas fan while he was laying on the ground. The account posted two extended videos that were centered around the two opposing fans, and the sequence of fights that resulted from their conflict.
The trend of fans fighting at NFL games is nothing new. In fact, it falls in line with the pattern of behavior shown by their favorite teams in training camp, where videos of fights seem to emerge every day on social media.
Although they generate plenty of buzz, these disappointing actions leave a sour taste for all involved, most notably the teams like the $10 billion Dallas Cowboys, who seek to make NFL games an enjoyable and safe family experience.