Alaina Getzenberg, ESPN November 27, 2023, 3:59 p.m. ET
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- Alaina Getzenberg is a staff writer who covers the Buffalo Bills and the NFL. She joined ESPN in 2021. Alaina was previously a beat reporter for the Charlotte Observer and has also worked for CBS Sports and the Dallas Morning News. She is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley. You can follow her on Twitter @agetzenberg.
BUFFALO, NY – Bills defensive end Shaq Lawson spoke out about the events and then apologized A video was shared on social media of him and other Buffalo defensive players facing off against fans during a 37-34 overtime loss at the Eagles.
“Anyone who knows me knows that I care about the fans and that I have great respect for the game I play and my opponents,” Lawson wrote on Instagram on Monday. “Before the game started yesterday, there was a fan behind our bench who made life-threatening comments to us and our families. We asked Philadelphia security to remove the fan, but he was allowed to stay throughout the game. Emotions boiled over and I made a mistake. I apologize for that, but there are certain boundaries that should not be crossed.
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Lawson’s Instagram account is set to private.
The video shows defensive tackle Jordan Phillips first approaching a fan in the front row at Lincoln Financial Field behind the team’s bench, followed by Lawson and other defensive linemen. Phillips exchanged a few words with the fan and approached him, then Lawson appeared to briefly nudge a fan.
Lawson then turned away from the situation shortly after, and the other Bills players quickly followed suit. Veteran defensive player Leonard Floyd helped push Phillips and others away as words apparently continued to be exchanged and fans in the stands gestured toward the players.
“I love the crowd, I love loud fans, it makes the game fun,” Phillips wrote on Instagram on Monday. “But one thing I will not tolerate is anyone threatening me or my family. That is a line that should not be crossed.”