Lamar Jackson apologizes after shoving fan in Buffalo, urges 'Just chill'

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson apologized Wednesday to a fan he shoved during a touchdown celebration Sunday night at Highmark Stadium but said the spectator should "just chill" and keep hands to himself.

The incident occurred in the third quarter after Jackson connected on a touchdown pass to receiver DeAndre Hopkins. As Jackson and Hopkins passed the front row, a fan — who has not been publicly identified — struck Hopkins and then made contact with Jackson's helmet. Jackson shoved the fan before returning to the field.

"I thought I was outside. I wasn’t even thinking about me being out there on the field," Jackson said Wednesday. "But my apologies to that [person] — whoever that was — I don’t know who it was. My apologies to him." He added: "Just chill next time. You can talk trash and stuff, but keep your hands to yourself. That’s all I can say."

The fan has been indefinitely banned from NFL stadiums, including the Bills' home venue, the team said. Jackson, 28 and a two-time NFL MVP, told reporters he had not heard from the league about any disciplinary action related to the shove.

In a separate episode during the fourth quarter, Ravens running back Derrick Henry was nearly struck by a frozen water bottle after a 29-yard touchdown run. Jackson called the bottle-throwing "crazy" and said such actions have no place at football games.

"This is not WWE. We’re playing football out here," Jackson said. "Just keep it football. [You can] talk trash, I know [people are] going to talk trash. I know the opposing team is going to talk trash, so keep it that way. But keep your hands and keep your objects to yourself."

The sequence of events underscored ongoing concerns about fan conduct at NFL games. Stadium security and team officials have been swift in some cases to identify and ban spectators who make physical contact with players; teams also routinely work with local law enforcement on incidents that might constitute assault.

The encounter drew attention because Jackson was celebrating a successful play that helped keep the Ravens competitive in the game against the Buffalo Bills. Hopkins, the intended receiver on the scoring pass, was the first player to be struck as the pair moved along the sideline.

The NFL did not immediately announce any formal review or disciplinary measures related to the shove or the near-miss with the bottle. Teams and the league have in recent seasons emphasized fan safety and clearer protocols for removing disruptive spectators, but the league's response to this specific game-day incident remained pending at the time Jackson spoke to reporters.

Jackson's comments emphasized both regret for the contact and a call for restraint from fans, while illustrating the fine line players and spectators sometimes cross during on-field celebrations.