JACKSONVILLE, Florida — Jacksonville Jaguars safety Antonio Johnson personally met with Rhamondre Stevenson to apologize following the controversial incident during the 35–6 victory over the New England Patriots in Week 3.
The incident occurred early in the third quarter, when Jacksonville was leading New England 14–3 and the Patriots were trying to find an opportunity to bring the game back into balance.
On a fourth down needing one yard, Stevenson took the ball and charged straight into the middle before being stopped by Jacksonville’s defense.
After Stevenson had already gone down, Johnson entered the play and made a punching motion toward the football that the Patriots running back was holding.
However, instead of hitting the ball, Johnson’s hand struck Stevenson’s helmet, immediately prompting the officials to throw a flag.
Johnson was penalized 15 yards for unnecessary roughness, giving the Patriots additional favorable field position at a time when New England desperately needed momentum.
Johnson reportedly explained that his intention was to knock the football out of Stevenson’s hands in an attempt to force a fumble, rather than intentionally attack his opponent.
Even so, the incident quickly became one of the most discussed moments of the game because of the dangerous nature of the motion.
After the game ended, Johnson did not avoid responsibility for his actions.
The Jacksonville safety personally met with Stevenson and expressed regret over the incident, while also acknowledging that he needed to control himself better during tense moments.
Johnson also apologized to the Patriots and New England fans for behavior that did not reflect the sportsmanship he wanted to demonstrate.
“I sincerely apologize to Rhamondre Stevenson, the Patriots organization, and all of their fans. I let my emotions override my judgment, and that is not who I truly am. I take full responsibility for my actions, and I deeply regret what I did.”
The apology marked a notable response from Johnson following an incident that could still leave him facing the NFL’s disciplinary review process.
According to the NFL’s 2026 accountability schedule released before the season, actions involving striking, unsportsmanlike conduct, or fighting can result in different levels of fines.
Whether Johnson receives any additional punishment will depend on the NFL’s official review of the video and the circumstances surrounding the incident.
A suspension does not appear to be an immediate possibility, particularly because Johnson was not ejected from the game and the incident did not continue to escalate on the field.
For Stevenson, the Patriots running back continued playing after the incident and did not allow the situation to turn into a larger confrontation between the two teams.
Jacksonville then completely controlled the remainder of the game, turning its 14–3 advantage into a dominant 35–6 victory over New England.
But for Johnson, the postgame story was not only about the Jaguars’ victory, but also about how a player responds after realizing that his actions had crossed the line.
The apology cannot erase the 15-yard flag or change what happened on the field, but Johnson personally facing Stevenson and taking responsibility shows that the Jaguars safety understands that sportsmanship must still come first, even during the most intense moments in the NFL.
