The most penalized NFL teams from 2009 through present
(Image credit: RDW Productions)
Americans love our pro football teams and watching the NFL games on TV. We also tend to yell at the screen when a penalty comes along. Doesn’t matter if we’re yelling at one of the teams, a particular player, or the ref – but we will be yelling at someone or something. Good or bad, many times those penalties are the highlights of the game.
Now, a new study has revealed just which of our NFL teams have picked up the most penalties.
The study, by sports betting experts JustGamblers, analyzed NFL season data going back to 2009 to see which NFL teams picked up the most penalties throughout the seasons.
The 2015 season stands out as their peak in penalties, and overall, the Buccaneers received penalties 20.29% more than the average NFL team.
In first place are the Seattle Seahawks. The one-time Super Bowl champions have managed to rack up an impressive 1,165 penalties since 2009. The Seahawks’ worst season for receiving penalties is a tie between the 2012 and 2013 seasons, in which they managed to be on the receiving end of an impressive 114 penalties.
The Seahawks received penalties 46.44% more than the average team within the NFL.
The Las Vegas Raiders place second, picking up 1,115 penalties since 2009. The three-time champions received the most penalties of any team in the 2010, 2011, 2016, and 2021 seasons, receiving 105, 99, 107, and 86, respectively.
The 2016 season, in which they received 107 penalties, was their worst season for picking up penalties. The Raiders received penalties 40.15% more than the average team in the NFL.
Dallas Cowboys take the third spot on the list, with 986 penalties since 2009. This three-time champion team has consistently been a contender in penalty counts, particularly noteworthy for their performance in the 2012, 2014, and 2022 seasons, where they received 77, 82, and 95 penalties, respectively.
The 2014 season marked their highest penalty count, and the Cowboys garnered penalties 23.94% more than the average NFL team during this period.
Fourth place goes to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have managed to amass 957 penalties since 2009. Their noteworthy seasons include 2015 and 2024, where they accumulated 90 and 82 penalties, respectively.
In fifth place are the Kansas City Chiefs, who, since 2009, have garnered 938 penalties. This team’s worst seasons for penalties were the 2020 and 2023 seasons, where they received 90 and 78 penalties, respectively, and the Chiefs accumulated penalties 17.90% more than the average NFL team.
Philadelphia Eagles take the sixth spot on the list, amassing 872 penalties since 2009. This team’s penalty counts peaked in the 2009 and 2017 seasons, with 80 and 78 penalties, respectively.
The 2009 season marked their highest penalty count, and the Eagles received penalties 9.61% more than the average NFL team.
The seventh spot on the list are the San Francisco 49ers, who, since 2009, have managed to receive 867 penalties. Noteworthy seasons include 2012 and 2023, where they received 77 and 81 penalties, respectively.
Their 2012 season was their highest in penalties, and overall, the 49ers accumulated penalties 8.98% more than the average NFL team.
Eighth place goes to the Denver Broncos, who have picked up 861 penalties since 2009. Their penalty counts peaked in the 2015 and 2023 seasons, with 90 and 73 penalties, respectively.
The 2015 season was particularly penalty-heavy for the Broncos, and they received penalties 8.23% more than the average NFL team.
Houston Texans take the ninth place on the list, receiving 858 penalties since 2009. Noteworthy seasons include 2013 and 2023, where they received 68 and 87 penalties, respectively.
Their 2023 season marked their highest in penalties, and the Texans accumulated penalties 7.85% more than the average NFL team.
Rounding out the list in tenth place are the Buffalo Bills, who have received 847 penalties since 2009. Their peak penalty season was in 2015 when they received 90 penalties. Overall, the Bills accumulated penalties 6.47% more than the average NFL team.
The Indianapolis Colts come in as the team that has received the least penalties since 2009, only managing to be on the receiving end of 646 penalties. The Colts are followed by the Miami Dolphins and N.Y. Giants, who received 654 and 657 penalties, respectively.
Across the whole NFL, the average number of penalties for a team to have received since 2009 was 795 – or 51.65 per season.
The Top 10 Most Penalized Teams in the NFL
| Rank | Team | Number of penalties | Compared to average |
| 1. | Seattle Seahawks | 1165 | 46.44% |
| 2. | Las Vegas Raiders | 1115 | 40.15% |
| 3. | Dallas Cowboys | 986 | 23.94% |
| 4. | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 957 | 20.29% |
| 5. | Kansas City Chiefs | 938 | 17.90% |
| 6. | Philadelphia Eagles | 872 | 9.61% |
| 7. | San Francisco 49ers | 867 | 8.98% |
| 8. | Denver Broncos | 861 | 8.23% |
| 9. | Houston Texans | 858 | 7.85% |
| 10. | Buffalo Bills | 847 | 6.47% |
A spokesperson for JustGamblers commented on the findings, saying:
“Analyzing penalty data for NFL teams since 2009 uncovers intriguing trends, particularly in the case of the Seattle Seahawks, who have experienced a notable deviation in penalties compared to the lowest-ranked teams. This raises questions about team-specific behaviors or external factors that may contribute to these variations.”
“Despite facing a higher number of penalties, the Seahawks’ performance showcases that penalties alone do not dictate success. It is interesting to note that teams with significant penalty counts have still achieved notable victories, emphasizing that success in the NFL is influenced by a myriad of factors beyond penalties.”
More Penalty Rankings
| Rank | Team | Number of penalties | Compared to average |
| 1. | Seattle Seahawks | 1165 | 46.44% |
| 2. | Las Vegas Raiders | 1115 | 40.15% |
| 3. | Dallas Cowboys | 986 | 23.94% |
| 4. | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 957 | 20.29% |
| 5. | Kansas City Chiefs | 938 | 17.90% |
| 6. | Philadelphia Eagles | 872 | 9.61% |
| 7. | San Francisco 49ers | 867 | 8.98% |
| 8. | Denver Broncos | 861 | 8.23% |
| 9. | Houston Texans | 858 | 7.85% |
| 10. | Buffalo Bills | 847 | 6.47% |
| 11. | Detroit Lions | 837 | 5.21% |
| 12. | Baltimore Ravens | 831 | 4.45% |
| 13. | N.Y. Jets | 803 | 0.93% |
| 14. | Arizona Cardinals | 795 | -0.07% |
| 15. | New Orleans Saints | 795 | -0.07% |
| 16. | Cleveland Browns | 784 | -1.45% |
| 17. | LA Rams | 776 | -2.46% |
| 18. | Chicago Bears | 742 | -6.73% |
| 18. | Tennessee Titans | 742 | -6.73% |
| 18. | Pittsburgh Steelers | 742 | -6.73% |
| 19. | LA Chargers | 722 | -9.25% |
| 20. | Minnesota Vikings | 716 | -10.00% |
| 21. | Green Bay Packers | 709 | -10.88% |
| 22. | Atlanta Falcons | 691 | -13.14% |
| 23. | Cincinnati Bengals | 686 | -13.77% |
| 24. | Washington Commanders | 676 | -15.03% |
| 25. | Jacksonville Jaguars | 668 | -16.03% |
| 26. | New England Patriots | 663 | -16.66% |
| 27. | Carolina Panthers | 657 | -17.42% |
| 27. | N.Y. Giants | 657 | -17.42% |
| 28. | Miami Dolphins | 654 | -17.79% |
| 29. | Indianapolis Colts | 646 | -18.80% |
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If you feel like yelling at the screen now, check out some of the worst and most infamous penalty call in the video below.
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(Source: JustGamblers)
(Cover photo: Tampa Bay Buccaneers / Facebook)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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