Richie Incognito

At the 2005 NFL Combine, Incognito impressed scouts by being "the strongest and most explosive player in attendance". However, during a drill, Incognito stumbled and was carted off the field with a knee injury.[13] The injury was later found to be a minor sprain that would have no long-term effect.[14] Despite his impressive physical tools, ESPN Scouts Inc. noted "his inability to control his emotions both on and off the field is such a significant concern that he'll likely slip to the later rounds of the draft."[14] Years later, then-Kansas City Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, who was the player personnel director of the New England Patriots in 2005, said that he did not even consider taking Incognito then, "and I don't want him now" in Kansas City. Pioli had long been known for drafting players with checkered pasts. At the same time, former Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy said that Incognito was on the Colts' "DNDC" ("do not draft because of character") list in 2005.[15]

Incognito was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the third round of the 2005 draft (81st overall).[18] As a rookie in 2005, he was on the reserved/unsigned list until Week 3, then placed on the non-football injury list for the remainder of the season.[19]

Incognito started all 16 games at three different positions, due to injuries and illness to the Rams' offensive line. That year, he blocked for an offense which produced a 4,000-yard passer, a 1,500-yard rusher, and two 1,000-yard receivers, one of only four offenses in NFL history to accomplish the feat.[6]

Incognito played and started at the right guard position for four games after being inactive for the first four weeks of the season. In early November, Incognito suffered a knee injury that forced him to miss the remainder of season.[19] However, while rehabilitating, it was later revealed that he had been partying nightly.[20]

Incognito started 15 games at right guard for the Rams, also seeing some playing time at center. On October 17, Incognito was fined three times for a total of $35,000 after the game versus the Washington Redskins.[21] His violations during the game included repeatedly berating an official, a "major face mask" on a field goal attempt, and a chop block. The last penalty was not called during the game, but was detected on a video review. Incognito's behavior nearly led to a loss after he was called for a 15-yard personal foul penalty before the eventual game-winning field goal.[21]

Incognito was part of an offensive line that allowed 45 sacks. Although this was still among the league's 10 worst in terms of sacks allowed, it was the fewest allowed by the Rams since 2003. Following the 2008 season, Incognito became a restricted free agent, although he continued to work out with the Rams during the off-season.[22]

On April 17, 2009, the Rams offered Incognito a one-year tender worth $1.01 million, which he signed on May 3.[23] Incognito started all nine games in which he played for the Rams in 2009. On December 13, during the first half of a 47–7 loss to the Tennessee Titans, Incognito drew two 15-yard penalties for headbutting Titans players. Head coach Steve Spagnuolo benched him for the second half, and the two got into a heated confrontation on the sidelines. It was the second time Incognito had been benched for losing his composure; he had been pulled from the season opener against Seattle for two personal fouls. However, the Titans incident was the last straw; the Rams waived him two days after the game.[24] In 2013, former Rams general manager Billy Devaney told ESPN that Spagnuolo had given Incognito numerous chances to clean up his act, and had put him on notice that the Rams would cut ties with him if he couldn't control his anger.[25]

The two personal fouls led to a $50,000 fine from the NFL and a letter from the league office warning him that "future infractions of the types you have committed may lead to increased disciplinary action up to and including suspension."[26] In four years with the Rams from 2006 to 2009, Incognito drew 38 penalties, including seven unnecessary roughness calls, more than any other player during that span.[20]

Incognito was claimed by the Buffalo Bills off waivers on December 16, with the Miami Dolphins also submitting a claim.[27][28] Incognito started the final three games of the season at the right guard position and helped block for Buffalo running back Fred Jackson's 212-yard rushing performance against Indianapolis on January 3.[19] After the season, Incognito was a restricted free agent and the Bills declined to re-sign him.

On March 17, 2010, Incognito signed a one-year deal with the Miami Dolphins.[29]

In 2010, the Dolphins signed Incognito to a one-year deal in order to help strengthen their offensive line. Incognito started all 16 games of the season playing left guard and center. According to Pro Football Focus he was ranked in the Top 20 for Pass Blocking Efficiency.[30]

Incognito (#68) playing for the Dolphins in 2012 against the Oakland Raiders

In 2011, the Dolphins re-signed Incognito, this time to a three-year deal. Incognito started 15 games and allowed just 1.5 sacks on the year.

Incognito started all 16 games of the 2012 season at the left guard position.[31] Incognito made his first of four National Football League Pro Bowl appearances after the 2012 season.[32] Incognito also won the 2012 Good Guy Award alongside teammate Reggie Bush. The award is given out by the Pro Football Writers Association in each NFL city to the player(s) who best helps the media do its job.[33]

On November 3, 2013, the Dolphins suspended Incognito for conduct detrimental to the team following his harassment of teammate Jonathan Martin. Incognito's conduct was said to be detrimental to the team.[34] On February 4, 2014, Incognito's suspension was lifted.[35]

After not playing for the entire 2014 NFL season, Incognito signed as a free agent with the Buffalo Bills on February 7, 2015. Incognito started all 16 games and participated in 100% of offensive snaps. He was ranked the second overall guard and the number one left guard in the NFL by the metrics website Pro Football Focus. Following the 2015 season, he was elected to his second Pro Bowl, this time as a replacement.[36] He was ranked 97th on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2016 by his fellow players.[37]

On March 8, 2016, Incognito agreed to terms on a three-year deal with the Bills worth $15,750,000.[38] He was named to his third Pro Bowl of his career for his performance in 2016.[39]

On December 19, 2017, Incognito was named to his fourth Pro Bowl after starting all 16 games at left guard.[40]

A day after the Bills lost 10–3 against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC Wild Card round, Incognito was accused by Jaguars' defensive end Yannick Ngakoue of using racial slurs against him during the game.[41][42] Following the season's end, Incognito announced his intent to retire, noting that a recent doctor's visit had revealed he was suffering from liver and kidney failure, which he attributed to stress. Incognito also expressed dissatisfaction with a contract restructuring that would have kept him with the Bills in 2018, noting that he had given the Bills until April 15 to give him an offer worthy of his putting off his retirement for one more season.[43]

Two days later, the Bills officially placed Incognito on the reserve/retired list.[44] On April 13, 2018, Incognito announced he had had a change of heart and would show up to offseason workouts on April 16, 2018.[45] He failed to arrive for the workouts, and the Bills continued to list him as retired. He indicated that he refused to play for the Bills and demanded he be released from his contract; the Bills responded that he would have to contact league commissioner Roger Goodell if he wanted to be removed from the retired list.[46] On May 21, 2018, the Bills released Incognito from the reserve/retired list.[47]

On May 28, 2019, Incognito signed with the Oakland Raiders.[48] On July 12, 2019, the NFL suspended Incognito for two games for violating the league's personal conduct policy, stemming from the previous year's incident at a funeral home in Arizona.[49] He was reinstated from suspension on September 16, and the Raiders were given a roster exemption for him. He was placed on the active roster the next day.

On December 30, 2019, the Raiders signed Incognito to a two-year, $14 million contract extension.[50]

On September 23, 2020, Incognito was placed on injured reserve with an Achilles injury.[51] On November 23, 2020, he underwent season-ending foot surgery.[52] He appeared in two games in the 2020 season.[53] He was released after the season on March 9, 2021,[54] and re-signed to a new contract on March 24, 2021.[55]

On September 25, 2021, Incognito was placed on injured reserve after missing the first two games with a calf strain.[56]

On July 15, 2022, Incognito announced his retirement after 15 seasons in the NFL.[57]

On February 14, 2014, lawyer Ted Wells released a report (NFL summary) following an investigation into the matter ordered by the NFL. The investigation concluded that Incognito, and to a lesser extent fellow offensive linemen John Jerry and Mike Pouncey, bullied Martin, yet another (unnamed) Dolphins offensive lineman, and also a Dolphins staff member, an unnamed assistant trainer.[72][73]

The report also concluded that Incognito, Jerry, and Pouncey made severe racial slurs towards the assistant trainer, and Incognito and Jerry even taunted him by saying that they had sex with his girlfriend. On December 7, 2012, the anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Incognito, Jerry and Pouncey donned traditional Japanese headbands featuring a rising sun emblem (which the assistant trainer had given them) and jokingly threatened to harm the assistant trainer physically in retaliation for the Pearl Harbor attack. The assistant trainer, who is from Japan, confided in Martin that he was upset about the Pearl Harbor comments, finding them derogatory toward his heritage.[74]

Further, the report concluded regarding Martin's "mental health problems, alcohol and drug use and... concerns about poor performance on the field" that "his text messages and other evidence demonstrate that these are real factors, not issues Incognito has manufactured out of whole cloth."[75] The report noted a published newspaper report regarding Martin's difficulties with the position change the Dolphins made with him days before he left the team and alleged harassment. The Miami Herald noted that the Dolphins were concerned about Martin's reaction to the move, and noted that "It was clear Martin isn't thrilled about the move." "You can approach this two different ways," Martin said. "You can go in the tank and be one of those guys who bitches and moans and is a cancer in the locker room, or you can be a guy who goes out there and can be a professional and plays as hard as I can."[76]

Incognito has garnered attention over the years for perceived dirty play amongst NFL players, coaches, and fans. He has been alleged to have gouged players' eyes, punched players, and made illegal tackles on a regular basis.[77] In 2009, NFL players voted Incognito as the dirtiest player in the league, according to a Sporting News poll.[78]

After the bullying scandal and his release from the Dolphins organization, Incognito sought help through therapy when he voluntarily checked himself into an Arizona treatment facility.[79] After months of treatment, Incognito described his experience and growth as "very difficult" because "there's no doubt things were said and things were texted and things were done where I clearly crossed the line...that's part of the learning process I went through, and just growing up and maturing and being aware of your surroundings and who your audience is."[80]

After sitting out the 2014 season, Rex Ryan and the Buffalo Bills signed Incognito for the 2015 season with the intent to "build a bully".[81] According to teammate Eric Wood, Incognito was seen as an "ultimate professional" and "quickly became a locker room favorite".[80] Incognito re-elevated his game and helped the Buffalo Bills lead the league in rushing yards and yards-per-carry.[81]

Prior to the 2016 season, Incognito sat down with Colin Cowherd for an interview on the radio show The Herd where he talked about his relationship with Jonathan Martin since the bullying scandal stating their relationship ended that day, and that "You learn from it you move on".[82]

On May 23, 2018, Incognito was placed on an "involuntary psychiatric hold" for his part in an altercation at a Life Time Fitness health club in Boca Raton, Florida. Incognito allegedly threw a tennis ball and a dumbbell at another gym patron.[83] He was reported to be in an "altered, paranoid state," suspecting that he was being spied on.[84] On June 6, 2018, he was back in training, hoping to get back to the NFL.[85]

On August 20, 2018, Incognito was arrested and taken into custody after an incident at a funeral home where he threatened to shoot the employees while making funeral arrangements for his father. Police seized two Glocks, three rifles, and a suppressor for a handgun in Incognito's truck.[86] Employees told Scottsdale police that Incognito wanted his father's head cut off for research purposes, and that he had walked through the funeral home punching caskets and throwing objects.[87] Incognito was charged with disorderly conduct and making threats.[88]