In the ultra-competitive world of the NFL, confidence is a must—but sometimes that confidence crosses into envy. Whether it was watching a rival steal the spotlight, a teammate get the credit, or an opponent snag a record, some stars just couldn’t help but let the jealousy show.
These players were talented, successful, and often elite—but they still seemed bothered when the attention went somewhere else. Here are the 15 most jealous NFL stars of all time, ranked from subtly salty to full-blown envy machine.
15. Baker Mayfield
Baker always played like he had something to prove, and he wasn’t shy about calling out those who doubted him. Anytime another young QB got more hype, he seemed just a little extra fired up.
14. Terrell Suggs
Suggs loved to stir the pot, especially when someone else was getting too much praise. He always seemed to have a little extra motivation when facing the league’s golden boys.
13. Dez Bryant
Dez played with a massive chip on his shoulder and wasn’t shy about letting everyone know when he felt overlooked. He wanted every ball, every headline, and every ounce of respect.
12. Jay Cutler
Cutler acted like he didn’t care, but that eye-roll energy told a different story. If another QB was getting love, you could feel the bitterness seeping in.
11. Steve Smith Sr.
Smith was elite, but he never forgot a slight—or forgave one. Every compliment for another wideout was taken as a personal insult.
10. Eli Manning
Eli never said much, but you could sense the quiet frustration whenever big brother Peyton got all the love. Two rings didn’t always equal two times the respect.
9. Antonio Brown
AB loved the spotlight—and he did not like sharing it. Anytime another receiver got attention, he found a way to bring it back to himself, one Instagram Live at a time.
8. Richard Sherman
Sherman thrived on being doubted and never hid his annoyance when less vocal corners got the hype. He always made sure people knew he was the real shutdown king.
7. Donovan McNabb
McNabb was a great quarterback, but he always seemed a bit miffed when others got more credit. Especially when it came to Terrell Owens stealing the limelight in Philly.
6. Philip Rivers
Rivers had numbers, fire, and a cannon—but no rings. You could tell it bugged him every time he got passed over in the elite QB conversations.
5. Brett Favre
Favre was the king in Green Bay… until Aaron Rodgers showed up. The transition was messy, and it was clear Brett wasn’t thrilled about passing the torch.
4. Le’Veon Bell
Bell felt he deserved to be paid like the top dog—and wasn’t shy about letting the world know. When other backs got deals, the salt levels spiked.
3. Michael Irvin
Irvin wanted to be the loudest voice in the room—and on the field. Anytime a new star receiver emerged, you could practically hear his competitive side scream.
Read More: The 15 Most Egotistical Players in NFL History
2. Cam Newton
Cam was a superstar, but the praise was never enough. Whether it was criticism, comparisons, or being left out of the MVP talks, he always seemed like he had something to prove.
Read More: Ranking the Best NFL ‘Villains’ of All Time
1. Aaron Rodgers
Rodgers is a generational talent, but few quarterbacks have let the chip on their shoulder define them quite like him. Whether it’s MVP voting, front office decisions, or Tom Brady comparisons, Rodgers has made a career out of being constantly—and vocally—bothered.
Read More: 15 NFL Stars Who Complained Their Way Out of a Team
