Photos from left to right: Jonathon Cooper (Eric Hartline/Imagn Images); Ian Lightfoot (Screenshot); Tyreek Hill (Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images)
Sports fans are often asked to root for athletes who have been accused or convicted of violent crimes against women. With the 2026 NFL season kicking off Wednesday, that dilemma will once again come into full focus: 20 players have been arrested this year alone, including seven for domestic violence.
On the eve of the NFL’s opening night, popular gay creator Ian Lightfoot is offering a solution to football fans who are dealing with that well-known quandary.
Just don’t cheer for them, sis!
“The NFL season is starting soon, so here are some players I wouldn’t root for as someone who doesn’t believe r*pists or abusers should be allowed to play football,” he says in a viral video titled “Don’t draft d*ckheads.”
Lightfoot proceeds to list three star players who were recently arrested after alleged domestic violence incidents, and one Super Bowl champ who’s been accused of domestic violence at least eight times over his playing career.
First, he highlights Packers running back Josh Jacobs, whose girlfriend says he threw her to the ground after she caught him texting other women on his phone.
Then he moves over to the Rams, a Super Bowl favorite. Offensive lineman Alaric Jackson was arrested after allegedly initiating a physical altercation with his pregnant ex-gf (felony chargers were dropped.) Two years ago, a woman sued Jackson for allegedly filming their sexual encounter without her consent, and then taunting her with the video.
He was suspended two games for undisclosed violations of the league’s personal conduct policy.
Yes, the NFL has a personal conduct policy. It says that everyone affiliated with the league–from the owners on down–must refrain from “conduct detrimental to the integrity of and public confidence in” the NFL.
Incredibly vague, the league’s vests full disciplinary power in commissioner Roger Goodell. Following a spate of high-profile DV incidents in the mid-2010s, the league adopted a new domestic violence policy with strict and specific guidelines.
But over the ensuing decade, it’s been applied unevenly.
Lightfoot closes out his NFL exposé by highlighting Broncos lineman Jonathon Cooper, who was arrested after allegedly choking his girlfriend. Then he mentions Tyreek Hill, the All-Pro wideout who’s been involved in at least eight domestic violence and battery incidents.
With nearly 1 million followers on IG, Lightfoot dedicates a lot of time towards calling out women beaters. He has a 13-part series dedicated to male abusers who “still haven’t been canceled as much as a woman who doesn’t smile enough.”
The list includes some of the most successful artists and athletes in history, including John Lennon and Kobe Bryant. Each video begins with Lightfoot describing a pseudo-scandal that crushed a female celeb, from the Dixie Chicks for criticizing President George W. Bush in the lead-up to the Iraq War to Janet Jackson for Justin Timberlake taking off her top.
He offers those stories as a contrast to his tales about male celebs like Johnny Depp and Shia LaBeouf, who nary face consequences for their violent behavior towards women.
When it comes to excusing domestic violence, men’s pro sports leagues are some of the worst examples. In the five major leagues, almost every owner and coach is a guy.
The women’s perspective is never considered.
That extends to individual sports such as golf and tennis. In his latest sports installment, Lightfoot calls out German tennis standout Alexander Zverev, who’s been ranked No. 2 in the world. He remains in contention to win the U.S. Open.
All the while, Zverev is dealing with allegations of abuse from his ex-girlfriend. She says he pushed her into a wall and choked her during an argument.
The ATP (tennis’ governing body) has never disciplined Zverev.
“It’s important to call out organizations like the ATP that let abusers walk free as long as they generate revenue,” says Lightfoot.
Let the games begin.
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