Protester Tackled by NFLer Claims It Was Assault

'There's consequences for your actions,' responds Rams' Bobby Wagner
By Jenn Gidman,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 4, 2022 7:11 AM CDT
Updated Oct 6, 2022 11:55 AM CDT

Update: The protester who ran onto the field during an NFL game on Monday, only to be knocked down by Los Angeles Rams linebacker Bobby Wagner, has filed an assault complaint. The Santa Clara Police Department confirms an "active investigation" is underway, per Yahoo. The protester was one of two animal-rights activists ticketed by police. In a later statement, protest group Direct Action Everywhere claimed the pair were subject to "blatant assault." Wagner appeared unconcerned in responding to the report on Wednesday. "There's consequences for your actions," he said, per TMZ. Rams coach Sean McVay said he supports Wagner. Our original story from Tuesday follows:

It's not clear if it was a gender reveal stunt, some form of protest, or just a guy looking for his 15 minutes, but a fan who ran onto the field during this week's Monday Night Football game carrying a pink smoke bomb is likely regretting his actions for a couple of reasons. First of all, it's illegal, notes CBS Sports, which reports on the incident during the game between the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium, the latter team's home arena. Second, the mischief-maker got slammed to the ground by All-Pro linebacker Bobby Wagner of the Rams.

Wagner tells ESPN that as the fan sprinted around the field right before halftime, he noticed stadium security was having a tough time stopping him. "One of the guys on the other side, it looked like he got hurt, and security looked like he was struggling, so I was frustrated," the 32-year-old player says, adding that "you don't know what that fan got or what they're doing." And so, as the fan neared the Rams' side of the field, first teammate Takkarist McKinley came off the sidelines to try to get in his path, then Wagner followed up with a hard bump that sent the fan down (see two different angles here and here).

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"OMG BOBBY WAGNER JUST TRUCKED THE FAN," reporter Cameron Salerno from the Sacramento Bee tweeted. "That's what we're talkin' about!" former NFLer Peyton Manning exclaimed after the hit. "Wagner, a veteran ... get him down, now get out and let [security] take over." Deadline calls it perhaps "the most exciting moment" of the night, as well as maybe the best tackle of the game for the Rams—they lost to the 49ers 24-9. (More Monday Night Football stories.)

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