In the tense moments of a Sunday night showdown, a quiet locker-room conversation turned into a headline-making brawl. Tyler Steen, the Eagles’ right guard, found himself at the center of a melee that would later earn him a fine but no suspension.
The Brawl That Got the Headlines
Tuesday afternoon, while a handful of reporters lingered behind the Eagles’ locker room, Fred Johnson approached the group with a grin. “The champ is here! The champ is here! The champ is here!” Johnson shouted, prompting a mixture of laughter and a hint of a smile from Steen. Steen replied, “He took that Rocky movie seriously! No, not Rocky … CREED.” The ribbing began on Sunday after Steen was ejected Saturday along with two Commanders during a two-point conversion that left the Eagles ahead 29-10.
Steen explained, “They’ve been joking about it since Sunday,” adding, “They thought it was funny.” Yet, the underlying reason for the laughter was a moment of solidarity. Steen had stepped in to protect 5-foot-11, 210-pound receiver Darius Cooper, who was being shoved by a group of Commanders.
“There was some stuff going on and he was getting grabbed,” Steen said. “A bunch of the (Commanders) dudes kind of huddled up, and one of them threw a punch and just kind of escalated the situation.” He continued, “Things like that happen sometimes in football. It’s an aggressive game, dudes get a little emotional, so it just happens. It was a pretty chippy game.”
When asked to recount the sequence, Steen admitted he didn’t remember the details until he watched a video on Monday. “I actually don’t remember any of it,” he said. “I was pretty riled up, so I really don’t recall what was going on.” He added that his focus was solely on protecting his teammate.
Tyler Steen: From Quiet Locker to On-Field Defender
Steen, known for his quiet demeanor and soft-spoken nature, is a formidable presence on the field. In his third year with the Eagles, he has earned a reputation as a tough, consistent, durable right guard. The Sunday night incident underscored his willingness to stand up for teammates, even at personal risk.
Despite the brawl, Steen learned on Tuesday that the NFL would not suspend him for his role. He will, however, receive an as-yet undetermined fine and plans to appeal the decision. Steen expressed relief at the prospect of maintaining his streak of 16 straight starts-he has only missed five snaps all season-but also acknowledged the need to control his emotions in future games.
“That was the message from Nick Sirianni,” Steen said. “It’s not necessarily how we want to represent ourselves on the field and you don’t want to hurt your team,” he added. “But we play a violent game. And so sometimes emotions kind of get the best of us. But we’ve got things to play for. So just make sure we stay level-headed and don’t go above that point.”
Aftermath: Fine, No Suspension, and a Stand
The NFL’s decision to fine, rather than suspend, Steen reflects the league’s approach to player conduct. While the fine amount remains undisclosed, Steen’s appeal indicates his belief that the punishment should be proportionate to the incident. His commitment to a clean record-evidenced by his 16 consecutive starts-remains a key focus as the season progresses.
The incident also highlights the intense rivalry between the Eagles and the Commanders. Commanders’ head coach Dan Quinn expressed frustration over the Eagles’ decision to go for two points when the score was already 27-10. “Nobody really said anything specific, at least not that I remember,” Quinn said. “I just remember after the play there was a lot of commotion and things escalated pretty quickly and then got out of hand.”
Coaches React
Nick Sirianni, the Eagles’ head coach, emphasized the importance of maintaining composure. “We never want anything like that to take place,” he said. “We want to play fast and physical and we want to be able to do that all within the rules of the game.” He added, “I understand that the game gets chippy at times, but we always want to make sure we’re keeping our cool in those scenarios because we need everybody and you got to play within the rules of the game.”
Dan Quinn echoed similar sentiments about the emotional intensity of the game, noting that the Eagles were upset because they were winning by a significant margin. “They were obviously upset because we’re winning the game by a good amount. So, you know, things like that just happen,” Quinn observed.
Key Takeaways
- Tyler Steen was fined by the NFL for his role in a brawl but will not face suspension.
- The incident stemmed from Steen protecting teammate Darius Cooper during a heated exchange with Commanders players.
- Both Eagles and Commanders coaches stressed the need for emotional control and adherence to game rules.
The Eagles’ season continues to test the balance between aggressive play and disciplined conduct, with Steen’s experience serving as a cautionary tale and a testament to loyalty on the field.
