Pro Football Reference Blog
NFL Teams with the Most Penalties in a Single Season
Posted by Darin Hayes on August 30, 2024
Penalties—the bane of every offensive drive, the gift of new life for defenses, and a constant source of fan frustration—are actual gridiron letdowns for teams and fans. But some teams have reached a whole new level of penalty-proneness, racking up an absurd number of flags in a single season.
This article plunges into NFL notoriety, investigating the teams who’ve borne the unfortunate honor of being the most penalized in a single season. We’ll delve deep into the causes of their excessive flags, scrutinizing coaching strategies, undisciplined play, and rule modifications that could have contributed to their penalty troubles.
Prepare to be surprised by some entries on this list and discover the teams who tested the patience of referees and fans alike. So, hold on (or don’t HOLD) and get ready to see who has obtained the (unwanted) title of the NFL’s most penalized team!
Teams Committing The Most Fouls In History
One can look at teams’ no-nos in several ways: the number of offenses to the rules and the total penalty yardage afforded to the perpetrating team. In this section, we will look at the number of yellow hankies teams have had in a single season and identify the worst of the bunch in NFL history.
We need to understand a few things: We will only consider penalties that have been accepted and enforced in regular-season contests, and we will be mindful that the NFL has had seasons of varying lengths over the years. To be fair, we will use Stathead to break down the number on penalties to a per-game ratio for easy comparison. We will look at the sixteen worst offenders (or at least the ones that were caught the most by officials), and it will make sense in a moment why we chose that amount.
1984 Los Angeles Raiders Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees
Record: 11-5-0, 3rd in AFC West Division (Schedule and Results)
Coach: Tom Flores (11-5-0)
Points For: 368 (23.0/g) 9th of 28
Points Against: 278 (17.4/g) 4th of 28
Expected W-L: 10.6-5.4
SRS: 6.87 (5th of 28), SOS: 1.24
Playoffs:
Lost Wild Card 7-13 vs. Seattle Seahawks
Other Notable Asst.: Sam Boghosian (Offensive Line), Chet Franklin (Defensive Backs), Larry Kennan (Quarterbacks), Terry Robiskie (Asst. ST Coach), Art Shell (Offensive Line), Tom Walsh (Quarterbacks/WR), Ray Willsey (Running Backs) and Bob Zeman (Linebackers)
Stadium: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Principal Owner/General Manager: Al Davis
Offensive Scheme: Vertical
Defensive Alignment: 3-4
Preseason Odds: Super Bowl +400
Training Camp: El Rancho Tropicana (Santa Rosa, California)
The 1984 Silver and Black were caught holding the proverbial bag an average of 8.9375 times per game with their gridiron sins amounting to 143 in 16 contests. Funny thing is that this Raiders team finished with an 11-5 record and lost to Seattle in the Wild Card Round.
2005 New York Giants Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees
Record: 11-5-0, 1st in NFC East Division (Schedule and Results)
Coach: Tom Coughlin (11-5-0)
Points For: 422 (26.4/g) 3rd of 32
Points Against: 314 (19.6/g) 14th of 32
Expected W-L: 10.7-5.3
SRS: 7.49 (6th of 32), SOS: .74
Playoffs:
Lost Wild Card 0-23 vs. Carolina Panthers
Offensive Coordinator: John Hufnagel
Defensive Coordinator: Tim Lewis
Other Notable Asst.: John DeFilippo (Offensive Quality Control), Mike Pope (Tight Ends), Bill Sheridan (Linebackers) and Mike Sullivan (Wide Receivers)
Stadium: Giants Stadium
Executive Vice President/Co-Owner: Steve Tisch
President/Co-Owner: John Mara
General Manager: Ernie Accorsi
Offensive Scheme: Erhardt-Perkins
Defensive Alignment: 4-3
Preseason Odds: Super Bowl +7000; O/U: 6.5
Training Camp: SUNY Albany (Albany, New York)
The 2005 New York Giants were a fairly decent team, but their propensity to break the rules was definitely troubling. In fact, New York finished with an 11-5 record, won the NFC East, but were shut out in a playoff loss against Carolina. The Giants were penalized 143 times in 16 games of play for a whopping 8.9375 yardage walk-off of the Umpire average per game.
2015 Buffalo Bills Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports
Record: 8-8-0, 3rd in AFC East Division (Schedule and Results)
Coach: Rex Ryan (8-8-0)
Points For: 379 (23.7/g) 12th of 32
Points Against: 359 (22.4/g) 15th of 32
Expected W-L: 8.5-7.5
SRS: .03 (12th of 32), SOS: -1.22
Offensive Coordinator: Greg Roman
Defensive Coordinator: Dennis Thurman
Other Notable Asst.: Donnie Henderson (Defensive Backs), Aaron Kromer (Offensive Line), Anthony Lynn (Asst. Head Coach/Running Backs) and Chris Palmer (Sr. Offensive Assistant)
Stadium: Ralph Wilson Stadium
Owner: Kim Pegula
Owner: Terry Pegula
General Manager: Doug Whaley
Offensive Scheme: West Coast
Defensive Alignment: 3-4
Preseason Odds: Super Bowl +4000; O/U: 8.5
Training Camp: St. John Fisher College (Pittsford, New York)
The 2015 edition of the Buffalo Bills made our list, tied with our first two candidates for the most penalties in a year when they were attributed with 143 in 16 games also for an average of 8.9375 flags per game.
2015 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports
Record: 6-10-0, 4th in NFC South Division (Schedule and Results)
Coach: Lovie Smith (6-10-0)
Points For: 342 (21.4/g) 20th of 32
Points Against: 417 (26.1/g) 26th of 32
Expected W-L: 6.2-9.8
SRS: -7.71 (31st of 32), SOS: -3.02
Offensive Coordinator: Dirk Koetter
Defensive Coordinator: Leslie Frazier
Other Notable Asst.: Joe Cullen (Defensive Line) and Larry Marmie (Senior Defensive Assistant)
Stadium: Raymond James Stadium
Co-Chairman: Bryan Glazer (Joel Glazer & Edward Glazer also listed)
General Manager: Jason Licht
Offensive Scheme: Air Coryell
Defensive Alignment: 4-3
Preseason Odds: Super Bowl +10000; O/U: 6.0
Training Camp: One Buccaneer Place (Tampa, Florida)
The 2015 edition of the Buccaneers also had 143 penalties accepted against them by opponents, putting them in a virtual tie with the teams you just read about.
1983 Buffalo Bills Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees
Record: 8-8-0, 3rd in AFC East Division (Schedule and Results)
Coach: Kay Stephenson (8-8-0)
Points For: 283 (17.7/g) 23rd of 28
Points Against: 351 (21.9/g) 18th of 28
Expected W-L: 6.0-10.0
SRS: -3.78 (24th of 28), SOS: .47
Defensive Coordinator: Bob Zeman
Other Notable Asst.: Milt Jackson (Wide Receivers), Don Lawrence (Defensive Line) and Perry Moss (Offensive Assistant)
Stadium: Rich Stadium
Owner/President: Ralph Wilson
Executive VP/Interim General Manager: Pat McGroder
Head Coach/Player Personnel: Kay Stephenson
Defensive Alignment: 3-4
Preseason Odds: Super Bowl +2500
Training Camp: SUNY Fredonia (Fredonia, New York)
The ‘83 Bills team racked up 144 accepted penalties in 16 regular season games and finished with an 8-8 record. That is an even 9 times a game where they were caught with their hands in the cookie jar.
2005 Arizona Cardinals Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees
Record: 5-11-0, 3rd in NFC West Division (Schedule and Results)
Coach: Dennis Green (5-11-0)
Points For: 311 (19.4/g) 17th of 32
Points Against: 387 (24.2/g) 26th of 32
Expected W-L: 6.0-10.0
SRS: -4.98 (24th of 32), SOS: -0.23
Offensive Coordinator: Keith Rowen
Defensive Coordinator: Clancy Pendergast
Other Notable Asst.: Frank Bush (Linebackers) and Mike Kruczek (Quarterbacks)
Stadium: Sun Devil Stadium
Principal Owner: Bill Bidwill
General Manager/VP of Football Operations: Rod Graves
Offensive Scheme: West Coast
Defensive Alignment: 4-3
Preseason Odds: Super Bowl +5000; O/U: 7.0
Training Camp: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Prescott, Arizona)
The Cards in 2005 drew 145 accepted flags on the season, for a mean average of just over 9 times a game the Ref would be pointing their way after a flag.
2005 Oakland Raiders Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees
Record: 4-12-0, 4th in AFC West Division (Schedule and Results)
Coach: Norv Turner (4-12-0)
Points For: 290 (18.1/g) 23rd of 32
Points Against: 383 (23.9/g) 25th of 32
Expected W-L: 5.5-10.5
SRS: -2.80 (20th of 32), SOS: 3.01
Offensive Coordinator: Jimmy Raye
Defensive Coordinator: Rob Ryan
Other Notable Asst.: Don Martindale (Inside Linebackers), Jason Michael (Quality Control), Keith Millard (Assistant Defensive Line), Chuck Pagano (Secondary) and John Shoop (Quarterbacks)
Stadium: McAfee Coliseum
Principal Owner/General Manager: Al Davis
Offensive Scheme: Air Coryell
Defensive Alignment: 4-3
Preseason Odds: Super Bowl +3500; O/U: 7.5
Training Camp: Redwood Middle School (Napa, California)
2016 Oakland Raiders Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports
Record: 12-4-0, 2nd in AFC West Division (Schedule and Results)
Coach: Jack Del Rio (12-4-0)
Points For: 416 (26.0/g) 7th of 32
Points Against: 385 (24.1/g) 20th of 32
Expected W-L: 8.7-7.3
SRS: 3.26 (8th of 32), SOS: 1.33
Playoffs:
Lost Wild Card 14-27 vs. Houston Texans
Offensive Coordinator: Bill Musgrave
Defensive Coordinator: Ken Norton
Other Notable Asst.: Todd Downing (Quarterbacks), Nick Holz (Off. Quality Control) and Mike Tice (Offensive Line)
Stadium: Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
Owner: Mark Davis
General Manager: Reggie McKenzie
Offensive Scheme: West Coast
Defensive Alignment: 4-3
Preseason Odds: Super Bowl +2000; O/U: 8.5
Training Camp: Redwood Middle School (Napa, California)
As you will see, the Raiders appear frequently on this list. Two Oakland teams tied for the next echelon of fouls, as the 2005 and 2016 versions were called for 147 offenses in 16 games or an average of 9.1875 flags per game.
1993 Los Angeles Raiders Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees
Record: 10-6-0, 2nd in AFC West Division (Schedule and Results)
Coach: Art Shell (10-6-0)
Points For: 306 (19.1/g) 14th of 28
Points Against: 326 (20.4/g) 21st of 28
Expected W-L: 7.4-8.6
SRS: -0.68 (18th of 28), SOS: .57
Playoffs:
Won Wild Card 42-24 vs. Denver Broncos
Lost Divisional Round 23-29 vs. Buffalo Bills
Offensive Coordinator: Tom Walsh
Defensive Coordinator: Gunther Cunningham
Other Notable Asst.: Jim Haslett (Linebackers), Joe Scannella (Running Backs) and Mike White (Quarterbacks/OL)
Stadium: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Principal Owner/General Manager: Al Davis
Defensive Alignment: 4-3
Preseason Odds: Super Bowl +3000; O/U: 8.0
Training Camp: Radisson Suite Hotel (Oxnard, California)
The Silver and Black changed things up in 1993 when they committed some of their 148 fouls in the home confines of the City of Angels. Angels might be the furthest thing from their minds as they committed 9-¼ accepted fouls per contest that year.
2010 Oakland Raiders Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports
Record: 8-8-0, 3rd in AFC West Division (Schedule and Results)
Coach: Tom Cable (8-8-0)
Points For: 410 (25.6/g) 6th of 32
Points Against: 371 (23.2/g) 20th of 32
Expected W-L: 8.9-7.1
SRS: .18 (16th of 32), SOS: -2.26
Offensive Coordinator: Hue Jackson
Defensive Coordinator: John Marshall
Other Notable Asst.: John Fassel (Special Teams Coordinator), Paul Hackett (Quarterbacks) and Ted Tollner (Passing Game Coordinator)
Stadium: Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
Principal Owner/General Manager: Al Davis
Offensive Scheme: West Coast
Defensive Alignment: 4-3
Preseason Odds: Super Bowl +12500; O/U: 6.0
Training Camp: Redwood Middle School (Napa, California)
The Raiders could be just as penalty-ridden in the Bay area as the did in LA-LA Land, because they also found their way in the penalty column 148 times in the 16 games played in 2010.
2017 Seattle Seahawks Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports
Record: 9-7-0, 2nd in NFC West Division (Schedule and Results)
Coach: Pete Carroll (9-7-0)
Points For: 366 (22.9/g) 11th of 32
Points Against: 332 (20.8/g) 13th of 32
Expected W-L: 8.9-7.1
SRS: 1.89 (14th of 32), SOS: -0.24
Offensive Coordinator: Darrell Bevell
Defensive Coordinator: Kris Richard
Other Notable Asst.: Tom Cable (Assistant HC/Offensive Line), Dave Canales (Wide Receivers), Clint Hurtt (Defensive Line/Asst. HC), Carl Smith (Quarterbacks), Sherman Smith (Running Backs) and Nick Sorensen (Defensive Backs)
Stadium: CenturyLink Field
Chairman: Paul Allen
Head Coach/VP of Football Ops: Pete Carroll (Head Coach has personnel authority)
Executive VP/General Manager: John Schneider (Head Coach has personnel authority)
Offensive Scheme: West Coast
Defensive Alignment: 4-3
Preseason Odds: Super Bowl +800; O/U: 10.5
Training Camp: Virginia Mason Athletic Center (Renton, Washington)
The 2017 Seahawks went a respectable 9-7 in the year, but they also had 148 penalties in the regular season of 16 contests to meet that 9.25 average of fouls per game accepted.
1989 Houston Oilers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees
Record: 9-7-0, 2nd in AFC Central Division (Schedule and Results)
Coach: Jerry Glanville (9-7-0)
Points For: 365 (22.8/g) 7th of 28
Points Against: 412 (25.8/g) 26th of 28
Expected W-L: 6.9-9.1
SRS: -2.53 (18th of 28), SOS: .41
Playoffs:
Lost Wild Card 23-26 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Offensive Coordinator: Kevin Gilbride
Other Notable Asst.: Floyd Reese (Linebackers), Nick Saban (Secondary), Ray Sherman (Wide Receivers), Doug Shively (Defensive Line) and Richard Smith (ST/TE/OL)
Stadium: Houston Astrodome
Founder/Owner/Chairman/President/CEO: Bud Adams
General Manager: Ladd Herzeg
Defensive Alignment: 3-4
Preseason Odds: Super Bowl +1200; O/U: 10.0
Training Camp: Texas State (SW Texas State) (San Marcos, Texas)
Way back when there was pro football played in the Astro Dome, the Oilers held, false started, etc… an amazing 149 times on their 16-game season to close out with a 9-7 record.
I am going to warn you, Raiders fans, that this list doesn’t get better for your favorite club. In the top four teams in NFL history with the most penalties per game.
1994 Los Angeles Raiders Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees
Record: 9-7-0, 3rd in AFC West Division (Schedule and Results)
Coach: Art Shell (9-7-0)
Points For: 303 (18.9/g) 19th of 28
Points Against: 327 (20.4/g) 17th of 28
Expected W-L: 7.3-8.7
SRS: -1.58 (15th of 28), SOS: -0.08
Offensive Coordinator: Tom Walsh
Defensive Coordinator: John Fox
Other Notable Asst.: Jim Haslett (Linebackers), Jack Reilly (Running Backs) and Mike White (Quarterbacks/OL)
Stadium: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Principal Owner/General Manager: Al Davis
Defensive Alignment: 4-3
Preseason Odds: Super Bowl +600; O/U: 9.0
Training Camp: Radisson Suite Hotel (Oxnard, California)
156 times in 16 games or 9-¾ penalties per game! It is amazing this squad finished the year 9-7
1996 Oakland Raiders Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees
Record: 7-9-0, 4th in AFC West Division (Schedule and Results)
Coach: Mike White (7-9-0)
Points For: 340 (21.3/g) 12th of 30
Points Against: 293 (18.3/g) 8th of 30
Expected W-L: 9.4-6.6
SRS: 2.40 (8th of 30), SOS: -0.54
Offensive Coordinator: Joe Bugel
Defensive Coordinator: Fred Whittingham
Other Notable Asst.: Larry Kennan (Quarterbacks) and Floyd Peters (Defensive Line)
Stadium: Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
Principal Owner/General Manager: Al Davis
Defensive Alignment: 4-3
Preseason Odds: Super Bowl +1500; O/U: 9.5
Training Camp: Redwood Middle School (Napa, California)
The ‘96 version of Al Davis club also had 156 bad boy instances on the gridiron and it hurt them to a sub .500 record.
1998 Kansas City Chiefs Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees
Record: 7-9-0, 4th in AFC West Division (Schedule and Results)
Coach: Marty Schottenheimer (7-9-0)
Points For: 327 (20.4/g) 14th of 30
Points Against: 363 (22.7/g) 22nd of 30
Expected W-L: 7.0-9.0
SRS: -3.10 (18th of 30), SOS: -0.85
Offensive Coordinator: Jimmy Raye
Defensive Coordinator: Gunther Cunningham
Other Notable Asst.: Mike McCarthy (Quarterbacks), Al Saunders (Asst. Head Coach/Wide Receivers), Brian Schottenheimer (Assistant), Kurt Schottenheimer (Defensive Backs) and Mike Solari (Offensive Line)
Stadium: Arrowhead Stadium
Founder/Principal Owner: Lamar Hunt
President/General Manager: Carl Peterson
Offensive Scheme: Air Coryell
Defensive Alignment: 3-4
Preseason Odds: Super Bowl +800; O/U: 10.5
Training Camp: UW River Falls (River Falls, Wisconsin)
The Chiefs were getting caught by the onfield striped enforcement officers in ‘98 as the Kansas Players were called for fouls 158 times on the year. They also finished at 7-9.
The worst offenders of getting called for fouls? It is not hard to imagine…
2011 Oakland Raiders Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports
Record: 8-8-0, 3rd in AFC West Division (Schedule and Results)
Coach: Hue Jackson (8-8-0)
Points For: 359 (22.4/g) 16th of 32
Points Against: 433 (27.1/g) 29th of 32
Expected W-L: 6.3-9.7
SRS: -4.93 (24th of 32), SOS: -0.30
Offensive Coordinator: Al Saunders
Defensive Coordinator: Chuck Bresnahan
Other Notable Asst.: John Fassel (Special Teams Coordinator)
Stadium: O.co Coliseum
Principal Owner: Mark Davis
Head Coach/de facto General Manager: Hue Jackson (Assumed de facto GM role when Al Davis died on 2011-10-08)
Offensive Scheme: West Coast
Defensive Alignment: 4-3
Preseason Odds: Super Bowl +6600; O/U: 6.5
Training Camp: Redwood Middle School (Napa, California)
This Raiders outdid the other seven that made this list as they turned on the Ref’s mic 163 times and became the first and only team in NFL history to average over ten accepted penalties against them per game in one year.
Whew! That was a whirlwind of penalty flags there. Now it is time to count up the yardage against teams for these said fouls.
Worst Overall Amounts of Penalty Yardage in a Season
This is almost as equally ugly as the first category we looked at. So much so that we will only post the top ten worst offenders of penalty yardage here. The big news is that the Raiders franchise claimed an astonishing five spots in the top ten after reaching 8 of the top 15 in most penalties above. Let’s dive into this list.
1998 San Diego Chargers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees
Record: 5-11-0, 5th in AFC West Division (Schedule and Results)
Coach: Kevin Gilbride (2-4-0) and June Jones (3-7-0)
Points For: 241 (15.1/g) 29th of 30
Points Against: 342 (21.4/g) 18th of 30
Expected W-L: 4.9-11.1
SRS: -8.39 (28th of 30), SOS: -2.08
Offensive Coordinator: Mike Sheppard
Defensive Coordinator: Joe Pascale
Other Notable Asst.: Joe Bugel (Offensive Line), Nick Nicolau (Assistant Head Coach) and Jim Vechiarella (Linebackers)
Stadium: Qualcomm Stadium
Principal Owner: Alex Spanos
General Manager: Bobby Beathard
Offensive Scheme: Run-and-Shoot
Defensive Alignment: 4-3
Preseason Odds: Super Bowl +10000; O/U: 5.5
Training Camp: UC San Diego (San Diego, California)
The Lightning bolts were struck with a barrage of penalty yardage in ‘98, having 1229 yards walked off against them for an average of over 76.81 yards per game.
1979 Baltimore Colts Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees
Record: 5-11-0, 5th in AFC East Division (Schedule and Results)
Coach: Ted Marchibroda (5-11-0)
Points For: 271 (16.9/g) 22nd of 28
Points Against: 351 (21.9/g) 19th of 28
Expected W-L: 5.6-10.4
SRS: -3.47 (22nd of 28), SOS: 1.53
Defensive Coordinator: Maxie Baughan
Other Notable Asst.: Ed Khayat (Defensive Line) and Joe Vitt (Strength/Quality Control)
Stadium: Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)
Principal Owner: Robert Irsay
Executive VP/General Manager: Dick Szymanski
Defensive Alignment: 4-3
Preseason Odds: Super Bowl +3500
Training Camp: Goucher College (Towson, Maryland)
The Blue Horseshoe finds themselves in the ninth spot of the list when, in 1979, the Colts were punished with 1239 yards against them in penalty enforcement.
2016 Oakland Raiders
The first team mentioned that made both lists in the 2016 edition of the Raiders. That version of the team was crippled with 1247 yards of penalties on the year.
2015 Buffalo Bills
The Bills in 2015 also made both lists. They, too, hurt themselves when over 1249 yards were counted against them for on-field offenses.
The Oakland Raiders claimed the next three spots:
1996 Oakland Raiders
1266 yards went against the Oakland team during the 1996 season.
1969 Oakland Raiders Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees
Record: 12-1-1, 1st in AFL West Division (Schedule and Results)
Coach: John Madden (12-1-1)
Points For: 377 (26.9/g) 1st of 10
Points Against: 242 (17.3/g) 2nd of 10
Expected W-L: 10.4-3.6
SRS: 9.04 (2nd of 10), SOS: -0.61
Playoffs:
Won Divisional Round 56-7 vs. Houston Oilers
Lost Championship 7-17 vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Other Notable Asst.: Richie McCabe (Defensive Backs) and Dick Wood (Receivers)
Stadium: Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
Minority Co-Owner/General Manager: Al Davis
Minority Co-Owner: Ed McGah
Majority Co-Owner: F. Wayne Valley
Defensive Alignment: 4-3
Training Camp: El Rancho Tropicana (Santa Rosa, California)
1274 was the total number of yards the officials walked off against this Raiders eleven.
2010 Oakland Raiders
The 2010 Oakland team had 1276 yards in penalties on the season against them.
1998 Kansas City Chiefs
The team that plays in Arrowhead was near the top of this list, too, as they had committed 1304 yards in penalty offenses in 1998.
2017 Seattle Seahawks Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports
Record: 9-7-0, 2nd in NFC West Division (Schedule and Results)
Coach: Pete Carroll (9-7-0)
Points For: 366 (22.9/g) 11th of 32
Points Against: 332 (20.8/g) 13th of 32
Expected W-L: 8.9-7.1
SRS: 1.89 (14th of 32), SOS: -0.24
Offensive Coordinator: Darrell Bevell
Defensive Coordinator: Kris Richard
Other Notable Asst.: Tom Cable (Assistant HC/Offensive Line), Dave Canales (Wide Receivers), Clint Hurtt (Defensive Line/Asst. HC), Carl Smith (Quarterbacks), Sherman Smith (Running Backs) and Nick Sorensen (Defensive Backs)
Stadium: CenturyLink Field
Chairman: Paul Allen
Head Coach/VP of Football Ops: Pete Carroll (Head Coach has personnel authority)
Executive VP/General Manager: John Schneider (Head Coach has personnel authority)
Offensive Scheme: West Coast
Defensive Alignment: 4-3
Preseason Odds: Super Bowl +800; O/U: 10.5
Training Camp: Virginia Mason Athletic Center (Renton, Washington)
The Hawks may have had the twelfth man screaming strong at their home games, but they also were giving up major real estate to their opponents, 1342 yards in 16 games played.
2011 Oakland Raiders Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports
Record: 8-8-0, 3rd in AFC West Division (Schedule and Results)
Coach: Hue Jackson (8-8-0)
Points For: 359 (22.4/g) 16th of 32
Points Against: 433 (27.1/g) 29th of 32
Expected W-L: 6.3-9.7
SRS: -4.93 (24th of 32), SOS: -0.30
Offensive Coordinator: Al Saunders
Defensive Coordinator: Chuck Bresnahan
Other Notable Asst.: John Fassel (Special Teams Coordinator)
Stadium: O.co Coliseum
Principal Owner: Mark Davis
Head Coach/de facto General Manager: Hue Jackson (Assumed de facto GM role when Al Davis died on 2011-10-08)
Offensive Scheme: West Coast
Defensive Alignment: 4-3
Preseason Odds: Super Bowl +6600; O/U: 6.5
Training Camp: Redwood Middle School (Napa, California)
This is like a broken record, but once again, the Raiders topped the charts with an astounding 1358 yards a game, giving up or just shy of 85 yards per game on average. This makes them the NFL’s Most Penalized team in history.
Conclusion
As you see, some teams have committed some very damaging yardage and penalties by not following the rules and getting seen by a striped shirt. Hopefully, today’s teams are looking at these numbers and disciplining themselves not to commit these dastardly offenses that hurt their teams’ chances of winning.
The 2011 Oakland Raiders had 163 infractions to lead all NFL teams in history for a season.
The Raiders are the most obvious choice here as they made both of our lists multiple times
Unofficially, it is the Oakland teams of the 2010s.
The Dallas Cowboys topped all teams in penalty yardage against them with 964 yards, while the NY Jets in 2023 had more penalties accepted against them than any other squad with 124 infractions.
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