Not the Brawl You’d Imagine

Ah, the tension of the gridiron captured in crisp black and white! This classic shot from 1985 shows Los Angeles Raiders linebacker Matt Millen’s fist connecting with the face of New England Patriots’ Patrick Sullivan. Why?

Patrick had spent the game dissing Raiders defensive end Howie Long, and Matt just couldn’t let it slide. The frame is more than a photograph; it’s a freeze-frame of fury, a snapshot of sportsmanship gone awry. It splashed across headlines, creating a frenzy of debates about etiquette and conduct in professional sports. Neither Matt or Patrick emerged as paragons of virtue, proving that sometimes, in the heat of the moment, even the pros falter.