NFL Star Sparks Outrage After Turning His Back on the Flag During Anthem

Stefon Diggs is facing a brutal wave of backlash after viewers accused him of disrespecting the American flag during the AFC Championship matchup on Sunday. The New England Patriots wide receiver was caught on camera jumping and facing away from the flag as singer Nathaniel Rateliff performed the National Anthem in Denver.

The reaction was instant. And loud.

Fans across the country lit up social media with fury, calling Diggs’ behavior “disrespectful,” “embarrassing,” and “another black eye for the NFL at a time when President Trump has repeatedly urged the league to restore patriotism on the field.”

The moment unfolded just minutes before kickoff. As Rateliff launched into his stylized version of The Star-Spangled Banner, CBS cameras panned across the Patriots sideline. Diggs was seen bouncing on his toes, back turned toward the flag, facing the stands instead of the field.

“Stefon Diggs turning his back to the anthem and flag is ridiculous,” one viewer wrote. “The country gives him everything, and he can’t even stand still for 90 seconds?”

Another blasted him: “Why is he doing jumping jacks with his back to the flag? Total disrespect.”

A third fumed, “Just watched Diggs turn around during the Anthem. Doesn’t help anything. Just makes him look foolish.”

Those who follow Diggs closely say this isn’t new. He’s been seen doing a similar hop-in-place routine before games for years. His supporters claim it’s “just a warm-up routine.” His critics call it “a tone-deaf stunt.”

Footage from Jan. 6 shows him doing the exact pattern: bouncing, spinning, clapping, and shouting to himself as the anthem ended.

“People can call it whatever they want,” said former NFL coach Tony Barron in a Monday interview. “But when you’re on national television, during the anthem, during the flag, optics matter. These guys know the camera is on them. They know the moment. So, yes, the public notices.”

Under President Trump, public pressure on the NFL to show visible patriotism has surged. Many viewers saw Diggs’ behavior as a throwback to the Colin Kaepernick-era controversies — something conservatives believed the league had moved away from in recent years.

Diggs, 32, is already facing a rough month.

Earlier in January, he was charged with felony strangulation or suffocation along with misdemeanor assault and battery. The accusations came from a woman identifying herself as his former personal chef. She claims Diggs choked her and struck her during a confrontation over unpaid wages on Dec. 2.

Diggs’ attorney, David Meier, aggressively pushed back.

“These allegations are categorically false,” Meier said. “They are unsubstantiated, uncorroborated, and were never properly investigated.”

Diggs refused to discuss the incident in detail when he spoke with reporters on Jan. 2.

“I can’t say anything about it,” he told the media. “Football questions only. I don’t want to be rude. If you ask me about that case, you’re just going to get a look from me. You know how I am.”

Even on the field, Diggs hasn’t been the explosive star Patriots fans expected. Across New England’s two playoff victories, he caught just six of 11 targets for 56 yards and a single touchdown.

“Belichick never would’ve tolerated this,” one longtime Patriots fan wrote online. “Trump’s right — respect the flag. Period.”

For many Americans watching the AFC Championship, the issue wasn’t politics. It was simple respect.

And on Sunday night, Stefon Diggs looked like he had somewhere else to be.