What Are the Fastest Ejections in NFL History?

Thursday’s NFL season opener between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys kicked off with an unexpected twist. Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter was ejected just six seconds into the game after being penalized for spitting on Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. Now, six seconds is lightning-fast for an ejection, but believe it or not, it’s not the only time a player has been sent off unusually early. In fact, there have even been cases where players didn’t make it past the coin toss.

In this article, we round up five of the fastest ejections in NFL history, looking at the games, the incidents that sparked them, and how those moments impacted their teams. Let’s dive right in!

Tommie Harris (Ejected 65 seconds into the game)

In Week 9 of the 2009 NFL season, the Chicago Bears faced off against the Arizona Cardinals in what was expected to be a physical matchup. It definitely lived up to and exceeded that expectation because just four plays in, the game took an ugly turn. Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris was ejected only 65 seconds into the game for throwing a punch at Cardinals offensive lineman Deuce Lutui.

The incident unfolded after an Arizona running play left both players tangled on the ground. Frustrated from earlier clashes, where Lutui had knocked him down twice, Harris lashed out and struck Lutui near the facemask. Referee Ed Hochuli immediately flagged the play, handing Chicago a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and sending Harris to the locker room.

Without Harris, the Bears’ defensive line struggled to contain the Cardinals’ offense. Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner tore apart the Chicago secondary, throwing five touchdown passes en route to a 41–21 Cardinals victory. Harris later admitted he had lost his composure, apologizing publicly to Lutui, his teammates, fans, and even kids who might have looked up to him.

Though the NFL fined Harris, he avoided suspension and was back with the team the following week. Still, his early ejection left Chicago undermanned in the trenches and contributed to a lopsided defeat.

Christian Wilkins (Ejected 31 seconds into the game)

Christian Wilkins’ ejection happened in the Miami Dolphins’ matchup against the Buffalo Bills in Week 7 of the 2019 NFL season. The Dolphins’ rookie defensive tackle and 13th overall pick from the 2019 draft found himself heading to the locker room before the first quarter truly even began.

On just the second play from scrimmage, Wilkins threw a punch at the Buffalo Bills’ offensive tackle Cody Ford, and that triggered an immediate ejection from the officials. This came just 31 seconds into the game, making it one of the fastest ejections on record. 

Losing Wilkins so early put extra pressure on Miami’s defense, with the Dolphins ultimately losing 31–21 to the Buffalo Bills. Wilkins himself called his actions “extremely selfish,” acknowledging how his impulsive move let both himself and his teammates down.

Jalen Carter (Ejected 6 seconds into the game)

The Philadelphia Eagles’ 2025 season opener against the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field began with chaos before a single snap was taken. Just six seconds into the game, Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter was ejected for spitting on Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, sparking immediate headlines both on and off the field. 

The bizarre incident occurred during a brief pause after the opening kickoff, as trainers assessed an injured player. Carter and Prescott exchanged words, and Carter’s reaction, spitting toward Prescott’s chest, was deemed a “disqualifiable foul” due to being a non-football act, resulting not only in his ejection but also a 15-yard penalty. 

The Cowboys made the most of the penalty, driving downfield and scoring a touchdown on their first possession to go up 7–0. However, despite the early blow, the Eagles regrouped. Quarterback Jalen Hurts and running back Saquon Barkley helped fuel a comeback, with the Eagles ultimately securing a 24–20 victory. 

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Jeremiah Trotter and Kevin Mathis (Ejected before kickoff)

This is one of the strangest early exits in NFL history. It happened on September 12, 2005, during the season opener between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Atlanta Falcons. Before the game had even officially started, Eagles linebacker Jeremiah Trotter and Falcons cornerback Kevin Mathis were both ejected for their roles in a heated pregame brawl.

As the teams warmed up at the Georgia Dome, tensions boiled over at midfield. Players exchanged words, and things quickly turned physical. Trotter and Mathis became the main aggressors in the scuffle, prompting referees to eject them before the opening kickoff.

The impact was more noticeable for Philadelphia. Trotter was a Pro Bowl linebacker and the centerpiece of the Eagles’ defense. Losing him so suddenly left the unit shorthanded. The Falcons, on the other hand, lost only a rotational corner in Mathis. The Falcons went on to win the game 14–10.

Larry Brown (Ejected at coin toss)

Another almost unheard-of ejection happened during a 1994 preseason game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Houston Oilers. Cornerback Larry Brown, a starter for Dallas who would later become Super Bowl XXX MVP, was thrown out of the game before the ball was even snapped.

The incident happened at midfield during the coin toss. Brown got into a heated exchange with Oilers players, and the trash talk escalated into shoving. Officials quickly stepped in, and to everyone’s surprise, Brown was ejected on the spot. With no plays yet run and the scoreboard still blank, Dallas had to adjust its defensive rotation before kickoff.

Since it was a preseason matchup, the stakes were lower, but the ejection was still significant. Brown was one of the Cowboys’ more experienced defensive backs, and losing him so suddenly forced younger players into action earlier than planned.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What actions can get a player ejected in the NFL?

According to the NFL rulebook, players can be ejected for “flagrant” or “non-football” actions. These include throwing punches, fighting, spitting on another player, making contact with an official, targeting or launching at an opponent’s head/neck area, or committing repeated unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.

2. Do ejections always lead to suspensions or fines?

Not always. An ejection doesn’t automatically mean a suspension, but the NFL often reviews incidents afterward. Depending on the severity, players can be fined, suspended, or both. For example, a punch or a dangerous helmet-to-helmet hit is far more likely to result in additional punishment.

3. Can players be ejected before the game even starts?

Yes, and it has happened. As seen with Jeremiah Trotter and Kevin Mathis in 2005, and Larry Brown in 1994, players can be ejected during warmups or even the coin toss if they engage in fighting or unsportsmanlike behavior before the opening kickoff.

4. How do early ejections affect a team?

An ejection removes a player from the game entirely, with no replacement allowed on the roster. This forces teams to adjust on the fly, often weakening their lineup. Losing a star defender or offensive weapon early can change the entire momentum of a matchup.