Los Angeles Chargers safety, Derwin James Jr., faced the decision of upholding his suspension by the NFL following repeated violations of rules aimed at safeguarding players’ well-being. The suspension was ratified by hearing officer Derrick Brooks, who was selected jointly by the league and the players’ union. This ruling came after James accumulated five unnecessary roughness penalties in his last 18 games, making him the defensive player with the most violations in the league. Each of these penalties involved contact with an opponent’s head using his shoulder or helmet.
The NFL Players Association contract data indicates that the one-game suspension will result in a loss of $708,333 in salary for James. League vice president of football operations, Jon Runyan, referenced the prohibition on lowering the head and initiating contact with the helmet in his decision. Runyan specifically pointed to an incident during the Chargers’ recent game against the Steelers, where James targeted tight end Pat Freiermuth in the third quarter, as the tipping point for the suspension.
In a letter to James, Runyan emphasized, “Your continued disregard for NFL playing rules will not be tolerated.” Following the game, James remarked that he did not question the referee regarding the penalty, stating, “I’m not here to referee, I’m playing fast and not thinking about a flag.”
Looking ahead, the 2-1 Chargers are scheduled to host the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs (3-0) on Sunday. Before the suspension was official, Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh expressed no concerns about James’ level of aggression, encouraging him to maintain his style of play within the bounds of the rules. James, who is in his seventh year in the league, has a history of disciplinary actions, including an ejection from a game in 2022 for multiple personal fouls, one of which involved hitting a player with the crown of his helmet.
Furthermore, James faced a fine of $91,027 from the NFL last season for unnecessary roughness penalties and hits on defenseless players. The decision to uphold his suspension reflects the league’s commitment to enforcing player safety regulations and deterring repeated violations among its athletes.
