A postgame confrontation nearly erupted into a locker room fight between rival players on Sunday, following an intense NFC South matchup. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Carolina Panthers, 26-23, in a thrilling overtime victory on Sunday afternoon. Led by a banged-up Baker Mayfield, the Buccaneers pulled out the hard-fought win, but tensions flared after the final whistle, leading to a near-altercation in the postgame locker rooms.
Panthers safety Sam Franklin Jr. was visibly furious with Buccaneers outside linebacker Jose Ramirez after the game. Franklin had to be physically restrained by Carolina staffers as he attempted to confront Ramirez in the locker room area.
His anger boiled over as he shouted threats in the direction of the Tampa Bay locker room.
“Hey, tell 33 imma see his ass,” Franklin yelled, pointing toward the Buccaneers’ locker room. “On my grave, boy!” The situation was tense, and it took multiple Carolina staff members to hold Franklin back and prevent the incident from escalating further.
The heated exchange was captured on video by reporter Logan Campbell, who shared the clip on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Sunday evening. The video showed Franklin’s frustration and the efforts by team personnel to keep the players separated, highlighting just how intense the emotions were after the game.
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Franklin wasn’t the only player who seemed to have lingering frustrations after the game. Tampa Bay wide receiver Sterling Shepard was also seen yelling toward the Carolina locker room as tempers continued to flare.
The postgame scene was a chaotic culmination of an already dramatic and physical contest on the field.
The game itself was a rollercoaster, with both teams fighting to keep their playoff hopes alive. Tampa Bay kicker Chase McLaughlin sealed the victory for the Buccaneers with a clutch 30-yard field goal in overtime, pushing the Bucs to a 6-6 record, which now ties them at the top of the NFC South standings.
Meanwhile, the Panthers, who have shown signs of improvement with former No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young leading the offense, dropped to 3-9 on the season.
The loss was a bitter pill to swallow for Carolina, who fought hard throughout the game and saw significant contributions from their young quarterback, Bryce Young.
However, despite their progress, emotions spilled over as players struggled to contain their frustration with the outcome. The Panthers had hoped to secure a victory to build on their momentum, but the narrow loss only added to the frustration that has marked much of their season.
The Buccaneers, on the other hand, managed to scrape by with a win, but the postgame drama cast a shadow over what should have been a moment of celebration. Baker Mayfield, who played through injuries to lead his team, showed resilience, but it was evident that the intensity of the matchup had taken a toll on players from both sides.
As the dust settles, the NFL may need to step in to address the postgame behavior of the players involved. The league has strict policies regarding conduct, and it remains to be seen whether any disciplinary action will be taken against Franklin, Ramirez, or Shepard for their roles in the heated postgame confrontation.
The video evidence of Franklin’s outburst and the altercation near the locker rooms could prompt fines or other forms of punishment, as the NFL looks to maintain control and professionalism among its players.
For now, both teams will need to refocus as they prepare for the remainder of the season. The Buccaneers, with their playoff aspirations still alive, will look to build on their momentum, while the Panthers will aim to finish the season strong despite their disappointing record.
Sunday’s events will undoubtedly be remembered as a dramatic chapter in this divisional rivalry, and the emotions on display speak to just how much is at stake for both teams as they fight to make their mark in the league.
Moving forward, all eyes will be on the NFL to see how they handle the situation, and whether any fines or suspensions will be issued. Rivalries like the one between the Buccaneers and Panthers are what make the NFL so compelling, but it’s clear that passions can sometimes spill over beyond the field.
With both teams still having much to play for, the hope is that cooler heads will prevail in future matchups.
