NFL Officially Hands Down “Double Penalties” to Two Giants Players for Unnecessary Physical Actions Against LB Christian Elliss in Patriots’ MNF Victory
Foxborough, Massachusetts – December 3, 2025
The NFL has officially issued supplemental discipline following the fiery sideline brawl at Gillette Stadium during the Patriots’ 33–15 Monday Night Football win over the Giants. According to the league office announcement, two New York Giants players – tight end Theo Johnson and center John Michael Schmitz – have received “double penalties” for violent conduct directed at Patriots linebacker Christian Elliss late in the first half. This action reaffirms the NFL’s zero-tolerance stance on behavior that crosses the line of competitive emotion.
The controversial play stemmed from a legal but extremely hard hit by Christian Elliss on rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart as he scrambled along the sideline for extra yards. Dart was sent flying out of bounds, triggering immediate outrage from Giants players. Johnson immediately charged in and shoved Elliss hard from behind, followed by Schmitz rushing in to escalate the situation, turning it into a chaotic sideline brawl. While on-field officials only flagged penalties at the time, the league stated it would review the video further — and today the decision was finalized.
🚨🚨BREAKING: FIGHT ALERT🚨🚨
— MLFootball (@MLFootball) December 2, 2025
A MASSIVE BRAWL AND FIGHT HAS BROKEN OUT BETWEEN THE #PATRIOTS AND #GIANTS.
New England linebacker Christian Ellis delivered a clean hit on Jaxson Dart and the New York players exploded.
OH MY LORD. This was brutal 😳😳😳
pic.twitter.com/lqjf5XYfYl
Per the official notice, Theo Johnson will be fined the maximum amount allowed for unnecessary roughness, while John Michael Schmitz faces both a fine and a special warning for expanding the altercation. The NFL described the actions as “intentional and beyond the scope of teammate protection.” Notably, Elliss did not retaliate, and no Patriots players received any supplemental discipline.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell issued a strong statement on the incident. “We understand football is an emotional sport, but any violent conduct outside the rules is unacceptable. Protecting players, officials, and sideline personnel will always be our top priority. When there is clear evidence of intentional confrontation, we are obligated to act to preserve respect and safety in the league.” The statement was immediately endorsed by numerous former players.
The NFL’s decision has been widely regarded as fair by both social media and traditional media, especially given the unwanted chaos the moment created during the game. The Patriots continue to solidify their AFC standing, while the Giants face another week of off-field noise. This story serves as a reminder to every team that no matter how heated things get, composure is required — especially when every play can be scrutinized by the league long after the whistle.
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