Buffalo Bills linebacker Bradley Chubb has revealed what he said to Los Angeles Rams offensive tackle Alaric Jackson before the pair became involved in a postgame altercation following Monday night’s thrilling contest.
The confrontation occurred after Buffalo secured a dramatic 37-34 overtime victory over Los Angeles at SoFi Stadium.
Rams-Bills thriller ends in chaos as Alaric Jackson throws punch at Bradley Chubb
While players were gathering near midfield after the final whistle, Jackson punched Chubb, sparking an unexpected incident that overshadowed some of the excitement surrounding the game.
Speaking to reporters at the Bills’ practice facility at UC Irvine on Wednesday, Chubb addressed the incident directly and denied claims that he’d made insulting comments about Jackson’s mother.
Chubb admitted that he approached Jackson first, telling him that the additional blocking assistance used to contain him wouldn’t be enough if the teams faced each other again.
"I'll tell you exactly what I said," Chubb said.” I’ve heard I was talking about his mom. That's not true at all. I said, 'We're gonna see y'all's ass again, and when we see you again, all that chipping ain't gonna save you. That tight end and guard is not going to save you.'
“He said, 'What'd you say?' I said, 'That chip's not gonna save you. The guard's not gonna save you.' And then boom."
Chubb explains why he refused to retaliate
Despite acknowledging his role in initiating the conversation, Chubb expressed satisfaction with his decision not to respond physically.
Retaliating could have resulted in disciplinary action against the Bills defender, potentially leaving his team without an important contributor during the season.
Chubb also joked about the lesson he’d taken from the experience, suggesting he’d keep his hands raised or wear a helmet if a similar situation arose again.
"Me personally, I learned I'm either going to have my hands up or wear a helmet," he said.
The defender explained that Buffalo brought him in to play football and provide leadership, and reacting angrily wouldn’t have aligned with those responsibilities.
“They brought me here to play and to be a leader. And, I feel like if I would have reacted—if I would have did anything in both of those situations—like, I’m not doing what they brought me here to do,” Chubb said.
“Like I told him, ‘We’re going to see y’all again.’ And, how do we see them again? In the Super Bowl. And, that’s one of our goals as a team is to get to that (point).”
Jackson initially received a two-game suspension for his actions, but his penalty was reduced to one game after an appeal heard by former NFL player Derrick Brooks.
The Rams tackle will therefore miss the team’s upcoming meeting with the Arizona Cardinals while serving the revised punishment.
Chubb confirmed that Jackson hadn’t contacted him since the confrontation, suggesting there’d been no further communication between the two players.
The priority now for Buffalo is moving forward and concentrating on the games ahead rather than allowing the incident to become a distraction. Chubb’s comments suggest he’s keen to put the episode behind him while continuing to fulfil his role on the defense.