In an unexpected twist in the NFL’s post-Super Bowl news cycle, the long-standing controversy involving former Miami Dolphins offensive linemen Jonathan Martin and Richie Incognito has re-emerged. Dubbed “Bullygate,” this scandal gained new attention after ESPN’s Anthony Olvieri published a report revealing that Martin, who was believed to be the victim of Incognito’s bullying, stated, “I never believed for a second I was being bullied.”
Incognito has since taken to social media, calling out several NFL reporters whom he believes unfairly portrayed the scandal in 2015. On Sunday afternoon, he targeted ESPN insider Adam Schefter for posting a “notable excerpt” from Olvieri’s report, responding, “Notable excerpt?! You tried to ruin my life over this bullsh*t.”
Notable excerpt?! You tried to ruin my life over this bullshit @AdamSchefter
— Richie Incognito (@68INCOGNITO) February 16, 2025
The former Dolphins lineman also directed his ire at Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, claiming the reporter “tried to ruin [his] career over a lie.” Incognito’s rage didn’t stop there; he emphasized that a decade later, Jonathan Martin admitted he was never bullied, attributing the narrative to his mother pushing the media angle during the Ted Wells investigation. In Incognito’s tweets, he stated, “You tried to ruin my career over a lie! A decade later Jonathan Martin admits he was never bullied. His mother pushed the narrative of bullying to the media.”
Great question! Care to comment Mike Florio? @ProFootballTalk https://t.co/BjU3oLIjFu
— Richie Incognito (@68INCOGNITO) February 16, 2025
You tried to ruin my career over a lie! A decade later Jonathan Martin admits he was never bullied. His mother pushed the narrative of bullying to the media. Jonathan Martin never believed in the stance his camp was taking during the Ted Wells investigation. The NFL and the media… https://t.co/DxHrLOEWsk
— Richie Incognito (@68INCOGNITO) February 17, 2025
In response, Florio defended his reporting, arguing that while Martin now claims he wasn’t “bullied,” the NFL’s investigation documented Incognito’s inappropriate behavior. He compares it to the “Bountygate” scandal, arguing the league used Incognito as a cautionary example to address similar behavior across other franchises.
Florio points out that the situation is complex. He suggests that the NFL had a “preordained conclusion” regarding the Incognito investigation, asserting that while his behavior was unsavory under public scrutiny, it mirrored how many players typically interacted. However, the public exposure compelled the league to act as if this was unusual behavior, instead of recognizing it as part of the culture.
Incognito took offense at Florio’s portrayal, asserting on social media that he is not celebrating a victory, as Florio suggested; rather, he views it as an “I told you so.” He also shared several pictures with Martin, showcasing their friendship as evidence that he never bullied his teammate.
This isn’t a victory lap – more like I told you so@ProFootballTalk pic.twitter.com/Iet75HnWbp
— Richie Incognito (@68INCOGNITO) February 17, 2025
I think I’m getting bullied in this photo. Hard to tell 🤣 pic.twitter.com/LvxuKQHlAW
— Richie Incognito (@68INCOGNITO) February 16, 2025
More “bullying” 🤣 pic.twitter.com/33n9XJxBGA
— Richie Incognito (@68INCOGNITO) February 16, 2025
The reality likely occupies a middle ground between Incognito’s assertions and Florio’s analysis. It’s plausible to argue Incognito is vindicated, especially now that Martin claims he was never bullied; however, there remains substantial evidence, including recorded conversations in which Incognito harshly criticizes Martin, illustrating that his conduct may not align with conventional workplace standards.
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However, the NFL is not a typical workplace; it’s composed of intense, elite, and highly competitive athletes. Understanding this, the league could have swiftly acted, as Florio suggests, to prevent Incognito’s behavior from escalating into a league-wide scandal. Despite this, the recent revelations certainly provide Incognito with justification to critique how reporters covered the events a decade ago, though this might not equate to a total revision of history.
