After a nail-biting game between Kansas State and Iowa State, emotions were running high. And not just on the field, but off it too. Just outside Dublin’s Aviva Stadium, where the game took place, a postgame family showdown unfolded. Mark Johnson, Avery Johnson’s father, got into a heated confrontation with his eldest son, Avery’s elder brother, Anthony Johnson. What started as a clash quickly escalated into a physical fight, witnessed by onlookers pouring out of the stadium.

Reports confirmed that the scuffle was so intense that the two men ended up on the ground. And the whole crowd was trying to pull them apart. Despite the chaos, the police made no arrests. Apparently, a bystander caught the whole incident on video, adding to the shock and buzz surrounding the family drama. But the story didn’t end with just a fight. On Sunday, Avery’s father and brother stepped forward with a public apology to smooth things over. “Kansas State QB Avery Johnson’s father (Mark) and his brother (Anthony) have released a joint statement following yesterday’s fight,” On3 reports on X.

They acknowledged that they engaged in “senseless bickering” that got out of control and called the fight “unnecessary.” Mark and Anthony expressed their remorse not only to their immediate and extended family but also to Kansas State University and its alumni. They expressed deep regret over the incident, emphasizing that they’ve learned from it and are committed to making sure nothing like this happens again. “Please accept our deepest apologies,” the statement concluded, aiming to bring an end to the unwanted drama.

This apology provided a much-needed moment of calm and maturity. Especially after a rough night that overshadowed Avery Johnson’s strong performance. Football games create a high intensity. And it’s not unusual for tempers to flare among fans and sometimes even players, leading to fights breaking out. We’ve seen wild brawls at big events like the New England Patriots’ Super Bowl parade. That’s where adrenaline, passion, and sometimes alcohol combine to create chaotic scenes.

But what’s really rare and surprising is when the drama involves the family of a quarterback, and not in the way you’d expect. Despite Avery’s solid stats, throwing for 273 yards, two touchdowns, and rushing for a touchdown, the family drama was what dominated the headlines after the game.

Fans react to Johnson family apology

Avery Johnson’s family found themselves in the spotlight. But for the wrong reason. The surprising part is their action, and its damage control got a very unusual response from the fans. A fan writes, “It’s Ireland, The Notorious MMA approved.” A fight takes place in Dublin, and we don’t talk about Conor McGregor? That’s impossible. Conon has had his share of public brawls outside pubs in Ireland. The fans seem to think that is a common thing in Ireland. Another fan added the same sentiment, “Good to see they fully embraced the Irish culture.”

Irish sports fans are famously intense, and their love for games often comes wrapped in loud celebrations, spirited chants, and yes, occasional roughhousing. Historically, sporting events in Ireland have seen moments of fan disorder. But people often see these incidents as cultural expressions rather than outright transgressions. Another fan chimed in, “Not sure why you’re apologizing lol.”

That basically helps explain why the Johnson family’s public apology after their postgame fight feels a little odd to some. Another fan commented, “Why apologize? That behavior is literally just called Thursday in Ireland.” But if we put aside the cultural references to Ireland, we can understand why the apology was needed. Your son is the QB1 of a major program, and his team just had a loss that can turn over their season. All in Week 1. At that point, you don’t want your family fighting among each other. No one wants those headlines.