This is an automated archive made by the Lemmit Bot.
The original was posted on /r/nfl by /u/Moedergods on 2025-10-25 11:34:16+00:00.
This is not a recollection of all instances, just some I found funny.
2013 - Having posted six non-losing seasonal records in a row including a Super Bowl victory over the Cardinals in ‘08, Mike Tomlin found himself in an odd position to open the 2013 season: loss, loss, loss and loss. The solution? The ping-pong table must die. The Steelers lost their first two games against the Titans and the Bengals, leading to disallowing fun. Luckily for the Steelers veterans, the ban initially applied only to players with less than four years of experience. After dropping two more to the Bears and the Vikings, everyone was barred. Following said ban the Steelers would win their next two games, en route to an 8-8 season as they missed the playoffs.
Source: espn.com/…/games-banned-pittsburgh-steelers-locke…
2017 - This actually goes back a lot further, because hiring Tom Coughlin as a HC equals making ping-pong persona non grata. It’s one of the first things he did with the Giants in ‘04. However, for the sake of variety I am going to focus on Coughlin the VP. No matter what role you sign him to, Coughlin will make his presence felt way beyond the turf and grass. Safe to say it worked, as Jacksonville not only improved their record from 3-13 to 10-6 for the season, but also beat the Bills and the Steelers on their way to the AFC Championship Game. Mock Coughlin you shall not.
Source: nbcsports.com/…/tom-coughlin-effect-no-more-ping-…
2018 - This instance doesn’t really fit the line of losing, but it’s a notable mention regardless. After a very successful regular season, Sean Payton demanded his team to be in a mode of constant laser focus. Afraid his players might not follow his will, Payton saw no other choice than to remove the ping-pong table prior to the playoffs. A wise decision, as the Saints, fresh of 13 wins, took care of business and sent the Eagles home in the Divisional Round. Here, the Saints would famously (or infamously) face off with the Rams. After a tough battle all game long the two found themselves in a tie, with OT looming in the not so far distance. With less than two minutes remaining, however, Brees saw an open Tommylee Lewis, whose catch would in all probability led to a first down and all but secure victory and a trip to yet another Super Bowl. Unbeknownst to the city of New Orleans though, the ping-pong Gods intervened and despite what many believed was a blatant DPI on the Rams, no whistles were blown and no flags were thrown. New Orleans would lose in OT.
Source: si.com/…/saints-playoffs-preparation-locker-room-…
2020 - In the year prior some team in Washington, called the Redskins for the final time, went 3-13 under the guidance of Jay Gruden and Bill Callahan. Thus began the search of the newly appointed head coach Ron Rivera for a solution. Boy, did he find the problem: ping and pong. In what were supposed to be the first steps towards a culture changing event, Rivera showed no mercy and banned the table. As if that wasn’t enough, the shuffleboard too became an outcast. Did it help? Eeeeeh… Maybe. The team with no name finished the 2020 season with a 7-9 record. However, given the pathetic state of the NFC East at the time, that was enough to win the division and acquire themselves a wildcard. A game which they would lose to Tom Brady and the Bucs.
Source: nbcsports.com/…/ron-rivera-bans-ping-pong-winning…
2020 (sorta) - Speaking of the Bucs, renowned disciplinarian Bruce Arians also removed any trace of a ping-pong table upon being appointed as the HC in Tampa Bay. Arians, of course, did not get appointed in 2020, but in 2019. In his first season, Arians improved the team’s record, going from 5-11 to 7-9. However, the results of this brave decision didn’t show until a year later, when the Bucs, as mentioned, made the playoffs in which they beat the Washington Redskins Football Team Commanders. Did their winning ways stop there? Absolutely not, as the Bucs would also defeat the Saints and the Packers on their way to the Super Bowl. Here they famously trashed the Chiefs, winning it all. You might look at the reason as signing some mediocre QB, I give the lack of table tennis table all the credit. We are not the same.
Source: tampabay.com/…/sports-day-tampa-bay-podcast-bruce…
2022 - Look at the standings right now and you would find the Indiana Colts high and mighty at the top with the best record in the league. Statistically speaking, you might even look at the best offense the NFL has ever seen. Such joy was nowhere to be found in 2022, however. One of the biggest mysteries of that year is how Jeff Saturday somehow landed a head coaching gig, losing game after game after game, even fumbling a 33–0 lead to the Vikings in a game they would lose 39-36. The bigger mystery, however, is how and where the table tennis table disappeared to. Flabbergasted, stupified and astounded as they all were. Before you criticise Jeff Saturday again, please keep this in your mind. No HC can perform without his table.
Source: www.indystar.com/story/sports/…/69655272007/
2025 - A team many believed was destined for greatness. This would be their year towards eternal glory. As beautiful as it sounded, so terrible it was on the field. The Baltimore Ravens, appearing to be in the year from hell, severely hindered by an injury to their star QB and otherwise rather bad defense, sit at a miserable 1-5 record. Thus began 48 hours of conflicting reports. First it was Harbough, later the hand of the veterans. Nevertheless, the outcome was the same: the ping-pong table had been removed, as the Ravens look to meet their destiny.
Source: nytimes.com/…/ravens-veterans-remove-games-locker…
Will history be our guide once more?