Michael Crabtree

Raiders wide receiver at the center of an on-field personal feud with Aqib Talib that led to ejections and suspensions [1][2][3]

Aqib Talib

Broncos cornerback involved in multiple, highly publicized personal confrontations with Michael Crabtree, including the 2017 sideline brawl [1][2][3]

RESOLVEDLVL 4

"Why did Aqib Talib and Michael Crabtree have beef?"

Aqib Talib and Michael Crabtree developed a personal, physical feud inside the Broncos–Raiders rivalry after Talib removed Crabtree's chain on Jan 1, 2017 and the pair later exchanged punches in a Nov 26, 2017 sideline brawl that led to ejections and NFL suspensions [16][1][2][3]. The confrontation was highly public and later, according to Talib, the two privately reconciled [18].

Quick Facts

Started: Jan 1, 2017 (Talib snapped Crabtree's chain) [16]
Prior flare: 2016 on-field necklace grab during a Broncos–Raiders meeting [1]
Peak incident: Nov 26, 2017 sideline brawl; both ejected, later suspended two games by NFL [1][2][3]
Memorable quote: Talib: "I said if he wears that chain in front of me, I'm going to snatch it off." [16]
Reported resolution: Talib says they 'squashed' it and shook hands after meeting at a go-kart track (Talib's 2021 account) [18]

How It Started

The Talib–Crabtree feud traces to on-field provocation that began with jewelry: during the Broncos–Raiders game on Jan. 1, 2017 Aqib Talib grabbed and snapped Michael Crabtree's gold chain, telling reporters afterward, "He’s just been wearing that chain all year ... I said if he wears that chain in front of me, I’m going to snatch it off" [16]. Crabtree immediately criticized Talib as "fake" in postgame comments [17]. Earlier confrontations — including a 2016 game where Talib grabbed Crabtree's necklace during play — had already created personal friction between the two and set the stage for escalation in 2017 [1][2]. The chain incidents transformed routine corner–receiver rivalry into a personal dispute that carried over into the teams' divisional matchups and locker-room tensions [1].

Timeline of Events

Timeline

Around January 1, 2015

Dallas-area verbal scuffle and mall encounter (pre-feud anecdote)

Aqib Talib later described an early verbal exchange with Michael Crabtree in the Dallas area and a subsequent non-violent mall encounter that preceded the on-field chain incidents [18].

Around January 1, 2019

Go-kart track meeting and handshake (reported reconciliation)

Aqib Talib said he and Michael Crabtree "squashed" their beef after an off-field meeting at a go-kart track; Talib described stepping outside, exchanging words, and shaking hands to end the personal dispute [18].

Where Things Stand

By late 2017 the feud culminated in a Nov. 26, 2017 sideline fight in Oakland; both players were ejected and suspended two games by the NFL (discipline later appealed/reviewed) [1][2][3][19]. Aqib Talib has since said in a 2021 retrospective interview that the two "squashed" the beef after an off-field, family-oriented encounter at a go-kart track where they spoke and shook hands; that reconciliation is sourced to Talib's account rather than a public statement from Crabtree [18].

FAQ

Do Aqib Talib and Michael Crabtree hate each other?

They had a serious, public feud in 2017 that involved a Jan. 1, 2017 chain-snatch and a Nov. 26, 2017 sideline brawl with ejections and two-game suspensions; Aqib Talib has since said they privately resolved their dispute after a chance meeting at a go-kart track [16][1][2][3][18].

What started the Aqib Talib–Michael Crabtree beef?

Talib says it began with Crabtree wearing a prominent gold chain; Talib removed Crabtree's chain on Jan. 1, 2017 and Crabtree called Talib 'fake' afterward — earlier on-field necklace grabs in 2016 had already stoked individual animus [16][17][1].

Are Aqib Talib and Michael Crabtree friends now?

According to Talib's 2021 interview, they 'squashed' the beef and shook hands after meeting at a go-kart track; that reconciliation is Talib's account and there is no widely circulated joint public statement from Crabtree confirming details [18].