Two activists rushed the field just before halftime at the NFL game Monday between the Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers.
Footage of the activist shows him running across the field at Levi’s Stadium holding a device emitting pink smoke. As security struggled to keep up with the individual’s speed, Rams linebacker Bobby Wagner stepped in to help out, tackling the activist to the ground.
OMG BOBBY WAGNER JUST TRUCKED THE FAN THAT RAN ON THE FIELD pic.twitter.com/uwoEzkrFxc
— Cameron Salerno (@cameronsalerno1) October 4, 2022
“That’s not making a play,” Wagner said after the incident, according to ESPN. “That’s just keeping it safe. You don’t know what that fan got or what they’re doing. You see it all the time, and we don’t know what they’re carrying in their pockets. It’s whatever that little smoke stuff is, but that shit could be dangerous.”
Earlier in the night, another activist ran out onto the field with a similar device letting off pink smoke, but was stopped by security, ESPN continued. The activists have reportedly been identified online as Alex and Allison, members of the Direct Action Everywhere network, which campaigns for animal rights, according to a post on Twitter.
Bobby Wagner putting a fan who ran on the field with pink smoke in their place
— Troy King (@TKingMode) October 4, 2022
Alex was the activist tackled by Wagner, which left a burn on his arm, the post noted. Both activists were released from police custody following the incident. (RELATED: NFL Icon Terry Bradshaw Puts His Beautiful Ranch Up For Sale)
Eli and Peyton Manning commentated on the incident, replaying Wagner’s tackle in slow motion. “That’s what we’re talking about!” Peyton cried in excitement in a clip shared online, calling Wagner a veteran who knows to “get him down and now get out and let [security] take over.”