Linebacker Vontaze Burfict of the Oakland Raiders is suspended for the rest of the 2019 NFL season for his helmet-to-helmet hit on tight end Jack Doyle of the Indianapolis Colts in the game on September 29.

"Vontaze Burfict suspended for remainder of 2019 season for violations of unnecessary roughness rules," announced the league on Monday. The ban will cover both the regular season and the playoffs. Moreover, Burfict will not get paid during the longest ban for an on-field act in NFL history.

The Raiders defeated the Colts 31-24 in that game. In the second quarter, when Doyle had to kneel on the field to receive the low pass from Jacoby Brissett, Burfict only need to touch him to finish defense. However, instead of doing that, he lowered down his body, sped up and hit Doyle with his full strength.

"There were no mitigating circumstances on this play. Your contact was unnecessary, flagrant and should have been avoided. For your actions, you were penalized and disqualified from the game," wrote Jon Runyan, the league's vice president of football operations in a letter to Burfict.

If you know Burfict, the punishment should not come as any surprise. Having been named by many as the league's biggest villain, the 29-year-old is a powerful defensive weapon who averaged eight tackles per game in the seven seasons he played for the Cincinnati Bengals. In 2013, he put down 171 tackles, the most in the league.

Nonetheless, behind such a bright defensive record were dangerous, dirty moves on the field. According to ESPN, he has paid a total of 41,5000 U.S. dollars as fines and has been suspended for 12 games by the league before Monday. That explained the following remarks by Runyan:

"Following each of your previous rule violations, you were warned by me and each of the jointly-appointed appeal officers that future violations would result in escalated accountability measures. However, you have continued to flagrantly abuse rules designated to protect yourself and your opponents from unnecessary risk. Your extensive history of rules violations is factored into this decision regarding accountability measures."

Frank Reich, head coach of the Colts was glad that the NFL came up with the punishment. "Just thankful league took action it did. When someone does something like that, attacks one of your players, it's not supposed to be in the game. Glad they did what they did. Actions feel very appropriate," said Reich, according to ESPN.

Burfict is expected to appeal against the ban and his case will be heard as soon as on Tuesday, according to Yahoo Sports.