The Cleveland Browns and Los Angeles Chargers had some unwelcome company on the field Sunday.
No, not one of those “fans on the field” situations. Players, fans and everyone else at FirstEnergy Stadium were inundated by a swarm of midges. Yes, midges, which are really just tiny flies, swarmed the field by the thousands, bugging everyone.
Local TV reporter Camryn Justice noted, “I’ve gotten two midges in my eye down here on the field. They’re on my clothes, in my hair, a few people have swallowed them. They are EVERYWHERE.”
I've gotten two midges in my eye down here on the field. They're on my clothes, in my hair, a few people have swallowed them. They are EVERYWHERE. Hopefully these bugs are #Browns fans today. pic.twitter.com/FwIjBRBZFe
— Camryn Justice (@camijustice) October 9, 2022
The creatures really were everywhere in the stadium.
Chargers player just told me midges are “terrible” on field.#Browns
— Tom Withers (@twithersAP) October 9, 2022
https://twitter.com/WarnersCorner14/status/1579144306266640384
The midges hatch along the Lake Erie waterfront several times a year and commonly swarm. It’s not the first time they’ve invaded a Cleveland sporting event. The insects caused an issue at a New York Yankees-Cleveland playoff game in 2007. The insects swarmed Yankees reliever Joba Chamberlain and caused him to throw a wild pitch that allowed the tying run to score.
The Chargers held on to defeat the Browns, 30-28, despite the midge swarm.
Let’s hope history doesn’t repeat itself — the Cleveland Guardians host the Yankees in ALDS Game 3 next Saturday.
“It’s impressive the midges know when the Yankees are coming to Cleveland,” tweeted Mandy Bell.
It's impressive the midges know when the Yankees are coming to Cleveland. https://t.co/dWOyVWGJ2u
— Mandy Bell (@MandyBell02) October 9, 2022
