WATCH: Eli Apple gets last laugh following Twitter criticism

Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Eli Apple has seen his fair share of ups and downs over the first six seasons in the NFL, but got the last laugh against Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill during Sunday’s AFC Championship game.

The former top-10 draft pick has played for four different teams in his career, burning a handful of bridges with some of his former coaches and fanbases. However, the Ohio State product has established himself as an NFL player with more than 250 career tackles and five interceptions.

However, Eli Apple remained the subject of plenty online jokes after Tyreek Hill ran past him early on Sunday. While the man nicknamed Cheetah has embarrassed plenty of defenders in the past, the jokes still came down heavy against Apple.

We 👀 you @EliApple ‼️#DevelopedHere https://t.co/w0Os5euRSp

— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) January 30, 2022

Apple got the last laugh in multiple ways Sunday, first by preventing a potential halftime touchdown for the Chiefs by tackling Hill in the open field. The goal line stop proved important as the Bengals mounted a record-setting comeback to defeat the Chiefs with an overtime field goal. They now advance to the Super Bowl and will face the winner of Sunday’s Los Angeles Rams vs San Francisco 49ers game.

Eli Apple takes parting shot

Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Eli Apple continued to make news after their win over the Chiefs on Sunday, taking a shot at receiver Tyreek Hill on Twitter. As the first half ended in the AFC Championship Game, Hill was stopped in the open field by Apple in a play that stopped the Chiefs from building a bigger lead before halftime.

As Apple took to social media following the Bengals incredible comeback to clinch a Super Bowl berth, one fan shared a video of his huge solo tackle to end the first half. The fan said Apple had a game-winning play when he stopped Hill from scoring, as the Bengals likely wouldn’t have been able to come back from another touchdown.

“He’s a baby,” is all Apple said in response to the video while tagging Hill’s Twitter account in the message. Apple has drawn criticism plenty of times before on social media for antagonizing NFL fans in his trash talk, but the extra step of calling Hill’s attention to the comment definitely caught the star receiver’s attention.

Hill responded in simple, yet cold fashion by telling Apple to say it directly to him instead of online.

“No Twitter beef big dog, just hit my line.”