Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-St. Brown announced that the NFL fined him nearly $60,000 for four separate touchdown and catch celebrations in which he mimicked smoking during a game against the Buffalo Bills. St. Brown stated that each infraction carried a penalty exceeding $14,000, bringing his total discipline to $59,704 for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Fines Total $59,704 For Four Smoking Celebrations
The penalties stem from four distinct instances during the Lions’ matchup against Buffalo. St. Brown performed the smoking gesture after his first catch of the game in the second quarter, repeated it following three catches in the third quarter, and shared an imaginary cigarette with teammates Jahmyr Gibbs and Jameson Williams after scoring a 2-yard touchdown pass from Jared Goff.
“It’s not good, man,” St. Brown told reporters, according to the Detroit Free Press. “Fourteen-something times four. You do the math. But I’m appealing.”
The NFL rulebook sets the standard fine for unsportsmanlike conduct involving inappropriate celebrations at $14,926. Four fines at that exact rate total $59,704, aligning with the figure cited by the receiver.
League-Wide Crackdown On Celebration Gestures
The league has intensified its enforcement of celebration rules. San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk received a fine for what officials categorized as mimicking chugging a beer, though Juszczyk maintained he was mimicking drinking a glass of juice, referencing his nickname. Indianapolis Colts guard Matt Goncalves faced a fine for the same celebration.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins were also penalized for a joint celebration that league officials deemed obscene.
St. Brown confirmed he is actively appealing the four fines through the NFL’s review process.
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