Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams can breathe a sigh of relief — and maybe even celebrate a little more. The NFL has rescinded both fines levied against him for his touchdown celebrations in Week 5, saving him a hefty $26,867.
The league initially hit Williams with penalties of $14,926 and $11,941 for his end-zone antics during Detroit's 45-21 rout of the Arizona Cardinals. After each score, Williams appeared to mimic smoking a substance, a gesture that caught the league's attention. But on Tuesday, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that the fines were dropped entirely.
Williams didn't just stay quiet in his appeal. He argued that the "brief gesture" was hardly offensive and pointed out a key detail: recreational marijuana is legal in both Michigan and Arizona, the state where the game took place. That legal nuance may have played a role in the appeals officer's decision.
Even though Williams won, appeals officer Derrick Brooks didn't let him off without a word of caution. "Although I rescinded this fine, please make every effort to celebrate with your teammates in the best professional manner possible," Brooks wrote in his ruling. It's a gentle reminder that the NFL still wants celebrations to stay within certain bounds.
A Pattern of Questionable Fines
This isn't the first time the NFL has reversed a celebration fine after public pushback. Last month, the league flagged San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk for pretending to chug a beer — a gesture he's used throughout his career. The $15,000 fine was quickly rescinded after backlash, with Juszczyk noting, "Even if it was beer, I don't think that should be a problem with all the beer endorsements that we have in the NFL. We have everything. So even if it was beer, which it wasn't, I still felt like it wasn't an infraction."
Williams wasn't the only receiver to get good news on Tuesday. The NFL also dropped a $14,926 fine against Cincinnati Bengals star Ja'Marr Chase, who won his appeal over a celebration in Week 2. Chase had grabbed his elbow and extended his arm after a touchdown against the Houston Texans, calling it a tribute to The Rock's famous "people's elbow" wrestling move. In his appeal, Chase argued that he received no warning that the gesture was prohibited and that the NFL was assuming the worst of him and his teammate without consulting the NFLPA.
These reversals raise questions about the league's fine process and whether players are being penalized too harshly for spontaneous celebrations. For now, Williams and Chase can rest easy — and maybe plan their next end-zone routine with a little more confidence.
For more on the NFL's recent fines and appeals, check out our coverage of Ja'Marr Chase's appeal win and the season-high safety fines in Week 4.
