The NFL has fined Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown for his touchdown celebration that saw him jump into a Salvation Army kettle at AT&T Stadium in Dallas on Monday night.
Brown will forfeit $5,481 for “Unsportsmanlike Conduct (illegal celebrations and vulgar acts)” after his 19-yard touchdown reception was initially ruled out of bounds before being overturned on review during the Bengals’ 27-20 win.
“I’ve seen everybody do it since I was a kid, so I’m like ‘screw it, I’m gonna do it,” Brown said this week, via ESPN’s Ben Baby.
Brown was unaware that he could be subject to a fine from the NFL until reporters told him this week.
“Do I really?” Brown responded. “I hope not… Like big fine?”
When asked if the fine would be worth it, Brown joked, “No! Definitely not. I don’t make enough money for that sh—.”
Using the Salvation Army kettle as part of touchdown celebration is something that hasn’t always led to punishment from the NFL.
Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott jumped into a kettle in 2016, but wasn’t fine. When he tossed money and quarterback Dak Prescott into one two years later, he was docked $13,369. During a 2023 Thanksgiving Day game, several Cowboys pulled turkey legs out of the kettle, but did not lose any money that week.
In 2022, Elliott and Prescott were fined $13,261 for a “Zeke-in-the-box” celebration, which involved one of the kettles.
