Kansas City Chiefs superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes has joined a growing list of athletes fined for celebratory gun gestures after being hit with a $14,069 unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in a 30-21 loss against the Buffalo Bills.
With the Chiefs trailing by two points in the fourth quarter, Mahomes completed a short touchdown pass to tight end Noah Gray to lessen Buffalo’s lead to just two points. The three-time Super Bowl champion celebrated by pointing two fingers with both hands, mimicking the motion of holding a long-range weapon, a sign infamously associated with throwing a ball with precision or sinking a long shot in an NBA game.
CBS replayed the celebration without worry as the game cut to a commercial. NFL insiders later announced the fine for violating its “violent gestures” policy on social media a week after the game.
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Mahomes finished the game with a stat line of 196 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions, continuing his up-and-down play despite the team’s success this season. The $14,069 fine was merely a dent in the $182 million that he’s already made in his NFL career. Mahomes is in year five of a $450 million deal with the organization, making him one of the wealthiest NFL players ever.
Mahomes isn’t the first athlete or even NFL player this season to face monetary punishment for finger guns. Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb was fined $25,324 for a similar celebration, and Jets WR Allan Lazard was fined $14,069 for the same motion.
Before the incident, Mahomes had just one fine in his entire eight-year NFL career, also against the Bills. Last season, the Kansas City QB was hit with a massive $50k fine for verbal abuse against the officials after his belief that they determined a game-winning play during a touchdown pass to Kadarius Toney.
The celebration that earned Mahomes a second career NFL fine (
CBS)
After screaming at refs from the sidelines and throwing his helmet toward the team’s Gatorade table, Chiefs coach Andy Reid was also fined $100k for criticizing NFL referees during the 20-17 loss. After the game, Mahomes met Josh Allen at the 50-yard line with a hug, and he said, ” Wildest ——- call I’ve ever seen. ——- terrible.”
Since then, Mahomes has apologized for his actions and focused on better sportsmanship in the future. When fans were seemingly against him during that incident, they backed him in the fine decision this time around.
One fan wrote, “The NFL is robbing players in broad daylight,” while another said, “So in the US, we can have guns legally but cannot make simple gestures. What a joke.” Other fans were shocked at the fine with the understanding that Mahomes has been the NFL’s “Golden boy.” Another fan wrote, “Surprising that they’re disciplining the golden boy of the NFL,” while another added, “So he was fined for striking a pose? Got it.”
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