Xavier Worthy, it’s a Christmas game! What are you doing? NFL fans expected the Chiefs vs. Steelers to be exciting, and it was. However, the game also became controversial after rookie wide receiver Worthy got penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct. Even QB Patrick Mahomes had got himself involved in the matter!

Following Worthy’s touchdown on the first drive (after Mahomes’ 7-yard pass) in the game against the Steelers, Hollywood Brown, and Worthy gestured loading up imaginary presents into an imaginary bag (perhaps an impression of Grinch stealing presents). Worthy was seen stealing presents while Brown caught them in his imaginary bag and then put it over his shoulder and ran away. Just like how the Grinch did.

But the refs did not like something. Worthy had lifted up his jersey, which flashed his waistband, and the officials took this gesture as gun-related imagery.

Let us not forget that the league has been flagging weapons-related celebrations and since Worthy’s actions were interpreted as falling under this theme, it resulted in a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Obviously, Mahomes seemed frustrated with the referees’ decision over the TD celebration, and coach Andy Reid also joined him with similar sentiments.

Clips from the game show Mahomes and Reid trying to speak to the referee and sort it out.

The Chiefs’ players had each other’s back. Harrison Butker was wide right on a point-after try from 48 yards. This gave his team a 6-0 lead. Further, they scored again during their next possession after Patrick Mahomes’ 11-yard touchdown pass to Justin Watson. This also happened to be the 13th first-quarter touchdown allowed by the Steelers this season. That’s the most in the NFL.

But coming back to Worthy’s celebration, should he have known better?

The NFL doesn’t like violent gestures while celebrating…

Let us look at the NFL rule book: Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1(d): “Any violent gesture, or an act that is sexually suggestive or offensive,” comes under prohibited acts.

In line with the above rule, Justin Jefferson was fined $13,659 in December last year after his unsportsmanlike touchdown celebration against the Detroit Lions. He made a gun signal with both his hands after scoring a 26-yard touchdown before halftime.

In September 2023, a similar episode took place with Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson. He was fined $35,513 for two unnecessary roughness violations and also an unsportsmanlike conduct violation against the Pittsburgh Steelers. From the total amount, $13,659 was for his three-second celebration.

Watson was celebrating with his teammate, David Njoku. They pretended to fire guns. However, what rubbed many people wrong in this case was the fact that Watson was fined for his celebration, but not for laying hands on a game official.

But hey, is the NFL inconsistent with the rules? For instance, Jaire Alexander of the Green Bay Packers is known to celebrate by sheathing a pretend sword at his hip after collecting an interception or locking down a receiver.

However, back in 2016, Josh Norman was fined $9,115 by the league after shooting an imaginary bow and arrow to celebrate his fourth-quarter interception against the Browns.

Do you think the NFL was right in flagging Xavier Worthy’s celebration? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.