Sun Dec 07 18:50:00 UTC 2025: ## NFL Fines Players for “Antisocial” Gestures, Including Controversial “Nose Wipe”
New York, NY – Thanksgiving weekend celebrations took a costly turn for several NFL players as the league handed out 31 fines for Week 13 violations, five of which were for “violent gestures,” according to league sources. The crackdown highlights the NFL’s ongoing effort to police on-field conduct and maintain a respectable image.
Leading the list of offenders were Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield and running back Bucky Irving, fined $14,491 and $6,349 respectively, for a touchdown celebration that featured the controversial “nose wipe” gesture. While the pair weren’t penalized during the game, the league deemed the celebration a violation of its ban on the gesture, which carries gang-related connotations.
“It’s disrespectful,” said NFL Executive VP of Football Operations Troy Vincent earlier this year when the ban was implemented. “Young men, they come from that era, from that age, and they’ve grown up on social media… I think the players know better. I know they know better.”
Joining Mayfield and Irving in receiving fines for unsportsmanlike conduct were Seattle Seahawks receiver DK Metcalf ($14,491), Houston Texans receiver Nico Collins ($14,491), and Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly ($5,722). Details regarding the specific actions leading to the fines for these players were not immediately available.
All fines are subject to appeal, though the results of these appeals are kept confidential by the league. It remains unknown whether players who successfully appeal their fines opt to celebrate their victory with a “nose wipe” of their own.
The NFL’s strict enforcement of its gesture policy comes as the league continues to grapple with balancing player expression and maintaining a family-friendly image.
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