NFL pulls hypocritical move after fining Jameson Williams for crotch grab

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams was fined by the NFL over a recent touchdown celebration, but it looks like the league got some promotion out of the gesture.

Williams had a 64-yard touchdown reception during Detroit’s blowout win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 11. As he crossed the goal line, Williams paid tribute to Marshawn Lynch by doing the crotch grab that Lynch made famous when he was a star running back for the Seattle Seahawks. You can see the video here.

The NFL announced over the weekend that Williams was fined $19,697 for what the league deemed an “obscene gesture.” That did not stop one of the league’s video editors from using a screenshot of Williams’ celebration as the thumbnail for a highlight video from the game.

Lions head coach Dan Campbell took a shot at the NFL over that on Monday.

“It depends on what (gesture) that is whether the league lets it happen, right? They’ll use whatever they need to for content,” Campbell said.

NFL uses Jameson Williams’ Marshawn Lynch touchdown celebration as the thumbnail for their Jags/Lions highlights video

NFL then fines Jameson Williams $19,697 for the gesture

Today, #Lions HC Dan Campbell called the league out for their hypocrisy https://t.co/nWYVVvIWIc pic.twitter.com/j4LN9XxOeM

— The Coachspeak Index (@CoachspeakIndex) November 26, 2024

Obviously, there is a difference between a video editor using a thumbnail and an NFL executive fining a player over a celebration. Still, it was not the best look for the league.

The Lynch crotch grab celebration has been quite popular with players over the years. We doubt that is the last time we will see it, even after Williams was fined.