Tariq Woolen committed the most boneheaded taunting penalty during the NFC Championship game on Sunday at Lumen Field in Seattle, Wash., but he was lucky it didn’t cost his team the game.
Woolen’s Seahawks were leading 31-20 in the third quarter and had the visiting Los Angeles Rams in a bad spot with a 3rd-and-12 at the Seattle 49-yard line. Matthew Stafford had thrown an interception, which would have likely brought up a punt. But Woolen was called for a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for taunting the Rams after the incompletion.
Tariq Woolen controversial taunting penalty that leads to a Rams first down.
— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) January 26, 2026
It was fourth down 🤦♂️
NO FUN LEAGUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SMHHH pic.twitter.com/4KLfzLqs2K
The penalty gave the Rams a first down at the Seahawks’ 35-yard line and made the game a lot closer than it otherwise would have been.
On the very next play, Stafford threw a touchdown pass to Puka Nacua — who was being defended by Woolen — to make it a one-score game at 31-27, which ended up being the final score.
Nobody is happier than Woolen, whose boneheaded penalty would have been viewed as the turning point had his team lost. He nearly gave away the game on that play and was lucky his team bailed him out.
The Seahawks are now headed to the Super Bowl to face the New England Patriots in a rematch of Super Bowl XLIX.
