The 2023 NFL season could be called many things. “The Year of the back-up Quarterback. “The Year of Parity.” “The Year of the Defenses.” One description that is flying under the radar is “The Year of the Fines.”
Players have been fined a total of $5 million for on-field infractions, which is up 161 percent year-over-year, according to data obtained from Spotrac. [1]. Most recently, the NFL levied $213,661 in fines against players for on-field conduct during Week 13. [2]. The highest fine total occurred in Week 3 where the NFL fined players $754,226. [3] The lowest amount occurred in Week 11, during which no fines were assessed. [4]. The Indianapolis Colts are the most fined team through Week 13 totaling $3,972,435, while the Los Angeles Rams are the lowest fined team at $48,150. [5]. Interestingly, the most fined positions are the tackles on both sides of the ball. Defensive Tackles are the most fined position group at $3,997,410 and Left Tackles are a close second at $3,942,028. [6] Denver Broncos safety Kareem Jackson has been fined the most money in 2023, thanks to his penchant for helmet-to-helmet hits. As a result, Jackson has coughed up an estimated $838,332 in fines and suspensions this season. [7]. The most recent fines of the season have been dished out to Kansas City Chiefs head coach, Andy Reid in the amount of $100,000 and QB1, Patrick Mahomes in the amount of $50,000 for criticizing officials following their loss to the Buffalo Bills last week. [7b].
According to the NFL, “The [League] and the NFL Players Association collectively bargain an on-field code of conduct for all players. The result: a well-defined schedule of infractions and fines.” [8] The process, however, is much less defined.
The NFL’s guidance on the process is as follows: “Player infractions may come to the league’s attention in a variety of ways. The league may respond to an official’s call during a game or to a specific play that a team submits for review. The NFL Officiating Department also reviews every play from every game and refers potential violations to the Football Operations compliance team.” [9]. There is an appeal process in which a hearing officer – who is jointly appointed and paid by the NFL and the NFLPA – decides whether the fine is warranted. [10]. If upheld, the NFL withholds the amount of the fine from the player’s next check. [11].
During the 2022 NFL season, there were approximately 460 fines issued by the NFL; approximately 100 of those fines were rescinded entirely by the hearing officers; and approximately 150 were reduced upon appeal.
Why so many fines? The NFL clearly does not need the money, and in fact donates the money generated from fines to charitable organizations. The NFLPA’s President, JC Tretter, has asked the same question:
“The question then ultimately becomes, why fine? As a union that wants to ensure the safety of our members, we can understand a need to hold everyone accountable against dangerous play. But we play an inherently violent sport. Players are moving at high speeds and are required to collide with one another. It is also an inherently imperfect sport. It is not played in slow motion for players to ensure perfect pad level, hand placement and helmet placement. In other words, sometimes collisions happen in ways that are not intended.” [12]
Tretter, in an article published on the NFLPA’s website, recommends that the NFLPA needs to provide better advocacy and education for its members. [13] Ultimately, fining players cannot eliminate the inherent violence in the world’s strongest and fastest athletes colliding into each other. Indeed, at its core, the game of football is simply one team trying to drive the ball up field and the other team trying to stop it. The solution to reducing on-field infractions is likely through educating players on the proper techniques the NFL wants to see on the field.
[1] https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/fines-suspensions/
[2] https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/fines-suspensions/#week
[3] https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/fines-suspensions/#week
[4] https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/fines-suspensions/#week
[5] https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/fines-suspensions/#team
[6] https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/fines-suspensions/#position
[7] https://thesportsdaily.com/news/nfl-fines-reach-new-record-in-2023-with-total-eclipsing-5-million/
[8] https://operations.nfl.com/inside-football-ops/rules-enforcement/accountability-fines-appeals/
[9] https://operations.nfl.com/inside-football-ops/rules-enforcement/accountability-fines-appeals/
[10] Id.
[11] Id.
[12] https://nflpa.com/posts/the-nfl-fine-system-is-not-fine
[13] Id.
[14] Photo Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
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