On Tuesday, the NFL rescinded the celebration fine imposed on Jameson Williams, a wide receiver for the Detroit Lions. The fine stemmed from a Week 2 touchdown celebration against the Buffalo Bills, in which Williams appeared to mime smoking marijuana with teammates Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jahmyr Gibbs. Afterwards, the NFL fined all three players for an illegal celebration and a vulgar act. Williams appealed the fine, arguing that “marijuana is legal in some states” and ultimately won.[1] Williams’s seemingly persuasive argument poses a bigger question: would the outcome be different if the game was played in Wisconsin or Georgia, where marijuana is illegal? [2] And how does the NFL reconcile rescinding Williams’s fine with a rule that fails to define what makes a celebration vulgar or offensive?
Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1 of the NFL Rulebook prohibits unsportsmanlike conduct, including gestures that are “sexually suggestive or offensive.” [3] The NFL and the NFLPA jointly set a schedule of fines for on-field conduct, with a first unsportsmanlike conduct offense costing $14,926. A fined player receives a letter with a video of the conduct in question, the reason for the fine, and steps on how to appeal. If appealed, the matter is randomly assigned to one of three officers jointly appointed by the NFL and the NFLPA.[4] Williams’s smoking imitation does not appear to be sexually suggestive, so his fine rested on the rule’s “offensive” language. However, “offensive” is undefined, and the rule does not specify who must be offended for the player in question to receive the penalty. Thus, whether a player’s celebration is “offensive” depends upon who reviews it.
If legality makes a gesture less offensive, as argued by Williams, then the meaning of “offensive” could vary from state to state. Could the same celebration be fined in one stadium but not another? Do players have to know the law before celebrating? These questions suggest that Williams’s fine was rescinded not because of a clear standard, but because “offensive” effectively means whatever the NFL decides could hurt its image.
Williams is not the only player whose unsportsmanlike celebration fine was rescinded on appeal. San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk was also fined during his Week 2 game, after he imitated drinking a beverage. The NFL alleged that Juszczyk violated Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1 when he imitated chugging a beer on two separate occasions during the game. Juszczyk appealed the fine, arguing that he was simulating drinking a juice box, as his nickname is “Juice,” and he previously celebrated touchdowns this way. He further argued that even if the gesture was a beer, it would be hypocritical of the NFL to punish this conduct given the league’s many alcohol endorsements, such as Bud Light. Soon after, the NFL and the NFLPA announced that celebrations imitating drinking would no longer result in discipline, but also clarified that gestures depicting violence, smoking or drug use, or sexual in nature are still prohibited and can result in a penalty, a fine, or both.[5]
Although Williams and Juszczyk both won their appeals, there is still no clear standard for what the NFL deems “offensive.” Until the NFL defines what “offensive” really means, players will have to keep guessing, and “offensive” will keep meaning whatever the league decides is bad for its image that week.
[1] Lions WR Jameson Williams argues ‘marijuana is legal’ as NFL rescinds celebration fine, https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7687050/2026/10/13/lions-jameson-williams-celebration-fine-smoking-marijuana/
[2] States Where Weed Is Legal: Laws By State | MADD, https://madd.org/blogs/states-where-weed-is-legal/
[3] 2026 NFL Rulebook, https://operations.nfl.com/rules-officiating/2026-nfl-rulebook
[4] Accountability: Fines & Appeals, https://operations.nfl.com/rules-officiating/enforcement/fines-appeals
[5] 49ers FB Kyle Juszczyk’s celebration fine rescinded after appeal, https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/50124990/nfl-rescinds-juszczyk-fine-says-misunderstood-celebration; NFL, union clarify celebration rules, OK drinking gestures, https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/50127635/nfl-union-clarify-celebration-rules-ok-drinking-gestures