NFL Fines Cowboys TE Jake Ferguson $13,611 for Touchdown Celebration
The short version
- Jake Ferguson fined $13,611 for a touchdown celebration against Washington
- The NFL called the gesture an imitation of shotgunning a beer and an offensive demonstration
- Ferguson is appealing; Kyle Juszczyk is also contesting a simulated drinking celebration fine
- Ferguson caught 4 passes for 43 yards and 2 TDs in the game
- He signed a four-year, $50 million extension in July 2025 running through 2029
The league penalized Ferguson for a celebration it described as an offensive demonstration, and the tight end is appealing the decision.
Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson has been fined $13,611 by the NFL over the way he celebrated a touchdown during Sunday's game against the Washington Commanders, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
League paperwork cited by Schefter said Ferguson performed an "imitation of shotgunning a beer," and the NFL determined the gesture amounted to an offensive demonstration that could reasonably be viewed as being in poor taste.
The penalty falls under the league's standard enforcement of its uniform and conduct rules, which regularly result in discipline for celebrations officials consider excessive. It is not treated as a judgment on a player's character.
This is not Ferguson's first run-in with the league over a celebration. In 2022, during his rookie season, he was docked $4,895 after he and three other Dallas tight ends played "Whac-A-Mole" in the Salvation Army red kettle.
Schefter also reported that Ferguson is contesting the fine through an appeal. He is not alone in doing so: San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk is likewise challenging a recent league penalty tied to a simulated drinking celebration.
Ferguson's play has been a bright spot for Dallas this season. In the win over Washington, he hauled in four receptions for 43 yards and reached the end zone twice. Earlier this season, he matched a franchise mark by catching a touchdown in four consecutive games, equaling a record held by Jason Witten.
The tight end has cemented his place in the Cowboys' long-term plans. In July 2025, he agreed to a four-year extension worth $50 million, including $28,406,000 in guaranteed money, keeping him in Dallas through the 2029 season. That deal came after a difficult 2024 season in which injuries prevented him from recording a touchdown reception.
Fans can watch the Cowboys next on Sunday, September 27, when the Baltimore Ravens visit Dallas at 4:25 PM EDT at Maracanã Stadium, with the game airing on CBS. Washington, meanwhile, hosts the Seattle Seahawks that same day at 1:00 PM EDT at Northwest Stadium on FOX.
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