For the second time this season, Kansas City Chiefs rookie Xavier Worthy has found himself in trouble with the NFL for referencing firearms in on-field celebrations.
The former Texas Longhorns wide receiver caught the opening touchdown of Wednesday’s Christmas Day doubleheader on Netflix. But after receiving Patrick Mahomes’ seven-yard pylon pass to give the Chiefs an early 6-0 lead over the Pittsburgh Steelers, he and teammate Hollywood Brown began an elaborate Christmas-themed touchdown celebration.
At first glance, it seemed like the recipients were imitating Santa by pantomiming the process of putting gifts into a giant sack. Or, possibly, the two were imitating Dr. Seuss’ Christmas-stealing Grinch. But when he finished, Worthy lifted his shirt to reveal his waist as if he were an armed robber.
The referees caught the act and penalized the Chiefs 15 yards on the extra point, which was consequently missed by Harrison Butker.
Netflix announcers joked that Worthy was pretending to have a ‘Super Soaker’ water gun instead of an imaginary firearm.
But as Worthy already knows, the league has a rule for “violent gestures” at celebrations, and that certainly includes any references to weapons. Worthy was fined $11,255 in September for pointing the finger at Cincinnati Bengals safety Vonn Bell, and several other NFL stars have faced similar sanctions this season.
Xavier Worthy receives a seven-yard pass from Patrick Mahomes at the pylon in Pittsburgh
Xavier Worthy (1) celebrates his touchdown with Hollywood Brown (5) with a pantomime
Xavier Worthy appeared to be referencing a gun when he pulled up his shirt.
Falcons receiver Drake London regretted the gun celebration he performed against the Eagles in September.
After receiving a seven-yard pass from Kirk Cousins, London pretended to fire a gun into the stands at Lincoln Financial Field, earning an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and causing Younghoe Koo’s game-winning extra point to be a 48-yarder. .
Speaking to ESPN at the Falcons’ facility, London admitted he “got a little lost” in the moment and will likely retire the celebration.
“It’s a trend in football these days to do that kind of celebration,” London said.
‘It was my first Monday Night Football game. I got lost there. “I wasn’t happy with the position I put my team in.”
He continued: ‘There are a lot of things in the world related to gun violence that I don’t think should have been shown there. “So I’m not very happy about that and you probably won’t see that from me again.”
London’s rude celebration came after the Falcons hosted athletes from Apalachee High School, where four people were shot and killed earlier this month.
Head coach Raheem Morris said his team is “sensitive” to the issue of gun violence, but admitted London should not have held the celebration.
A day earlier, on Tuesday, he claimed at a news conference that London was “probably shooting t-shirts into the stands… because he’s that kind of guy.”