Full Breakdown
Ja’Marr Chase’s “People’s Elbow” Celebration Fines Rescinded After Successful Appeals
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
During the Cincinnati Bengals’ Week 2 victory over the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium, wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase and teammate Tee Higgins performed a post-touchdown celebration that the NFL classified as an “obscene gesture.” The league issued two separate fines of $14,926 each to Chase for the celebration, which the players described as a riff on Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s “people’s elbow” wrestling move. On October 13, 2026, the NFL announced that Chase’s appeals were successful and the two fines were rescinded.
Background & Context
The NFL’s conduct policy penalizes “unsportsmanlike” gestures, and the league has recently intensified enforcement, issuing dozens of fines for post-play celebrations in early 2026. The Bengals’ celebration was interpreted by some officials as a phallic reference, prompting the penalties.
Data & Statistics
- Fines levied on Chase: two fines of $14,926 each (total $29,852).
- Fines also issued to Tee Higgins: multiple fines totaling nearly $60,000 (exact amount not disclosed).
- Sports Illustrated reported that the combined fines for the “people’s elbow” celebration across both players amounted to $89,556.
- EssentiallySports cited a league-wide “No Fun” weekend that generated $300,089 in celebration-related fines.
Official Statements & Responses
The letter further noted that Chase argued the celebration was “new” and “not offensive,” and that the league was “assuming the worst” of him and Higgins without consulting the NFL Players Association (NFLPA).
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Fine totals: NBC Sports reported the two rescinded fines totaled $29,852, while Sports Illustrated indicated the total fines for the celebration (including Higgins’s penalties) reached $89,556.
- Higgins’s appeal outcome: Multiple sources confirm Chase’s fines were rescinded, but none provide a definitive update on whether Higgins successfully appealed his penalties.
- Jameson Williams: EssentiallySports claimed the NFL also erased two fines for Detroit Lions receiver Jameson Williams totaling $26,867, yet no other outlet corroborates this figure.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I don't know. I'm trying to figure out because that's not what it is,” — Marr Chase, head coach
- “Ja’Marr (Chase) has a concussion, and there was no discussion with the referee,” — Zac Taylor, head coach
Why It Matters
The reversal underscores tension between the NFL’s strict conduct enforcement and player-led celebrations that draw on popular culture. The episode prompted the NFLPA to secure a procedural safeguard, potentially limiting future automatic fines for ambiguous gestures. It also highlights the league’s willingness to revisit penalties when players successfully argue lack of prior warning and ambiguous rule interpretation.
What’s Next
The NFL and NFLPA are expected to finalize the joint memo outlining pre-fine communication protocols. The Bengals will face Week 5 against the Miami Dolphins, with Chase’s health status pending clearance from concussion protocol.