NFL fines Bengals RB Chase Brown $5,481 for using Salvation Army kettle during TD celebration

The NFL has fined Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown for his touchdown celebration that saw him jump into a Salvation Army kettle at AT&T Stadium in Dallas on Monday night.

Brown will forfeit $5,481 for “Unsportsmanlike Conduct (illegal celebrations and vulgar acts)” after his 19-yard touchdown reception was initially ruled out of bounds before being overturned on review during the Bengals’ 27-20 win.

“I’ve seen everybody do it since I was a kid, so I’m like, ‘Screw it, I’m gonna do it,” Brown said this week, via ESPN’s Ben Baby.

Brown was unaware that he could be subject to a fine from the NFL until reporters told him this week.

“Do I really?” Brown responded. “I hope not… Like big fine?”

When asked if the fine would be worth it, Brown joked, “No! Definitely not. I don’t make enough money for that s***.”

Using the Salvation Army kettle as part of touchdown celebration is something that hasn’t always led to punishment from the NFL.

Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott jumped into a kettle in 2016, but he wasn’t fined. When he tossed money and quarterback Dak Prescott into one two years later, he was docked $13,369. During a 2023 Thanksgiving Day game, several Cowboys pulled turkey legs out of the kettle, but did not lose any money that week.

In 2022, Elliott and Prescott were fined $13,261 for a “Zeke-in-the-box” celebration, which involved one of the kettles.