Kansas City Chiefs rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy brought holiday cheer and controversy to Acrisure Stadium early in the Chiefs‘ Christmas Day matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Worthy, who has emerged as a key playmaker for Kansas City this season, made an early impact, scoring a touchdown in a crucial opening drive. However, his Grinch-inspired celebration quickly drew a penalty flag, leaving fans and commentators baffled.
After the Chiefs defense stifled the Steelers‘ opening drive, Patrick Mahomes led the offense to prime scoring position. On a red-zone play, Worthy lined up in the backfield before sprinting to the flat.
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Mahomes found the speedster wide open, and with his signature burst, Worthy darted into the end zone to put Kansas City on the board.
The rookie, brimming with festive spirit, celebrated with fellow receiver Hollywood Brown in a theatrical homage to the Grinch. Worthy mimed throwing presents into a bag held by Brown, bringing laughter and cheer to Chiefs fans.
But what appeared to be a lighthearted moment quickly turned sour when officials flagged the duo for unsportsmanlike conduct.
The NFL’s strict stance on celebrations
On the Netflix broadcast, it was explained that Worthy‘s celebration likely crossed the line when he reached toward his hip, an action the referees interpreted as mimicking the brandishing of a weapon. While subtle, the movement triggered the NFL’s strict policy against celebrations that could be construed as violent or threatening.
Although the penalty seemed harsh to fans and commentators, the league’s stance on such actions leaves little room for interpretation. The NFL has enforced a zero-tolerance approach to anything resembling violence, especially in celebrations, which made the officials’ decision almost inevitable.
As a result of the penalty, the Chiefs were pushed back for the extra point attempt, forcing kicker Harrison Butker to line up for a 48-yard try. Butker missed the kick, costing Kansas City an early point.
