Neither finger guns nor nose-wiping: prohibited NFL celebrations that result in a 15-yard penalty
The NFL has cracked down on their celebrations rules in recent years. Here are the gestures that will result in what could be a game-defining penalty.
As the NFL marches toward Super Bowl LX, the league’s approach to player celebrations continues to be a talking point. What was once loose and player-driven has increasingly been codified in the rulebook, with referees ready to throw flags for displays deemed unsportsmanlike, violent, or offensive. Here’s a closer look at the celebrations that draw a 15-yard penalty, and why.
The evolution of celebration rules
For decades, the NFL has balanced encouraging personality and excitement with maintaining sportsmanship and respect. Touchdowns and big plays have long inspired elaborate dances and gestures, from choreographed group celebrations in the ‘80s to end zone dances of today. But certain actions still cross the line. Officially categorized as unsportsmanlike conduct under Rule 12, Section 3 of the NFL rulebook, some celebrations incur a 15-yard penalty because they violate the league’s standards on sportsmanship and on-field behavior.
The league’s guidelines specifically highlight acts that are violent gestures, taunting, or sexually suggestive or offensive, all of which officials can penalize, regardless of intent.
NFL banned gestures and examples
Simulating firing or brandishing a gun
One of the most common 15-yard flags in recent memory has come for players pointing their fingers like guns. Though the gesture might be intended playfully or as a confidence boost, the NFL views any imitation of weapon use as a violent gesture, consistent with a longstanding emphasis on avoiding imagery of violence on the field.
Throat slash gestures
Another widely prohibited celebration is the throat slash motion, once seen from players in the heat of the moment, is an immediate unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. The league has stressed that such gestures can be interpreted as violent and intimidating, inconsistent with the ideals of competitive respect.
The “nose wipe”
One of the most talked-about changes in recent seasons is the banning of the so-called “nose wipe” celebration. Popularized by Dallas Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb, the gesture involved wiping or sliding a hand under the nose after a big play. In 2025 the NFL classified this move as a “violent gesture” and added it explicitly to the list of prohibited acts that draw a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct flag.
League officials, including EVP of Football Operations Troy Vincent, cited concerns about violent and gang-related connotations associated with the gesture as part of the motivation for the ban.
Sexually suggestive or offensive acts
Celebrations that veer into explicit or suggestive territory, including pelvic thrusts or other gestures referenced by officials as inappropriate, can also be flagged. Recent examples include fines and penalties for such acts when they occur in the end zone, with the league trying to set limits on displays it deems beyond the bounds of acceptable celebration.
Why the league put these rules in place
The NFL says these rules are designed to promote sportsmanship and respect among players and fans. Officials have emphasized that players still have plenty of room for fun, but not at the expense of creating hostile or offensive imagery on the field. As NFL officiating rules analyst Walt Anderson explained, even though celebrations are part of the entertainment, violent gestures and actions that could be interpreted as taunting are to be avoided.
A 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty can swing momentum in a game, especially as teams prepare for big postseason games and the Super Bowl. It’s enforced from the succeeding spot, meaning it can affect kickoff positioning, extra points, or even critical third downs.
With the spotlight on players like Josh Downs, CeeDee Lamb, or emerging stars who might otherwise react instinctively after a big play, coaches are now reminding their rosters of the new emphasis on clean celebrations and the tangible cost of crossing the line.
Not all celebrations are penalized. Many choreographed dances, team huddles, and expressive moves that don’t simulate weapons, sexual acts, or violent taunts are still permitted. The “Griddy” dance, for example, remains a fan favorite that keeps players out of trouble, as long as it doesn’t become excessive or directed at opponents.
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