For years, the NFL used to be the worst when it came to celebrations. Anything choreographed or too over-the-top would result in excessive celebration penalties. The league loosened those rules a few years ago, but the No Fun League still goes strong whenever a phone is involved.
During Sunday’s Week 6 game between the Panthers and Dolphins, Tyreek Hill hauled in a 41-yard touchdown reception and ran straight towards someone working behind the end zone. Hill took that person’s phone and did a backflip on video.
Obviously, this entire celebration was planned because the person had the video setting ready to go for the Dolphins receiver.
I need the Dolphins/NFL social video of Tyreek Hill doing a flip with the phone pic.twitter.com/hXNkkV9SbB
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) October 15, 2023
But nobody hates props — and phones! Think of Joe Horn — more than the NFL apparently. Hill was penalized for the celebration because he used an outside prop. After the game, he said he expected to get fined.
Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill on his backfield selfie celebration: “I know the NFL is going to fine me for it. It’s worth it though… Every time I step on the field, I want to make it memorable.” pic.twitter.com/UeyPQ6xqfC
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) October 15, 2023
And we know it was premeditated because NFL UK was quick to post the video on Twitter/X and then delete it. It came out like this:
The NFL deleted the Tyreek Hill POV video, here it is again
pic.twitter.com/8q0vIqiDGwhttps://t.co/co6c81d4nb
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 15, 2023
Fans also had thoughts on the celebration and penalty.