Stefon Diggs’ $12,154 mistake comes back nearly nine years later as Commanders WR risks another NFL fine for goalpost celebration(Getty Images)
Stefon Diggs caught a 10-yard touchdown from Jayden Daniels in the fourth quarter of Washington’s season opener at Lincoln Financial Field. The score cut Philadelphia’s lead to 17-15 and gave Diggs a big moment in his first regular-season game with the Commanders. The league strengthened its stance after New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham famously dunked over the crossbar in 2013 and knocked the goalpost out of alignment, causing a lengthy game delay. That rule had already caught Diggs in 2017. On November 12, 2017, while playing for the Minnesota Vikings, he scored against Washington and celebrated by hugging the goalpost. The NFL fined him $12,154 five days later for excessive celebration. The 15-yard penalty pushed them back, forcing Washington to kick the extra point instead. The kick went through, making the score 17-16.
The NFL does not allow players to use objects as props during touchdown celebrations, and the goalpost falls under that rule. So, nearly nine years later, Diggs has managed to bring back the same celebration and potentially another league fine with it. The penalty did more than put Diggs’ celebration back in the spotlight. It also changed Washington’s situation following his touchdown. The Commanders had hoped to attempt a two-point conversion to tie the game.
13, 2026. Diggs ran to the goalpost, jumped up and hugged it, and quickly found himself with a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against the Philadelphia Eagles. Almost nine years ago, the same celebration cost him $12,154.
Stefon Diggs finally got his first touchdown as a Washington Commanders player on Sept. Then came a celebration that looked very familiar. The strange part? Diggs has been here before. Now, after repeating it in Washington, the veteran receiver could face another fine from the NFL.