When it comes to touchdown celebrations, Tyreek Hill’s creativity knows no bounds. The Miami Dolphins wide receiver is a monster on the field and a genius when he puts one foot in the end zone with the ball.
Hill showed a new lease of life on Sunday against the Carolina Panthers. After throwing in a 22-yard touchdown pass, he immediately approached someone in the back of the end zone who was recording the TD on his phone. Hill took the phone and did a complete backflip, then handed the phone back and celebrated with his teammates.
Tyreek Hill celebrated a touchdown on Sunday by taking a backflip selfie video. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) (Rich Storry via Getty Images)
But the NFL doesn’t like its players having too much fun. As a result, Hill was cited for taunting for using a prop during his celebration. Hill was also cited for taunting in the Week 5 win over the New York Giants when he flashed a peace sign while running into the end zone and was fined $10,927. Since Hill was fined for a peace sign last week, it’s almost a guarantee that the NFL will penalize him for the cell phone backflip this week.
So who was this lucky guy whose phone was confiscated by Hill? It appears to be one of the people behind the X, formerly NFL UK Twitter account. That account tweeted the point-of-view video shortly after it happened, but it was deleted less than 10 minutes later (possibly because Hill is facing a fine for using a prop in his celebration). But a clever X user managed to grab the video before it was removed.
It’s incredibly fun, but as we all know, the NFL hates fun. Fines have increased in recent weeks, reinforcing that players should play the game with the somber demeanor of someone attending a funeral. Touchdowns should be celebrated with polite applause or perhaps a low-key high five or two. Players who work their whole lives to be where they are and do what they do? They should swallow all the love, pride and excitement until they are alone in their bedroom so they can let it all out in a pillow.
And if they knew the NFL, they would find a way to punish a player for doing just that.