The NFL has fined Denver Broncos outside linebacker Nik Bonitto $11,593 for unnecessary roughness after he pulled a Washington Commanders player off a pile during Sunday nightâs 27-26 overtime win. The fine, listed as âpulling player off pile,â comes days after the controversial flag that briefly swung momentum toward Washington.
NFL Fines Broncos Star for âPulling Player off Pileâ
Bonittoâs fine stems from a second-quarter play in which he tried to yank Commanders center Tyler Biadasz away as Biadasz and Broncos defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers were tangled on the turf near the goal line. Officials immediately hit Bonitto with an unnecessary roughness penalty, moving the ball half the distance to the goal, and Washington scored on the next snap.
The leagueâs weekly accountability report later tagged Bonitto with an $11,593 fine for that hit, specifically labeling the infraction as âpulling player off pile,â the same wording that has been used for similar violations around the league. Recent accountability lists show that unnecessary roughness and unsportsmanlike conduct fines typically fall in the midâfour- to lowâfive-figure range, putting Bonittoâs penalty squarely in line with other first-offense hits.
The play had already become a talking point around Denver, with local analysts arguing that Bonitto was simply trying to protect his teammate and that Commanders tackle Laremy Tunsil should have been penalized for shoving Bonitto after the whistle.
What the Nik Bonitto Fine Means for the Broncos
The fine hits Bonittoâs wallet, not the Broncosâ lineup. Thereâs no suspension attached, and Denverâs Pro Bowl edge rusher is still on track to play as the team chases the AFCâs top seed. Bonitto, a 2024 Pro Bowler and Second-Team All-Pro, signed a four-year, $106 million extension before this season, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in franchise history.
On the field, Bonitto remains one of the Broncosâ most important players. He generated heavy pressure throughout the Week 13 matchup and ultimately sealed Denverâs ninth straight win by batting down Marcus Mariotaâs two-point conversion attempt in overtime. The 27-26 victory pushed Denver to 10-2 and kept Sean Paytonâs team tied for the AFCâs best record.
Still, the latest fine underscores an ongoing issue for Denver. The Broncos came into the Commanders game as one of the NFLâs most penalized teams, according to NFLPenalties.com. Itâs a trend that has frustrated coaches even as the wins have piled up. Bonittoâs flag not only cost the Broncos yardage and a touchdown in the moment, it now adds a tangible price tag to the discipline problems Payton has been trying to clean up.
Bonittoâs Recent History With NFL Discipline & Whatâs Next
This isnât the first time Bonitto has heard from the league office. In 2024, he drew an $8,791 fine for roughing the passer after a hit on Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith in the season opener. Later that same year, he was fined again â $8,791 for unsportsmanlike conduct after an obscene-gesture penalty â as part of a Week 15 âfine dayâ list that also included multiple Broncos teammates.
Taken together, Bonitto has now been flagged and fined multiple times over the last two seasons for hits or conduct deemed over the line, even as heâs emerged as one of the leagueâs premier pass rushers. The Broncos will count on his edge and energy, but they also need him available â and out of the leagueâs crosshairs â as they push toward January.
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