Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba finally talked about the NFL fining him over $14,000 for his dunk celebration against the Houston Texans on Monday Night Football.
“I was like yeah I’m gonna get fined,” he admitted, smiling, to a room full of reporters on October 30. When asked if it was worth the fine, he smiled and weighed it: “Yes and no, money well spent.”
The NFL fined JSN $14,491 “unsportsmanlike conduct (use of prop)” after he dunked the football over the crossbar to celebrate his Monday night touchdown. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported the discipline on X.
The dunk came during Seattle’s Monday Night Football win, and video from the team shows the crossbar slam moments after JSN’s 11-yard score. In the game, Smith-Njigba finished with eight receptions (14 targets) for 123 yards and the fine-inducing touchdown. It was his third consecutive 100 yard game, which also helped him make Seahawks history.
“I Dreamed It”: Jaxon Smith-Njigba Explains Why He Dunked
GettySeattle Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba discusses his crossbar dunk, calling it “spur of the moment
Smith-Njigba said the decision “was spur of the moment.”
“I felt I had a dream a couple days ago that I was doing pull-ups on the crossbar,” he said, adding that maybe that’s what prompted the celebration.
While it could have been a dream prompting the celebration, it’s certainly been a dream for Seahawks fans to watch JSN play this season. The third-year receiver is off to a blistering start. In seven games, he has an NFL-leading 819 yards (117 per game) and four touchdowns. His current output puts him on pace to rack up nearly 2,000 yards this season.
After making a Pro Bowl a season ago, the 23-year-old will be a must-watch player every game as the Seahawks (5-2) continue building a playoff resume, with an NFC West title squarely in their sights.
Why Did Jaxon Smith-Njigba Get Fined?
GettyThe NFL has outlawed the use of props to celebrate in games.
The celebration also touched a long-running league point of emphasis. Using the goalpost or crossbar as a prop has been banned for years, in part because past dunks briefly knocked posts out of alignment and delayed games. Under the NFL’s fine schedule, first-offense unsportsmanlike conduct penalties tied to “use of a prop” typically fall in the low- to mid-five figures, which is why Smith-Njigba landed at $14,491. Players can appeal fines through the NFLPA and an independent arbitrator, but most discipline stands unless there’s a clear error. Either way, fine money does not go to the league; it’s directed to the NFL Foundation to support youth football and other charitable programs.
What Comes Next
GettyJaxon Smith-Njigba enters Week 9 leading the NFL in receiving yards as Seattle visits the Washington Commanders on Sunday Night Football.
Smith-Njigba’s performance has put him squarely in the national spotlight, and reactions to the fine ranged from “No Fun League” gripes to reminders that the rule has been on the books for years. But JSN’s own assessment — that he expected the bill — suggests the celebration was worth it to him, even if he ended up paying for it.
JSN will be back in the national spotlight on November 2, as the Seahawks face off against the Washington Commanders on Sunday Night Football in Week 9. JSN and the Seahawks will be well-rested after their bye week in Week 8. The Seahawks, at the time of publishing, are -2.5 point favorites according to ESPN BET.
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