Steelers tight end Darnell Washington fined $14,926 for Paris touchdown celebration
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The gist
The NFL fined Steelers tight end Darnell Washington $14,926 for unsportsmanlike conduct over his Paris touchdown celebration.
Washington has three scores in four games, past his two in the prior 53.
Background
Darnell Washington is a fourth-year tight end for the Pittsburgh Steelers, who beat the New Orleans Saints 16-10 in Paris to move to 5-2. He scored the team's only touchdown in that game on a pass from quarterback Aaron Rodgers, then drew a league fine for how he celebrated it. The fine lands as Washington takes on a bigger role in the offense: his three touchdown catches over the past four games already exceed the two he had across his first 53 career games.
How it unfolded
- Oct 18, 2026Washington scored a touchdown for the Steelers against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a pass from Aaron Rodgers at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.
- Oct 25, 2026Washington caught his lone target for a four-yard touchdown in the Steelers' 16-10 win over the Saints in Saint-Denis, outside Paris, giving Pittsburgh a 10-3 second-quarter lead.
- Oct 26, 2026Reports noted Washington had a touchdown in back-to-back weeks and three of his last four outings, with 16 catches for 160 yards and three scores on 23 targets for the season.
- Oct 29, 2026TribLIVE reported his three touchdown receptions over four games surpassed his two scores in the prior 53 career games, putting him on pace for career highs in catches, yards and touchdowns.
- Oct 31, 2026The NFL fined Washington $14,926 for unsportsmanlike conduct (illegal celebrations and vulgar acts) over his Paris touchdown celebration; the league also fined wide receiver Brandon Smith $4,916 for use of the helmet.
- Nov 1, 2026The Steelers entered Week 8 seeking revenge against a Cleveland Browns team that handed them one of their two defeats this season.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- The NFL fined Washington $14,926 for unsportsmanlike conduct, citing "illegal celebrations and vulgar acts" on the Paris touchdown.
- Analysts
- FantasyPros' Derek Brown called Washington "a viable streaming option this week" against a Browns pass defense with the NFL's highest single-high rate (75.2%).
- Public
- NFL reporter Tom Pelissero said Washington showed off the "size of his footballs" after scoring against New Orleans.
- Support
- Washington said finishing a drive with a touchdown is "always good, no matter who scores," and that scoring one himself "feels amazing."