Dan Campbell criticizes NFL for hypocritical fine on Jameson Williams

During a press conference on Monday, Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell seemed to call out the NFL for its hypocritical actions following a fine to Jameson Williams.

Toward the end of the press conference, Campbell was asked about a celebration during Week 12’s win over the Indianapolis Colts. After a touchdown, running back Jahmyr Gibbs paid tribute to NBA legend Allen Iverson. Gibbs, playing the role of Iverson, pantomimed Allen Iverson’s crossover and jumper in Game 1 of the 2001 NBA Finals before stepping over teammate Amon-Ra St. Brown, playing the role of Tyronn Lue.

During the conversation (which begins at the 9:50 mark of the video below), the reporter mentioned “The league lets it happen,” which Campbell quickly responded to.

“Depends on what that is,” Campbell said. “Whether the league lets it happen, right? They’ll use whatever they need to. The content.”

This is almost certainly a reference to a fine Detroit receiver Jameson Williams received for a celebration during Week 11’s win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

On Saturday, Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network reported that the league fined Williams for a gesture he made while going into the end zone. For those who haven’t seen it, Williams, while grabbing his crotch, turned around and leaped backward into the end zone — a celebration made famous by Marshawn Lynch.

As Campbell noted, while the NFL was willing to fine Williams nearly $20,000 for the gesture, the league had no issue using Jameson’s celebration as the thumbnail for the game’s official highlight reel, posted on the NFL YouTube page.

Regardless of what one might feel about Williams’ celebration or even if he should have been fined for it, that is a confusing message being sent by the league.

[Detroit Lions/NFL on YouTube, Tom Pelissero/The Coachspeak Index on X]