NFL Hands Out Wild Card Fines; Bears' Austin Booker Hit With $46K Penalty for Helmet Use
As the dust settles from Wild Card weekend, the NFL has handed out its usual round of fines, totaling eight across the league. While the Buffalo Bills emerged from their playoff win in Jacksonville without any new financial penalties, one player from another squad is facing a hefty bill.
Chicago Bears defensive end Austin Booker was fined $46,371 for unnecessary roughness, specifically for what the league deemed improper use of the helmet. It's one of the larger fines of the postseason so far, and it underscores the NFL’s continued emphasis on player safety-particularly when it comes to helmet-related infractions.
A Season of Discipline: Bills' Fine History
While Buffalo avoided the fine sheet this week, their season hasn’t been without disciplinary hits to the wallet. A look back at the regular season reveals a string of fines for both unsportsmanlike conduct and unnecessary roughness-many of them tied to aggressive plays or gestures that crossed the league’s line.
Here’s a breakdown of the Bills' fines during the 2023 regular season:
- Week 4: Linebacker Dorian Williams was fined $7,989 for a blindside block, flagged as unnecessary roughness.
- Week 8: Joey Bosa (then with the Chargers, now a Bill) was fined $12,172 for unnecessary roughness involving striking, kicking, or tripping.
- Week 9: A flurry of fines hit the team. Josh Allen was fined $14,491 for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty involving a violent gesture.
Christian Benford was tagged $14,714 for helmet use. Elijah Moore (then with the Browns, now a Bill) also received a $13,888 fine for a similar gesture.
Ty Johnson added to the list with a $10,778 fine for a facemask penalty.
- Week 11: Johnson again found himself on the fine list, this time for an obscene gesture, costing him $10,777.
Bosa was also fined $17,389 for a low hit on a quarterback.
- Week 12: Fullback Reggie Gilliam was fined $11,111 for using his helmet during a hit.
- Week 13: A.J. Epenesa was fined $11,593 for taunting.
Wide receiver Gabe Davis was fined $6,500 for another helmet-related unnecessary roughness call.
- Week 16: Offensive lineman Dion Dawkins was docked $11,593 for a helmet-related infraction.
- Week 18: The regular season finale brought a few more. Tylan Grable was fined $5,569 for a violent gesture.
Epenesa was fined again-this time $14,491 for removing his helmet on the field. Rookie Jordan Hancock was fined $5,111 for a late hit.
A Closer Look at the NFL’s Fine System
Every Saturday during the season, the NFL releases its list of fines from the previous week’s games. For the Wild Card round, eight fines were issued across 968 total plays-a reminder that while the postseason ramps up in intensity, the league is still keeping a close eye on discipline.
Since 2011, the NFL has funneled roughly $4 million per year from player fines into charitable efforts through the Professional Athletes Foundation and the NFL Foundation. These funds go toward supporting former players, youth football initiatives, and broader community programs.
The fine process is structured and transparent. Players receive a letter detailing the infraction, including video evidence, the reason for the fine, the amount, and information on how to appeal. If a player opts not to challenge the ruling, the fine is automatically deducted from their next game check.
The Bigger Picture
Fines like Booker’s serve as a reminder that while football is a physical, high-speed game, there are limits to how that physicality can be expressed. The league continues to walk the line between preserving the sport’s intensity and protecting its players.
For the Bills, the postseason continues without any new disciplinary marks-a trend they’ll hope to maintain as the stakes get higher.