The NFL’s crackdown on on-field behavior was in full effect last week, and the Pittsburgh Steelers are feeling the financial sting. Wide receiver DK Metcalf headlines a group of Steelers players hit with fines following their matchup against the Buffalo Bills - and his penalty is raising eyebrows across the league.
Metcalf was fined $14,491 by the league for what was officially labeled a “violent gesture.” The moment in question?
After Jaylen Warren punched in a 1-yard touchdown, Metcalf turned to Bills cornerback Christian Benford and hit him with the now-iconic “too small” celebration - the one where a player holds their hand low to the ground to suggest their opponent doesn’t measure up. It’s a move that’s become a staple in NBA trash talk, and it’s made its way to the gridiron.
Now, let’s be clear - Metcalf didn’t lay a finger on Benford during the celebration. But the NFL deemed the gesture unsportsmanlike enough to warrant a hefty fine.
It’s a fascinating contrast when you consider what happened just one play earlier: Metcalf drove Benford into the turf with a physical block and finished by landing on top of him. That, apparently, was within the rules.
But the hand gesture? That crossed the line.
This wasn’t just a one-off moment of jawing between two competitors. There was clear tension between Metcalf and Benford throughout the sequence, with the physicality ramping up play by play. Still, the league’s interpretation of “violence” in this case - a symbolic gesture with no contact - is bound to spark debate about consistency in enforcement.
Metcalf’s fine was the largest of the day, but he wasn’t the only Steeler to get dinged.
Veteran defensive tackle Cam Heyward was fined $11,593 for taunting Bills quarterback Josh Allen following a Buffalo touchdown. The specifics of the taunt weren’t detailed, but it was enough to draw the league’s attention - and a fine that’s anything but pocket change.
Rookie linebacker Payton Wilson took the rare double hit. He was fined twice for unnecessary roughness, totaling $14,132.
One came for a late hit after the whistle, the other for a blindside block - both during kickoff returns. It’s a reminder that special teams, while often overlooked, are hotbeds for high-impact plays and, sometimes, costly penalties.
For Metcalf, this isn’t his first run-in with the league’s fine system. Back in Week 8, he was fined $12,172 for putting his fingers inside the facemask of Packers linebacker Quay Walker - a move that clearly crossed the line into physical misconduct.
The NFL has made it clear this season that it's watching closely - not just for hits and late contact, but for gestures, words, and anything that might escalate tensions or reflect poorly on the league’s image. Whether fans agree with the league’s definition of “violent gesture” or not, the message is unmistakable: even the smallest actions can come with big consequences.
And for the Steelers, Sunday’s game didn’t just come with bruises - it came with a bill.