Kansas City Chiefs rookie Xavier Worthy strutting his stuff at Acrisure Stadium, delivering a festive touchdown celebration that screams “holiday cheer.” But wait—before anyone could say “Merry Christmas,” the refs pulled out a flag faster than Santa slid down a chimney. Yep, the Grinch vibes were strong, and not in a good way. Here’s what went down.
A Festive Start Turns Sour
The game started with the Chiefs’ defense doing their thing, shutting down the Steelers’ opening drive. Patrick Mahomes got his squad in prime scoring position, and Xavier Worthy seized the moment. Running out of the backfield, the rookie caught a quick pass in the flat, turned on the afterburners, and zipped into the end zone. Touchdown!
But the show really started after the score. Worthy and teammate Hollywood Brown brought out a Christmas-themed celebration. Worthy mimed tossing presents into Brown’s imaginary bag—a cute nod to the Grinch stealing Christmas. Fans loved it, but the officials? Not so much. Out came the flag for unsportsmanlike conduct, and suddenly, the holiday spirit took a nosedive.
Why the Flag? Here’s the Deal
Here’s where things get fuzzy. The NFL broadcast explained that the issue wasn’t the Grinchy gift-stealing act itself but what came afterward. As Worthy and Brown walked away, the rookie appeared to lift his jersey or gesture in a way that officials interpreted as mimicking a weapon.
The NFL is stern and has a zero-tolerance policy for anything that smacks of violence or carrying weapons in celebrations. However, it was an accident, and the referees took no chances. The slightest hint of it in his move was enough to send Worthy into trouble.
And the consequences? Harrison Butker had to kick a 48-yard extra point because of the penalty. Spoiler alert: He missed. That one point could have meant all the difference in what was supposed to be a close game.
Lessons for the Rookie
Although this is a flagged celebration, Worthy continues to put himself out there as the future star in Kansas City. But in a league where every point matters and this was a close game, players must be extremely careful not to draw any unnecessary penalties.
While the Chiefs continue to focus on playoff positioning, Worthy’s Christmas celebration reminds the NFL that even the lightest moments can be under scrutiny in today’s NFL.
For now, though, the Chiefs—and their fans—will hope that Worthy continues to bring that dynamic energy to the field, just with a little more caution in the celebration department.
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