NFL fined Kansas City Chiefs RB Kenneth Walker III after his second touchdown, but he says it was all worth it for one specific reason
Kansas City Chiefs RB Kenneth Walker III revealed that the NFL fined him after a play in Week 1 vs. the Denver Broncos. But he says the fine is worth it because of the joy it caused a fan.
Kansas City Chiefs RB Kenneth Walker III made many fans in Chiefs Kingdom happy in his debut on “Monday Night Football” against the Denver Broncos. He gave one fan in particular a memory that he will never forget, and at the expense of Walker’s own bank account.
After scoring his second touchdown on a creative single-wing play dubbed “Heisman,” Walker tossed the football into the stands in celebration. He took to his TikTok page to reveal that the NFL fined him for the move, but it was worth it for a very specific reason.
The caption for the video?
“Shout out to unc,” followed by a cry-laughing emoji.
“After I scored the other night, I threw the ball into the crowd. It cost me an $8K fine… but this man’s memory is priceless.”
Walker signed a 3-year, $43.05 million contract with Kansas City this offseason, so the fine is a drop in the bucket. As Walker says, the fine amount is worth it to see the joy it brought to the Chiefs fan who caught the ball. He gave that man a memory that will last him a lifetime, both with his performance on the field and his decision to launch the ball into the stands after the play.
Walker’s incredible performance against the Broncos already earned him AFC Offensive Player of the Week Honors. It feels like it’s just the beginning of all the good things in store for him in Kansas City.
Why did the NFL fine Chiefs RB Kenneth Walker III in the first place?
According to the NFL’s fines and accountability page, throwing the ball into the stands is a violation of the league’s Sportsmanship policy and carries a fine. First-time offenders are fined $8,357, and second-time (or more) offenders are fined $14,328. This is the lowest-level Sportsmanship fine, with penalties for Taunting and Unsportsmanlike Conduct carrying a heavier fine.
While the rules are the rules, this is the perfect example of why fans jokingly dub the NFL as the “No Fun League.” This innocuous act hurt nobody, but it still cost Walker money. It certainly shouldn’t be lumped in with Taunting or Unsportsmanlike Conduct.
