The NFL will continue to stress strict enforcement of its sportsmanship-related rules by its on-field officials this season.
That means the officials will be expected to keep a close eye on players violating the league’s rules prohibiting taunting opponents, illegal celebrations and fighting, at the behest of the NFL’s competition committee.
The approach was confirmed to Front Office Sports by a source familiar with the views of the NFL and competition committee. The league also cited that stance last week when it fined the Cowboys and Saints $500,000 each for their actions during a fight-marred joint practice.
“The Competition Committee has made sportsmanship–including at joint practices–a point of emphasis over the past several years,” the NFL said in a written statement announcing the Cowboys and Saints fines. “All clubs were reminded by memo prior to training camp of their responsibility in preventing unsportsmanlike behavior at joint practices that has the potential to result in injury.”
There were 28 taunting penalties called league-wide last season. That was up from 21 such penalties in the 2024 season; 18 in 2023; and 22 in 2022, though players were warned about the taunting rules before the 2025 season started. The recent high came with 61 taunting penalties called in the 2021 season.
