Falcons wide receiver Drake London faced a penalty after catching a touchdown pass in the final minute of Atlanta’s 22-21 victory over Philadelphia on Monday night. His infraction stemmed from pretending to shoot in the air, a clear violation of a longstanding NFL rule that prohibits violent gestures.
London, immediately aware of his mistake, apologized on the sideline according to Falcons coach Raheem Morris, and later issued a public apology on Wednesday. “There’s a lot of stuff going around in the world with gun violence that I don’t think I should have displayed there,” London expressed to reporters. “So, I’m not too happy with it, and (you) probably won’t see that again from me.”
The NFL, known for its strict celebration rules, reminds players annually that rule violations will trigger unsportsmanlike penalties. London’s 7-yard touchdown pass from Kirk Cousins tied the game at 21-21, but his penalty forced the extra point attempt back 15 yards. Despite the setback, Younghoe Koo successfully made the 48-yard kick, giving Atlanta a crucial lead. On the ensuing drive, Jessie Bates intercepted a pass from Jalen Hurts to secure the Falcons’ win.
In response to the incident, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy released a statement. “We approach player celebrations as expressions of exuberance that are part of the excitement of the game. Rules were modified in 2017 to permit group celebrations, including choreographed demonstrations. Offensive demonstrations, prolonged celebrations that delay the game, and those directed at an opponent are still penalized. Players are reminded annually, and it’s part of the player manual that demonstrations constituting taunting, unsportsmanlike conduct, or delaying the game, will result in a foul against the team. Also prohibited acts include throat slash, machine gun salute, sexually suggestive gestures, or demonstrations on a team logo,” McCarthy explained.
London’s controversial celebration occurred just 12 days after a tragic shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, that resulted in four deaths. The Falcons had hosted the school’s football team at their practice facility last week, making London’s gesture particularly poignant.
