Refs unamused by Lions WR’s hip-thrusting TD celebration

Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) celebrates a touchdown against Kansas City Chiefs during the first half at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK

Refs unamused by Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown's hip-thrusting TD celebration

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 9/14/23

Detroit Lions star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown knew there was a chance his go-to touchdown celebration would not go over well with the referee crew in Week 1’s 21-20 win over the Kansas City Chiefs.

That didn’t stop him from busting it out anyway.

During a recent episode of “The St. Brown Brothers Podcast,” the Pro Bowler stated that the refs warned Lions head coach Dan Campbell that the 23-year-old wideout was one hip thrust away from drawing a flag during his celebration after he scored the first touchdown of the NFL season.

Amon-Ra St. Brown’s TD celebration last night
pic.twitter.com/G735tsrVIS
— NFL Retweet (@NFLRT) September 8, 2023

"I hit it, boom, no flag,” St. Brown said. “I get to the sideline, sit down, celebrate. And then my receiver coach (Antwaan Randle El) is like, ‘Hey St., one more time and they said were going to throw the flag.’ I'm like, ‘Hey, it's done now, I got it off. Ain't no more pumps.’ Apparently, the ref told our head coach that if he does one more pump, then we'll throw the flag.”

St. Brown knew there was a chance the suggestible celebration would bring him some heat and possibly draw a fine. Rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs encouraged St. Brown to use the celebration anyway, stating he would pay the fine if the league decided to reprimand him for it.

Fortunately for St. Brown, there was no flag and no fine — though he admitted the fear of potentially being disciplined for having a little fun was in the back of his mind well after the game.

“If you look at my hands, I’m not really pumping,” St. Brown added. “It was more hands…I replayed it like 50 times, like am I going to get fined?”

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