Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins revealed that he was fined by the NFL for tossing a football into the stands to a fan following his touchdown during Week 12 against the Tennessee Titans.
Collins’ touchdown in the second quarter reduced the Titans’ lead to 17-13 in a game the Titans eventually won 32-27. He finished the game with nine receptions for 92 yards and a touchdown.
Collins explained that he noticed a young fan in the stands and threw him the ball before joining the crowd to celebrate. Though he didn’t specify the exact amount, Collins mentioned the fine was approximately $5,000 for something he had done before.
(The NFL’s player fine chart categorizes “Football Into Stands” as a “Sportsmanship” violation, which carries a fine of $7,878.)
HE'S BACKKKKK ‼️ pic.twitter.com/9xJooqCCem
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) November 24, 2024
“It’s for the kids,” Collins said to reporters on Thursday. “I seen he was screaming and was thinking, ‘Here you go, big dog. Here’s the ball. … I guess they think you’re going to poke somebody in the eye or something.”
Collins, who called the decision “definitely worth it,” added that he plans to appeal the fine.
“The only thing that matters was making that kid happy,” Collins stated. “He ain’t never going to forget that moment. So that’s all that matters to me. It’s cool. I’ll pay the fine.”
