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Jared Verse fined by NFL for his celebration

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated Jan 4, 2026 10:34 PM ET

Los Angeles Rams linebacker Jared Verse will be lighter in the wallet for a fairly silly reason.

Verse was fined $11,593 on Saturday for unsportsmanlike conduct over his celebration as he returned a blocked field goal for a touchdown Monday against the Atlanta Falcons. Verse’s crime was quickly flashing a peace sign in the direction of the Atlanta bench as he sprinted down the field.

The NFL fined Rams LB Jared Verse $11,593 for unsportsmanlike conduct (taunting) — flashing the peace sign at Atlanta’s bench on his blocked punt return TD Monday night.

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— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 3, 2026

Verse’s celebration was subtle enough that he was not penalized on the play, and the fine is the first discipline he faced for it.

The NFL has made taunting a major point of emphasis, though many fans would argue that this is not the sort of thing that needs to be punished. The crackdown has even led to some phantom taunting flags as referees think they see things that did not even happen. In this instance, they missed something that did.

Verse is not one to back down or go quietly when taking on an opponent. He will pay the fine, but it might not serve as much of a deterrent in the future.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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