Officials flag Packers S Xavier McKinney for controversial taunting penalty

The NFL had made it a point to warn teams that taunting was going to be more heavily policed during the 2025 season. The league wants to eradicate some of the things that can paint the league in a negative light.

“There’s no place in the game to be standing over your opponent,” league executive Troy Vincent said in a video that was sent to teams. “There’s no place in the game to have violent gestures. That’s not the game of football. We just have to play by the rules, respect your opponent, respect your teammates and play the game in between the whistles.”

Other areas the NFL was attempting to crack down on taunting was on celebrations. A few things were ruled untoward this season.

“Unsportsmanlike gestures like simulating or either shooting a gun or brandishing a gun, or inappropriate gestures like a throat slash, or unfortunate sexual gestures, those were up 133% so that is a point of emphasis,” NFL officiating rules analyst Walt Anderson said this offseason. “The officials have made it a point of emphasis to the clubs. It’s just one of those areas that the league wants to work actively on. There are plenty of ways for players to be able to celebrate, and they come up with some very unique and often entertaining ways so we want them to focus on those and not the inappropriate areas.”

Of course, McKinney will likely disagree with the call. But now he and others will know to be a little more judicious going forward.