NFL and NFLPA Amend Celebration Rules, Allow Drinking Gestures
The NFL and NFLPA announced that player celebrations simulating drinking a beverage will no longer be penalized. They also clarified which types of celebrations remain prohibited.
Nick Wagoner Oct 7, 2026, 05:05 PM ET Close Nick Wagoner is an NFL reporter at ESPN. Nick has covered the San Francisco 49ers since 2016, having previously covered the St. Louis Rams for 12 years, including three years (2013 to 2015) at ESPN. In over a decade with the company, Nick has led ESPN's coverage of the Niners' 2019 and 2023 Super Bowl run, Colin Kaepernick's protest, the Rams making Michael Sam the first openly gay player drafted to the NFL, Sam's subsequent pursuit of a roster spot and the team's relocation and stadium saga. Follow on X
_Originally reported by [ESPN](https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/50127635/nfl-union-clarify-celebration-rules-ok-drinking-gestures)._
Comments
Loading comments…