There was one lone fine handed out following Championship Sunday in the NFL, which makes sense considering only two games were played.
The player that received the disciplinary action is Seattle Seahawks defensive back Riq Woolen, who was fined $17,398 Saturday for a taunting penalty during the NFC championship against the Los Angeles Rams. This is the third fine of the season for Woolen.
Although the Seahawks won, Woolen’s penalty came at a critical time in the game late in the third quarter.
Woolen was caught sending not-so-kind words to the Patriots sideline. The penalty gave the Rams an automatic first down and LA capitalized just a play later, taking advantage of a frazzled Woolen, who allowed Puka Nacua to get behind him to score a touchdown.
In a moment you’d think the 26-year-old would take accountability, he instead lashed out at his teammates on the sideline after the play. The moment was shared on the broadcast and narrated by Tom Brady, which quickly spread online where Woolen received his fair share of public scrutiny.
An exchange between Seahawks players on the sideline after the taunting penalty on 4th down led to a Rams TD. pic.twitter.com/cc9oSvSAU2
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) January 26, 2026
But Woolen took ownership after the game, posting messages to social media.
“No more taunting penalties,” he wrote in a post with a GIF attached that states, “I’m sorry. Do you still love me?”
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He praised his teammates for building something special in Seattle in another post after a user accused him of being “pressed.”
“Wasn’t getting pressed,” Woolen wrote. “We brothers and we all chasing greatness we on the same mission.”
The incident made the final score closer in the end, but Seattle held on to advance to Super Bowl 60 on Feb. 8 against the New England Patriots.
