Jets DE Will McDonald fined $14,491 by NFL for Ja Morant grenade-toss celebration
New York Jets edge rusher Will McDonald is lighter in the wallet after being fined by the NFL for celebrating a sack by pretending to throw a grenade during their Week 1 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
After McDonald sacked Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, he got up off the field and imitated throwing a grenade into the Pittsburgh backfield before turning and covering his ears.
The decision cost McDonald $14,491 for "Unsportsmanlike Conduct - Violent gesture," as announced by the NFL on Saturday.
The NFL fined #Jets edge Will McDonald $14,491 for a violent gesture" - pretending to throw a grenade after sacking Aaron Rodgers.
- Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 13, 2025
Including Jalen Carter's lost game check for spitting on Dak Prescott, the league docked players $129,678 for unsportsmanlike conduct in Week 1. pic.twitter.com/vON7q36Rv7
McDonald was one of six NFL players who received Week 1 fines for "Unsportsmanlike Conduct." The other five were taunting offenses.
After receiving a $75,000 fine for a finger-gun taunt following successful baskets, the Memphis Grizzlies star changed his celebration to that of him acting like he was pulling the pin out of a grenade and tossing it toward the crowd.
Ja Morant grenade celebration is here to stay pic.twitter.com/hpIi0vhCzk
- Hoops (@HoopMixOnly) April 11, 2025
The celebration took off and was included in the latest "NBA 2K" video game and even made its way to baseball with Ronald Acuna Jr. doing it after hitting a home run.
ACUNA HIT THE GRENADE CELLY AFTER HIS HR pic.twitter.com/fOSZTBBVyd
- B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) May 23, 2025
Morant was so touched by Acuna's celebration that he gifted the Atlanta Braves star a pair of custom Nike Ja 3-inspired cleats.
Despite criticism from pundits for the new celebration, Morant said he would continue doing it until "somebody else has a problem with it."
McDonald likely will find a new way to celebrate sacks. A second violation for this kind of offense would earn him a $20,288 fine from the NFL.