HOME / NEWS / SPORTS

'No Fun League strikes again': NFL faces backlash after lensman is suspended for reacting to Tyreek Hill's backflip celebration

The NFL has imposed a suspension on cameraman Kevin Fitzgibbons for the remainder of the season, and potentially indefinitely

MIAMI, FLORIDA: The National Football League (NFL) is facing a wave of criticism on social media, with fans dubbing it the "No Fun League."

This comes after the professional American football league reportedly penalized a lensman for his reaction to Tyreek Hill’s backflip celebration, per Daily Mail. 

NFL punishes lensman for reacting to Tyreek Hill's backflip celebration

The NFL has imposed a suspension on a cameraman for the remainder of the season, and potentially indefinitely, due to his involvement in Tyreek Hill’s widely shared touchdown celebration in Week 6.

Tyreek Hill, a wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins, marked a touchdown he scored against the Carolina Panthers by borrowing a phone from Kevin Fitzgibbons. He then recorded a selfie of himself performing a backflip, an act for which the cameraman was penalized on the day.

Fitzgibbons was serving as a league cameraman at the time of the incident.

"The NFL then let me know that I was suspended for the remainder of the season and possibly for good," the 20-year-old mentioned in a video he shared on social media.

"They said regardless if I knew the celebration was coming or not, I still had to be disciplined and that I shouldn't have jumped on the sidelines after the play," he noted.

"One of the best moments of my life turned upside down in a matter of seconds. I get why the NFL had to make this decision and wish I could've done something to prevent it, but I'm thankful for the memory Tyreek gave me," Fitzgibbons continued.

"This was the greatest job in the world and I never took a day for granted. I can't thank the NFL enough for the opportunity. Whether its back with the NFL or starting a new sport, I just hope to get another chance at doing what I love."

"Tyreek scored a touchdown in the exact same corner of the endzone that I was filming in," Fitzgibbons mentioned about the play. 

"He noticed me and surprised me by grabbing my phone and doing a backflip. It was the coolest moment ever and I ran in the tunnel to send the clip to the NFL," he added.

While many spectators anticipated that Hill would be penalized for his celebration, the NFL unexpectedly chose not to impose a fine.

Instead, the NFL announced that Fitzgibbons was facing suspension for his exuberant jumping following the celebration.

What did Tyreek Hill say about Fitzgibbons' video?

Fitzgibbons further shared that his camaraderie with Hill had grown significantly after they started working together, especially after Hill, a seven-time Pro Bowler, was traded to Miami.

After the game, when queried about the incident, Hill told reporters, "You know, I have seen the camera and I just took it from him. And he didn't want me to take it from him, so that's my boy KFitz man."

However, when asked about Fitzgibbons’ video, Hill refrained from commenting, stating, "I would comment but I could get fined," per Daily Mail. 

'NFL did him dirty'

The incident has sparked a backlash from fans and raised questions about the league’s approach to the lensman's reaction. 

"The No Fun League strikes again," said one user. 

"NFL takes the clip, makes money off it, fines the player and bans the photographer. Amazing," one user claimed. 

"Fix this @NFL. NOBODY agrees with you," stated another.

"The @NFL did this guy dirty, give him his Job back #FreeKfitz," someone else noted.

One user penned, "What an absolute joke. @NFL @nflcommish you’re an embarrassment."

"What is the good that comes from a decision like this? I’ll never understand 95% of what the NFL does in terms of punishments," noted another.

"This is just wrong on every level. @NFL fix this nonsense!" a user said.