Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Darnell Washington was drafted in the third round (93rd overall pick) of the 2023 NFL Draft. During the game in Paris, he scored a crucial 4-yard touchdown on a reception, which helped improve the Steelers’ season record to 5-2.
Game officials did not throw a penalty flag on the field at the time. The league office later reviewed the video and fined him for his celebration.
NFL fines Darnell Washington for his celebration in Paris
The touchdown capped a six-play, 77-yard drive that lasted 3:32. Rodgers first sent a 51-yard pass to DK Metcalf to reach the Saints’ 4. On second-and-goal with 6:45 left in the second quarter, he threw a back-shoulder pass that Washington secured against the Saints’ defender.
“The NFL fined Steelers TE Darnell Washington $14,926 for unsportsmanlike conduct (illegal celebrations and vulgar acts) – showing off the size of his footballs after a touchdown last week in Paris,” NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero reported. Both Darnell Washington and the Steelers organization have remained silent, without immediately releasing an official statement regarding the fine.
The fine concerns the post-score conduct. The score stands, and Pittsburgh’s 16-10 win remains unchanged. The game log records Washington’s catch as a four-yard touchdown that put the Steelers ahead 10-3 in the second quarter. Pittsburgh’s passing game has also faced questions about the Rodgers-Metcalf connection, leaving Washington as another target near the goal line.
The Week 8 matchup against Cleveland is next, with both teams entering at 5-2 and the winner positioned to lead the AFC North. Washington has 16 receptions for 160 yards and three touchdowns on 23 targets through seven games.
His three receiving touchdowns this season already exceed his career total of two entering 2026. Washington entered 2026 with 57 catches for 625 yards and two touchdowns. His current totals put his career line at 73 receptions, 785 yards, and five scores. That gives him a 69.6% catch rate and 10.0 yards per reception. His longest catch remains 47 yards, recorded in Week 3 against Cincinnati.
The Steelers use the 6-foot-7 tight end as both a pass catcher and a blocker. He helps create running lanes for Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle, then gives Rodgers a reliable pass-catching option inside the red zone. Against New Orleans, his only catch was a four-yard touchdown.
With the historic Paris victory now in the rearview mirror, the Steelers shift their focus to the crucial Week 8 matchup against the Cleveland Browns. With both teams sitting at 5-2, the stakes are incredibly high, as the winner will claim the top spot in the AFC North. As Pittsburgh prepares for this division battle, Darnell Washington’s dual threat as a dominant blocker and a reliable red-zone target for Rodgers will be vital in sustaining the Steelers’ winning momentum.
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