NFL Fines Ravens' Marlon Humphrey For Taunting

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Marlon Humphrey was the hero the Baltimore Ravens needed during last week's 34-17 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, taking a Russell Wilson interception back for a touchdown to give the Ravens a two-score lead in the fourth quarter and ultimately defeat their greatest rival.
That was also shockingly Humphrey's first pick six of his career, but unfortuantely, it came at a cost.
On Saturday, the NFL hit Humphrey with an $11,255 fine for unsportsmanlike conduct. The former All-Pro corner waved the ball in front of Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III as he walked into the end zone, which the league interpreted as taunting.
The NFL fined #Ravens CB Marlon Humphrey $11,255 for unsportsmanlike conduct (taunting) — holding the ball towards #Steelers WR Calvin Austin III on his pick-six last week.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 28, 2024
pic.twitter.com/nhxhjfSKkk
According to Humphrey, though, this gesture was not actually meant as a taunt.
"I want to make this pretty clear: When I was running with the football, I saw David Ojabo, a really great teammate of mine, and I was trying to pitch him the football," Humphrey told reporters after the game. "Some people brought up to me that it looked like taunting or something, but I was trying to pitch him the football, and there's no taunting there at all; I just want to make that very clear. Ojabo is a great guy. I wanted to pitch it to him. Then I got in the end zone, and it was good."
Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick received an identical $11,255 fine for a facemask on Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers, which drew a flag after the play. Fitzpatrick also received an $11,255 fine for a late hit in the first meeting of the season back in Week 11.
Here is the facemask by Minkah Fitzpatrick against the Ravens that he was fined for. #Steelers #NFL https://t.co/KMSbPfMZTH pic.twitter.com/q1wtAZiUsN
— Steelers Depot 7⃣ (@Steelersdepot) December 28, 2024
Having already played their Week 17 game, the Ravens now prepare for their regular season finale against the Cleveland Browns in Week 18.

Jon is a lead writer for Baltimore Ravens On SI and contributes to other sites around the network as well. The Tampa native previously worked with sites such as ClutchPoints and GiveMeSport and earned his journalism degree at the University of Central Florida.