Inside The Vikings

Justin Jefferson Calls Out NFL For Sharing Arguably Insensitive Lions Fan Sign

Jefferson wasn't pleased to see the NFL's official social media account share this sign.
Will Ragatz|
Justin Jefferson Calls Out NFL For Sharing Arguably Insensitive Lions Fan Sign
Justin Jefferson Calls Out NFL For Sharing Arguably Insensitive Lions Fan Sign

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Minnesota Vikings

After a Lions touchdown in their divisional round victory over the Buccaneers on Sunday, the NBC broadcast cut to a shot of a Lions fan holding up a homemade sign. It got shared all over social media, including on the NFL's official account.

The sign references a famous portion of head coach Dan Campbell's introductory press conference three years ago.

"So this team’s going to be built on — we’re gonna kick you in the teeth, alright, and when you punch us back, we’re gonna smile at you. And when you knock us down, we’re gonna get up. And on the way up, we’re gonna bite a kneecap off, alright. And we’re gonna stand up, and then it’s gonna take two more shots to knock us down. And on the way up, we’re gonna take your other kneecap, and we’re gonna get up and then it’s gonna take three shots to get us down. And when we do, we’re gonna take another hunk out of you. Before long, we’re gonna be the last one standing. That’s gonna be the mentality.”

The issue that some fans — particularly those in Minnesota — have with the sign is how the kneecaps are listed with checkmarks next to the Vikings and Rams logos. Yes, those were the Lions' last two games before this one, but they didn't come without controversy. Safety Kerby Joseph caused season-ending ACL injuries to Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson and Rams tight end Tyler Higbee with direct hard hits to their knees. Whether by design or by coincidence, the sign almost reads as a celebration of those injuries.

Even though the hits were technically legal, opposing players and fans alike were not pleased. That includes Vikings superstar receiver Justin Jefferson, who called out the NFL on X/Twitter for posting the sign.

The Lions will play the 49ers next Sunday in the NFC Championship game.

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Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI, who also covers the Twins, Timberwolves, Gophers, and other Minnesota teams. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.

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