Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb will have to find a new trademark celebration after the NFL suggested his current one will lead to flags.
The NFL sent a memo to teams this week announcing a new emphasis on sportsmanship for the 2025 season. That included a list of banned celebrations, including the “nose wipe” gesture that Lamb has frequently used.
CeeDee Lamb’s nose wipe celebration is now a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty as it’s been deemed a violent gesture by the NFL #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/X0OlYMBpYy
— Kevin Gray Jr. (@KevinGraySports) March 26, 2025
CeeDee Lamb without a helmet
Jan 14, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) before the 2024 NFC wild card game against the Green Bay Packers at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
The celebration has been deemed a “violent gesture” due to its association with gang culture.
Lamb took note of the move, and while he did not seem thrilled with it, he suggested he has many more celebrations up his sleeve, writing on X that he has “plenty in mind.”
smh, i have plenty in mind😒. https://t.co/rn0OliWbb4
— CeeDee Lamb (@_CeeDeeThree) March 26, 2025
The NFL is obviously inviting the old “No Fun League” criticism with these moves. Lamb might agree, but there is not much he can do about it, as the league has clearly made up its mind.
Lamb is no stranger to running afoul of the league’s sportsmanship rules. On the other hand, this gives him a chance to come up with something new, so he might as well embrace it.
The wide receiver usually finds plenty of reason to celebrate. He tallied 1,194 receiving yards and six touchdowns for Dallas last season in 15 games despite being hobbled by injuries late in the campaign.