It was a high-stakes battle on Thanksgiving as the Cowboys and Chiefs faced off in Texas. Tight end Jake Ferguson got overexcited during the game and celebrated by jumping into the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Drum after scoring a touchdown. But the referees ruled out the play. But over the years, the league has fined players for this.

According to Spotrac, his non-TD celebration will cost him more than twenty thousand dollars in fines next week. However, the league has been inconsistent in its handling of such Thanksgiving celebrations. And even if they fined Jake Ferguson, he wasn’t worried, as they have fined before already.

Back in 2022, all four tight ends of the Cowboys celebrated around the oversized red drum placed beyond the end zone. They brought attention to the league’s Salvation Army donation drive, but the NFL still fined Dalton Schultz ($13,261), Jake Ferguson ($4,895), Peyton Hendershot ($3,944), and Sean McKeon ($4,994).

However, the 2025 game was special. Ferguson brought back memories of former running back Ezekiel Elliott. It was the Zeke Thanksgiving Celly celebration. In Elliot’s rookie year, he also jumped into the red drum after scoring a touchdown. The league had a relaxed stance and only penalized him 15 yards for using a “prop” in a touchdown celebration.

However, when he gestured, making a $21 donation and throwing his quarterback, Dak Prescott, in the red drum in 2018, the league fined him $13,369 for unsportsmanlike conduct. It happened in 2022 as well, his last year with the Cowboys, as the league fined Elliott and Prescott $13,261 for unsportsmanlike conduct. The tradition has become cultural with America’s Team. The kettledrum is almost historical now.

It’s one of the ways owner Jerry Jones and his daughter Charlotte give back to the community. They have raised more than $3 billion through multiple initiatives since 1997. But this isn’t limited to the Cowboys. Different teams, like the Detroit Lions, often visit shelter homes and donate food and clothes.

There are plenty of other celebrations around Thanksgiving. While the tight end kept the fun alive, his quarterback won a big honor for his explosive performance and the hunger for success.

The Cowboys have a reason to celebrate despite Jake Ferguson’s potential fine

Yes, the celebration might cost Ferguson big time. But that does not upset the Dallas Cowboys. The team was completely focused on celebrating ‘Turkey Day’ with a win. And that is exactly what they did. While the Chiefs had the lead at the end of the first quarter (14-7), the Cowboys bounced back in the next quarter.

From that point on, it was just a matter of maintaining the lead. They did and won the game, 31-28. Following the game, CBS reporter Tracy Wolfson announced QB Dak Prescott as the winner of the 2025 John Madden Thanksgiving MVP Award.

Prescott showed full support for his teammates by calling them a “brotherhood” and being “resilient.” His receiver CeeDee Lamb also broke the NFL record for 7000 receiving yards in his first six seasons.

Then appeared Jake Ferguson. As his teammates picked up turkey legs, he picked up the whole turkey, taking a bite off before handing it over to his teammates. This Thanksgiving became special for America’s Team. Do you think Ferguson should be fined?