Sam Darnold and the Seattle Seahawks finally climbed back to the top of the NFC mountain. They edged the Los Angeles Rams 31-27 to claim their first conference crown since the 2014 season. As a result, the Seahawks are now heading to Santa Clara to meet the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX. However, before that moment arrived, the NFL stepped in with a punishment decision involving Darnold’s teammate, Riq Woolen.

The league has fined Seattle’s 2022 Pro Bowl cornerback $17,389 for taunting Los Angeles Rams players along their sideline following his break-up of a pass by Matthew Stafford late in the third quarter of the NFC championship game last weekend at Lumen Field.

Interestingly, the moment came after a good defensive play by Woolen.

With 2:20 left in the second quarter, Matthew Stafford launched a deep pass toward Puka Nacua. Woolen read it perfectly and knocked the ball away before it could land. Immediately after, the Pro Bowl corner turned toward the Rams sideline and exchanged words with Sean McVay and several members of the Los Angeles bench, drawing attention from officials.

As a result, the officials flagged Woolen for taunting, handing the Rams 15 free yards and an automatic first down, and that call proved costly. On the very next snap, Stafford found Nacua again, this time for a 34-yard touchdown. Notably, Woolen was once again in coverage as Rams Nation roared and the score tightened.

Following that sequence, the league office reviewed Woolen’s actions for further discipline. Typically, a first taunting offense can bring a fine of up to $11,593, while a second offense can rise to $17,389. Since Woolen already had two such fines during the 2025 season, the NFL ultimately charged him $17,398 just weeks before the Super Bowl.

Woolen’s first fine came after Seattle’s Week 9 win over the Washington Commanders, when he was docked $11,593. Later, his second arrived following a Week 14 victory over the Atlanta Falcons, costing him $17,389. However, Woolen understands he crossed the line this time.

Riq Woolen apologizes to Sam Darnold’s Seahawks

Once the game ended, Riq Woolen addressed his costly taunting penalty head-on. He apologized publicly and took to social media, admitting he lost himself at the moment while promising there would be no more taunting fouls moving forward.

“No cap, high-intensity game, and when you’re in the zone and balling with your bros, sometimes you black out,” he wrote on X.

Not surprisingly, the replies leaned supportive, fueled by the rush of an NFC title and the Hawks heading to Super Bowl LX. And head coach Mike Macdonald echoed that support, urging the team to stay poised and not linger on one mistake.

“He just made an emotional decision, and we got to pick him up,” he said of Woolen’s penalty.

“That’s not the time to point (the finger) and get all upset. You’ve got to go play the next play and score and go rebound back and go back. Riq came back and played well the rest of the game. So, I mean, it literally is like ’12 As One. ‘Just keep picking each other up.”

Later on, once the win was secured, Woolen also made sure to shake hands with Rams coach Sean McVay. That moment mattered, especially since the taunting call nearly flipped the game.  Fortunately for the Emerald City, the Hawks held on. As a result, Woolen’s mistake will likely fade into the background. Now, the focus shifts entirely to the Super Bowl.