‘Kids aren’t gonna have Christmas gifts’ – NFL star reacts to five-figure fine for making a ‘violent gesture’

Dre’Mont Jones is furious at the NFL.

The Baltimore Ravens linebacker was fined a whopping $14,055 by the NFL for what they deemed as a “violent gesture.”

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In the Week 12 win over the New York Jets, Jones got his first full sack for the Ravens and celebrated by moving his hand back-and-forth across his throat.

It was announced on Saturday that he had been fined, with the 28-year-old taking to social media platform X to clarify what his gesture meant, as well as to voice his frustration at the league’s decision.

“I was just saying “it’s over” like in a competitive sense and now my kids aren’t gonna have Christmas gifts this year #ThankYouNFL,” Jones posted.

All signs point to this tweet having been made in jest, but it attracted some mixed fan responses nonetheless, as some appeared to take it seriously.

“You make 8.5 mil a year and you can’t get your kids Christmas gifts?,” one fan commented.

“Your kids will have gifts and you plus the family will be fine…. Come on now, didn’t the Seahawks pay you like 50mil ? ,” a second wrote.

“Living paycheck to paycheck in the NFL is diabolical though,” a third fan wrote as another joked, “Time for them kids to start appreciating the gift of presence over presents.”

“Taunting / fines for any gesture should be erased from the sport. These are grown men playing one of the most violent sports in the world,” a more serious fan said as they even recommended an appeal.

“I can guarantee no one’s getting offended by this. Appeal this, any sense on @nflcommish’s part and they’ll reverse this. Big yikes.”

Jones signed a one-year, $8.5 million deal with the Tennessee Titans in the off-season, $7.9 million of which was guaranteed.

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Jones made nine appearances for the Titans in 2025, where he recorded 26 combined tackles, five tackles for loss, nine quarterback hits, 4.5 sacks and one fumble recovery.

But, he was traded to the Ravens mid-season in exchange for a conditional fifth-round pick as they sought to bolster a defensive line that had struggled in the early parts of the 2025 regular season.

Since joining the Flock, he has started all four games and has contributed five combined tackles, one tackle for loss, six quarterback hits and 1.5 sacks.

In that period, the Ravens have allowed an average of 19.2 points, 196 passing yards, and 108 rushing yards per game.

The defense has also forced seven turnovers, matching their total from Week 1-9.

Following their Thanksgiving loss to a returning Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals in which they allowed 32 points to be scored on them, the defense will need to find their rhythm again fast.

This comes as a divisional clash against the Pittsburgh Steelers is next up on the schedule – a fixture which could prove crucial in deciding who wins the AFC North.

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