Packers’ Xavier McKinney Reveals NFL Fined Him for Ripping Refs After Loss to Lions
Green Bay safety Xavier McKinney said he’d rather get fined than stay quiet — and the NFL made him pay.
After the Packers’ 20-17 loss to the Lions at Ford Field in Week 7, McKinney ripped the officiating: “I don’t know how the NFL’s going to treat it, but I’m not a big fan of the refs right now. I don’t think it’s great officiating… I think it’s b******* a lot of the times. They will fine you for anything in this league… I’d rather get fined and try to help my team out because I see what’s going on, and it’s killing us.”
The fine came before Thursday Night Football. Per ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, McKinney revealed before kickoff vs Panthers that the league fined him — minimum $25,000 for public criticism of officials, though he wouldn’t say exact amount.
“I make enough money, so I’ll be OK,” McKinney said. The two-time All-Pro signed a 4-year, $67M deal in 2024.
McKinney bounced back on the field Thursday, helping Packers beat Panthers 27-19 to improve to 5-3.
Mabel Joshua is the founder and lead editor of CelebrityTale.com with 4+ years covering celebrity news, entertainment trends and pop culture. She curates breaking stories with verified sources, focusing on real-time updates from Hollywood, music and lifestyle. When not reporting, she tracks emerging talents and viral moments across social platforms.
