Cowboys' Jake Ferguson teases new TD celebration despite possible fine

Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson was held out of the end zone for all of last season. The absence gave him plenty of time to plot and plan for the next iteration of his best-known touchdown celebration.

Now in the middle of what is tracking to be a career year for Ferguson and with the Salvation Army red kettles about to make their annual return to the end zones at AT&T Stadium, something big may be coming on his next trip to paydirt.

"I love the kettle," Ferguson told 105.3 The Fan during a call-in on Wednesday, just a day before the Cowboys' Week 13 holiday contest versus Kansas City. "The kettle will be used in future celebrations. However, I don't think we can do the same thing."

He is, of course, referring to 2022's Thanksgiving Day win over the Giants, when Ferguson and the Cowboys' other three rostered tight ends ganged up for a game of Whac-A-Mole after a fourth-quarter score that effectively iced the game.

Following a two-yard rushing touchdown from Peyton Hendershot, the quartet met in the end zone. Ferguson, then in his rookie season, jumped into the kettle and hid, along with Dalton Schultz and Sean McKeon. Hendershot then used the football to mimic a mallet as his teammates took turns popping up and getting bopped on the head like in the old-school carnival game.

Ferguson now says he's been crafting a celebration that's bigger and better, just waiting for the opportunity to debut it.

"I've had one for a long time. You know I didn't score at all last year," he explained. "I had one that was so good, but I haven't gotten to use it yet."

The 2025 season is going much differently for the former fourth-round draft pick. He's just seven catches away from a career year in receptions, and he's on pace to challenge his career high in yards. His seven touchdowns not only represent his best season yet in that category, that total is currently tied for fourth among all pass-catchers leaguewide.

So a post-score visit to the red kettle at some point in the regular season's three remaining home games seems likely.

The 2022 Whac-A-Mole celly was a viral hit, and although it wasn't flagged in the moment, it did draw a monetary fine for all four tight ends.

The G-bag Nation hosts informed Ferguson on Wednesday there's a strong likelihood that a repeat stunt using one of the end-zone kettles will incur both a penalty and a fine from the league.

"We asked [FOX Sports rules analyst] Dean Blandino," Bryan Broaddus said, "and he said that the red kettle is now a prop."

Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens was flagged and fined in Week 11 for jumping onto the goalpost after a score, with officials determining that the goalpost is also a prop.

Ferguson didn't sound discouraged by a potential hit to the wallet.

"It's for the kids," the fourth-year man laughed. "It's for the Salvation Army."

Past stunts involving the signature kettles, including another one in 2022 by Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliot, drew fines for the participating players, but they also touched off a wave of donations from fans. Team owner Jerry Jones has also made a point of happily matching some of those fines himself to bring extra publicity for the franchise's primary charity partner.

Ferguson vowed to do the same after whatever it is he has planned.

"I'll tell you this right now; put it down on paper," he said on-air. "If I get fined for celebrating in the red kettle, I will match whatever my fine is to the Salvation Army."

'Tis the season, indeed.

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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys' Jake Ferguson teases new TD celebration despite possible fine