The NFL fined receiver George Pickens for removing his helmet during the Pittsburgh Steelers’ final game on Christmas Day against the Kansas City Chiefs.

According to the league, Pickens was fined $10,231 for his actions at 10:05 of the fourth quarter. In fact, Pickens took off his helmet twice out of frustration at that point – the first time when a third-down pass intended for him was tipped at the line of scrimmage to prevent what appeared to be an easy catch. Then Pickens and quarterback Russell Wilson were charged with a false start on the ensuing fourth-down snap — prompting another ostentatious removal of his helmet in apparent frustration.

The Steelers suffered their third straight loss, 29-10, and Pickens finished the game with three catches for 50 yards.

This is at least the sixth time this season that the league has fined Pickens – two previous violations involved grabbing an opponent’s face mask, one for taunting, once for a “violent gesture” (imitation of the use of a weapon) and once for a profane message written on his black eye during an October game against the Dallas Cowboys.

Those known fines have cost Pickens a total of $68,038 this season.

Funds raised will be donated to the Professional Athletes Foundation to support former players in need and to the NFL Foundation to support the health, safety and well-being of athletes at all levels, including youth football and the communities that support the sport to continue to support.

By the way, defenseman Jaden Hicks was fined for taunting Pickens while Pickens was removing his helmet in the same sequence. Hicks will pay $5,151 of his salary for rushing Pickens after an incomplete pass intended for him on fourth down.

Two other Chiefs were also fined $14,069 each for actions celebrating touchdowns during last week’s game at Acrisure Stadium: receiver Xavier Worthy, who imitated a gun, and tight end Travis Kelce received the same fine for the Goalposts used as support.

Kelce “dunked” the football over the goalposts as a tribute to Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez, whom he passed as the Chiefs’ all-time leader in touchdowns with his score early in the fourth quarter. As a former basketball player, the after-TD dunk was Gonzalez’s trademark.