This young entrepreneurial-minded fella is so good at what he does that he started collaborating with Miami Dolphins superstar Tyreek Hill while still in high school. Now a student at the University of Miami, Kevin Fitzgibbons has helped Tyreek with shooting video and creating social media content.
Impressive to say the least. All that led to a job as a photographer/videographer for the NFL at Dolphins home games, and it just so happened that when Cheetah did his backflip selfie TD celebration, it came at a steep cost to Fitzgibbons. He’s now suspended for the rest of the NFL season and “possibly for good.”
Allow him to explain:
The rationale behind the NFL banning Fitzgibbons, you ask? Because he shouldn’t have been jumping up and down once Tyreek carried out the celebration. And he shouldn’t have let one of the best players on the planet grab his phone for an impromptu, never-before-seen celly.
“They said regardless if I knew the celebration was coming or not, I still had to be disciplined and that I shouldn’t have jumped on the sidelines after the play. One of the best moments of my life turned upside down in a matter of seconds.
I get why the NFL had to make this decision and wish I could’ve done something to prevent it, but I’m thankful for the memory Tyreek gave me. This was the greatest job in the world and I never took a day for granted. I can’t thank the NFL enough for the opportunity.”
Classy post here by Fitzgibbons. It’s awesome to see some of the behind-the-scenes of the content he created with Tyreek, too.
…OK but seriously, what are we doing here, Goodell? Can you not make a call or two and make this go away? K-Fitz is just out here doing his job. He didn’t know Tyreek was about to take his phone and go off like that. Even if he had foreknowledge of the All-Pro wide receiver’s plans in the event that he reached the end zone, who f*cking cares??
Yeah, let the entire defense get right in the grill of the camera and have a full-blown group celebration after they force a turnover. But OH NO! Don’t let some young, precocious man who’s miles ahead of 99.99999% of people his age participate-by-proxy in an epic, solo celebration by one of the most electrifying playmakers the NFL has ever seen. That’s a big no-no.
WTF. The No Fun League, indeed. ‘Reek even wants to go to bad for the kid, but can’t because…you already know…
I used to kind of chide players for excessive celebrating. Then I grew up and realized how short the career spans are for pro football players. They put their bodies on the line every week. They prepare pretty much 345 other days of the year to hopefully play 20 games counting the playoffs and/or preseason.
And we’re gonna get all up in our feelings and fire unsuspecting, innocent bystanders when a celebration goes a little over some arbitrary line?? Do better, NFL.
Best of luck to Kevin Fitzgibbons. I have a feeling he’ll land on his feet just fine.
