In a bold and emotionally charged statement Monday morning, Pittsburgh Steelers safety and special teams captain Miles Killebrew publicly criticized the NFL over what he called the league’s “inconsistent and unfair” disciplinary actions, particularly regarding recent fines levied against players for in-game hits.
“I am so disappointed. It’s getting out of hand,” Killebrew said during a post-practice media availability. “You work your whole life to play this game the right way, and now you’re being punished for doing your job.”
Killebrew’s comments come just days after he was fined $21,000 for a hit during last week’s preseason opener — a play that many analysts deemed clean and within the rules. The hit, which occurred during a special teams tackle, resulted in a penalty flag for unnecessary roughness, sparking controversy across social media and sports talk shows.
“If we’re talking about player safety, fine — but the league has to be consistent. One week it’s okay, the next week it’s a fine. Guys don’t even know how to play anymore. We’re trying to protect each other, but we’re also out here to compete.”
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin stood by his veteran leader, telling reporters that the team supports Killebrew’s right to speak out.
“Miles plays the game with integrity. He’s a captain for a reason,” Tomlin said. “We’ve had ongoing conversations with the league about these calls and we’ll continue to advocate for clarity and fairness.”
Fellow NFL players also voiced their support online. Former teammate and now-retired linebacker Vince Williams posted on X (formerly Twitter), “Miles Killebrew is 100% right. These fines are getting ridiculous. Let the man play football.”
The NFL has not yet issued a response to Killebrew’s statement.
Killebrew, 32, is entering his fourth season with the Steelers and remains a core leader in the locker room and a key contributor on special teams. His comments are likely to reignite the broader debate over the NFL’s evolving stance on player safety, enforcement consistency, and the balance between physicality and precaution in the modern game.
