The Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill renowned for both his football prowess and compassionate nature consistently demonstrates support for his fans and teammates. In a recent noteworthy act, Hill extended a helping hand to a cameraman facing consequences following a game incident.
Although the WR played a role in the cameraman’s suspension, he didn’t hesitate to offer assistance.
Tyreek Hill to cover suspended NFL cameraman’s salary
Tyreek Hill, who recently tied the knot with Keeta Vaccaro announced that he would cover the salary of a photographer, Kevin Fitzgibbons, whose NFL game credential was suspended. The WR and Fitzgibbons have a longstanding friendship, and Hill reassured him not to be disheartened by the news, encouraging him to continue pursuing his passion for photography.
“Me and K-Fitz, we’ve got a long history together,” Hill said, via Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN. “The news is something that I already knew. I told him, ‘Don’t let this get to you. Just hold your head up. You’re still young. Continue to do what you love.’ Me and him are going to continue to work together.”
Tyreek Hill explicitly stated that he would ensure Fitzgibbons is not left without a job by covering the salary that the NFL would have paid him during the suspension.
“I told him I was going to cover his salary, whatever the NFL was going to pay him or whatever. I told him I was going to make sure that I do what’s right and take care of you, make sure you’re not out of a job. That’s my guy.”
Tyreek Hill’s remarkable gesture, widely appreciated by fans, stands as a testament to his compassion and support, adding to his reputation beyond the football field.
Why was the NFL cameraman suspended?
Kevin Fitzgibbons, contracted by the NFL to shoot Dolphins home games, was involved in Hill’s touchdown celebration in Week 6, where Hill took his cellphone and filmed a backflip after scoring.
The WR received a penalty for celebrating with a prop. Fitzgibbons, however, lost his credential for the remainder of the season and possibly permanently due to his enthusiastic reaction after the celebration.
Fitzgibbons’ excited sideline jumping was cited as the reason for his suspension though both Hill and Fitzgibbons emphasized that the celebratory incident was unplanned.
“One of the best moments of my life turned upside-down in a matter of seconds,” Fitzgibbons said in the video.
According to Fitzgibbons, the NFL informed him about the suspension, stating that regardless of whether he knew about the celebration, his reaction violated league policy, leading to disciplinary action.
“The NFL then let me know I would be suspended for the remainder of the season, and possibly for good. 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.”
The incident gained significant attention on social media, with the WR reposting Fitzgibbons’ video. The video garnered millions of views on TikTok and Instagram, sparking discussions about the NFL’s decision.
Indeed, the unfolding question remains – Will the NFL lift the cameraman’s suspension, or will Tyreek Hill continue to cover his salary?
