Chicago Bears defensive end Austin Booker was the unfortunate recipient of a notice from the NFL. This comes as his team made preparations for the biggest game of the season.
Booker has been a polarizing figure on the Bears’ defense. Bears fans love him, while opponents have an–expectedly–opposing view, often criticizing the second-year edge defender for what they feel is play that crosses the lines.
The NFL, yet again, agreed with the latter group on at least one recent play.
Austin Booker Hit Hard by NFL Before Bears’ Playoff Game
Bears Austin Booker Docked Over Packers Game
According to the NFL’s Gameday Accountability portal on January 17, Booker received a $46,371 fine for “unnecessary roughness,” which is a personal foul, specifically for what the league deemed impermissible “use of the helmet.”
The play occurred during the second quarter of the Bears’ Wild Card win over the Green Bay Packers. Booker recorded a sack on Packers quarterback Jordan Love.
However, the league deemed Booker had done one of the things that can trigger such a fine on the play.
Per Rule 12, Section 2, Article 10 of the NFL rulebook, “It is a foul if a player: (a) lowers his head and makes forcible contact with his helmet against an opponent; or (b) uses any part of his helmet or facemask to butt or make forcible contact to an opponent’s head or neck.
“These provisions do not prohibit incidental contact by the mask or the helmet in the course of a conventional tackle or block on an opponent.”
Austin Booker Walks Fine Line
Fines for such an infraction begin at $23,371, per the NFL. Unfortunately for the Bears, and really for Booker, he is a repeat offender. He has been docked multiple times during the regular season. He was fined twice for hits on Love in the Bears’ first regular-season meeting against the Packers, one of which led to a concussion for the QB.
Booker spoke candidly about noticing the Packers were giving him a little extra during their Wild Card game. He told Clocker Sports, “that s*** don’t faze me.”
He was also fined for illegal use of the helmet in Week 10 against the New York Giants.
Booker was a fifth-round pick (No. 144 overall) by the Bears in the 2024 NFL Draft. He was making his second appearance and start of the season (and career in regard to the latter) against the Giants. He had only been active for one game prior due to injuries.
Booker has vowed to play the same way despite the scrutiny. However, the Bears youngster is up to $63,825 in fines this season. That is roughly 6.6% of his $960,000 base salary in 2025.