Pittsburgh Steelers' DeShon Elliott Criticized For Controversial Osama Bin Laden Joke

In a recent social media post, Pittsburgh Steelers safety DeShon Elliott stirred controversy by seemingly referencing 9/11 in a jab at the New York Jets.

The post included images from last week’s victory, alongside a screenshot that appeared to show a photoshopped image of Steelers coach Mike Tomlin’s face superimposed onto that of Osama bin Laden.

To top it off, DeShon Elliott captioned the post with “Osama Bin Tomlin.”

Pittsburgh Steelers safety DeShon Elliott aimed for humor with his latest social media post, but the joke quickly backfired as fans condemned him for sharing an insensitive meme referencing Osama bin Laden and his coach, Mike Tomlin, ahead of the team's matchup against the New York Jets.

The controversial meme was part of Elliott's photo dump on Instagram, featuring a Photoshopped image of Tomlin’s face superimposed on bin Laden’s head, accompanied by the caption “Osama Bin Tomlin.”

Bin Laden, the former leader of al-Qaeda, was responsible for the 9/11 attacks in New York City in 2001 and was killed by U.S. forces in May 2011.

Naturally, Elliott's followers had mixed reactions to the jab, with one user writing, "Osama Bin Tomlin during NEW YORK JETS week is criminal behavior."

"Well isn’t that sweet," another sarcastically said.

"bro gon get fined for this," a third wrote.

"BRO WHAT," a fourth said.

The Steelers organization has yet to release an official statement regarding the joke, and as of this writing, the meme remains visible on Elliott's Instagram account.

The NFL has a player conduct policy that emphasizes good sportsmanship, integrity, and respect for the game. Players are encouraged to act in a manner that reflects positively on themselves and the league.

The post features a photoshopped image of Steelers coach Tomlin's face superimposed onto a picture of Osama bin Laden, the al-Qaeda founder responsible for orchestrating the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001, which can be considered against the conduct policy.

The image was accompanied by the caption "Osama Bin Tomlin," which led fans to think he would be fined.

Elliott was just four years old when the attacks occurred and received a wave of mixed reactions to the post, which remained on his account as of Wednesday afternoon (October 16). Many commenters anticipated that he might face a fine for the controversial joke.

The NFL advises players to use social media responsibly. This includes avoiding content that could be deemed offensive, inflammatory, or controversial, including politically charged jokes that could offend certain groups or individuals.

While there is no direct rule against political jokes, if a player's post is deemed offensive or harmful to the league's image, it could lead to scrutiny from the NFL, and potential disciplinary action may follow. This could range from fines to suspensions, depending on the severity and context of the post.

Individual teams may also have their own social media policies that players are required to follow. These policies can include specific guidelines on what is considered acceptable to post online.

Overall, while players have the right to express their opinions, they need to be mindful of the potential repercussions their social media activity could have on their careers and the league's image. The NFL nor the Steelers organization has yet to release an official statement.

Pittsburgh Steelers safety Elliott has been a key player this season, starting in all six games and accumulating impressive stats, including 45 tackles, one interception, three passes defensed, one tackle for loss, and one fumble recovery.

Meanwhile, head coach Tomlin is weighing the option of starting veteran quarterback Russell Wilson in Week 7, despite initially ruling him out during the season opener. This decision comes as Tomlin considers whether to replace Justin Fields, who has successfully led the Steelers to a 4-2 record so far this season.