Pittsburgh Steelers' DeShon Elliott is being criticized for his controversial Osama Bin Laden joke

A recent social media post states: Pittsburgh Steelers Security DeShon Elliott sparked controversy by seemingly referencing 9/11 in a dig New York Jets.

The post included images from last week's win as well as a screenshot that appeared to show a photoshopped image of the Steelers coach Mike Tomlin's face superimposes on that of Osama bin Laden.

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

DeShon Elliott is under fire for Osama Bin Laden

Pittsburgh Steelers safety DeShon Elliott intended humor with his latest social media post, but the joke quickly backfired when fans condemned him for posting an insensitive meme before the team's game against the New York Jets with reference to Osama bin Laden and his trainer Mike Tomlin.

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

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

DeShon Elliott is being criticized by fans for his controversial Osama Bin Laden joke

Of course, Elliott's followers had mixed reactions to the vaccination, with one user writing: “Osama Bin Tomlin during NEW YORK JETS week is criminal behavior.”

“Well isn’t that cute,” another said sarcastically.

“Brother will be fined for this,” wrote a third.

“BROTHER WHAT,” said a fourth.

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.

Will DeShon Elliott be fined?

The NFL has a player conduct policy that emphasizes good sportsmanship, integrity and respect for the game. Players are encouraged to behave in ways that positively impact themselves and the league.

The post shows a photoshopped image of Steelers coach Tomlin's face overlaid with an image of Osama bin Laden, the al-Qaeda founder responsible for orchestrating the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001 is responsible, which may be considered a breach of the Code of Conduct.

The picture was captioned “Osama Bin Tomlin,” leading fans to believe he would be fined.

Elliott was just four years old when the attacks took place and received a wave of mixed reactions to the post, which remained on his account until Wednesday afternoon (October 16). Many commentators expected him to face a fine for the controversial joke.

The NFL advises players to use social media carefully

The NFL advises players to use social media responsibly. This includes avoiding content that could be considered 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 damaging to the league's image, it could lead to scrutiny from the NFL and possible disciplinary action. This can range from fines to suspension depending on the severity and context of the post.

The Steelers have not yet commented on DeShon Elliott's post

Individual teams may also have their own social media guidelines that players must follow. These policies may contain specific guidelines regarding what is considered acceptable for posting on the Internet.

Overall, while players have the right to express their opinions, they must be aware of the potential impact their social media activity could have on their careers and the league's image. Neither the NFL nor the Steelers organization have yet released an official statement.

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

Meanwhile, head coach Tomlin is considering the option of using veteran quarterback Russell Wilson in Week 7, despite initially ruling him out in 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.