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NFL players score touchdowns every week, and teams develop creative celebrations. For decades, kids in their backyards have imitated these memorable dances and antics. Which ones stand out? Here are the top 10 touchdown celebrations of all time.
10. The Ickey Shuffle
Elbert “Ickey” Woods was a star running back for the Cincinnati Bengals in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The UNLV product scored 27 touchdowns in four seasons with the Bengals before injuries shortened his career. While he was a great player, the tailback will be best remembered for the Ickey Shuffle.
Woods started his signature dance during his rookie season. The Fresno native changed the landscape of football celebrations in an October 1988 game against the Giants. After his touchdowns, he showed the world his dance moves.
9. The Cowboys Play Whac-a-Mole
Thanksgiving Day is synonymous with football, especially if you’re a Dallas Cowboys fan. While it’s been a while since their last Super Bowl, the fanbase has enjoyed some fun moments. In 2022, Jerry Jones’ squad faced the New York Giants to celebrate the holiday. They didn’t just win the game — they defeated the G-Men in style.
The Cowboys took a commanding two-touchdown lead thanks to creative playcalling. Dak Prescott handed the ball off to Peyton Hendershot, who ran the ball into the end zone. Then, the tight ends convened to play Whac-a-Mole in the gigantic Salvation Army buckets.
8. Justin Jefferson’s Griddy
Justin Jefferson has become synonymous with the Griddy. While he didn’t create the dance, kids worldwide celebrate whenever he scores a touchdown. The original celebration came from Allen Davis, who played high school football in Louisiana. Jefferson learned it from Ja’Marr Chase, who was friends with Davis in the New Orleans area.
The Vikings’ wide receiver has danced with the Griddy since his first touchdown in 2020. He’s had plenty of scores in his five seasons, so he’s a top fantasy football asset in all league types. Jefferson will be an elite receiver for years, so expect plenty of Griddy celebrations in the NFL.
7. Rob Gronkowski Celebrates in London
The NFL has played in London for nearly 20 years, introducing American football to friends across the pond. Some fans say the games are lackluster, and the New England Patriots didn’t make an exciting game in October 2012. Tom Brady and the crew destroyed the Rams 45-7, and Rob Gronkowski celebrated by emulating the King’s Guard.
Gronkowski is famous for being a goofball and one of the best tight ends in NFL history. Whenever he scored, you could expect a gigantic spike and one of the most powerful touchdown celebrations across the league. He was too big and fast for defenders, so he got plenty of them in his 11 NFL seasons.
6. Deion Sanders Dances on Defense
Deion Sanders makes headlines because of his Colorado Buffaloes and NFL sons. However, kids nowadays might not know about his long and illustrious NFL career. Back in the day, he terrorized opposing quarterbacks and receivers due to his ball-hawking skills. He earned rings with the 49ers and Cowboys and danced all the way to the end zone.
On Oct. 16, 1994, Sanders returned to Atlanta after leaving the Falcons for the 49ers. He didn’t let emotions affect him — he locked in and helped San Francisco earn a convincing win. During this play, he intercepted Jeff George deep in Niners territory and took the ball to the house.
5. Joe Horn’s Cellphone
Joe Horn took the long way to the NFL, as he started his career in the Canadian Football League. After two seasons in this lower division, he finally made it to the big time. Horn broke out as a star player on the New Orleans Saints, earning four Pro Bowl invitations between 2000 and 2004.
Though he was a solid receiver, he might be best known for his cell phone celebration. In a 2003 game against the Giants, he found the end zone and ran for the goalpost. Under the padding, he pulled out a cell phone and pretended to make a phone call. It’s one of the most unique celebrations in football history and may never happen again!
4. LeRoy Butler’s Lambeau Leap
The Green Bay Packers have an intimate fanbase because of the unique ownership system. No one person owns the team — it’s divided among 539,000 devoted shareholders nationwide. The loyal fanbase appreciates when a player works hard for a touchdown and embraces the athletes when they jump into the stands.
The day after Christmas in 1993, LeRoy Butler gave Packers fans a gift when he scored a touchdown on a wacky play. Should it have counted? Modern instant replay likely would’ve reversed the decision, but it doesn’t matter — the rest is history! Now, the Lambeau Leap is one of the most popular touchdown celebrations.
3. Terrell Owens and the Sharpie
The San Francisco 49ers have boasted numerous top skill players throughout their history. Besides Jerry Rice, the most talented athlete on offense may have been Terrell Owens. In 2002, the Alabama native showed rival Seahawks fans why he was one of the greatest to ever do it. He made sure they saw it — literally — with permanent ink!
On an October evening, Owens beat his man and leveraged his athleticism to make an excellent grab. Upon reaching the end zone, he pulled a Sharpie marker from his sock and signed the football. T.O. knew he was one of the best athletes in all of sports, and he certainly made his mark with the Sharpie.
2. Stefon Diggs Impersonates Stone Cold
The NFL and WWE have shared athletes, from Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson to Bill Goldberg. It’s not surprising to see football players embrace the most popular wrestling superstars from childhood. If they liked WWE as a kid, there’s a good chance they played games like Smackdown vs. Raw and similar titles.
In October 2023, Stefon Diggs single-handedly torched the Miami Dolphins by scoring three touchdowns. His second-quarter score paid homage to Stone Cold Steve Austin by spraying beer over the Bills Mafia. However, it ended up costing him $13,659 due to unsportsmanlike conduct.
1. Randy Moss Shoots the Moon
“That is a disgusting act by Randy Moss, and it’s unfortunate that we had that on our air live.” Joe Buck cemented Moss’s game-sealing touchdown as one of the top NFL celebrations ever. The West Virginia native burned Al Harris and found the end zone despite an underthrown football by Daunte Culpepper.
Cris Collinsworth found the celebration humorous, whereas Troy Aikman didn’t seem to care. Years later, Buck appeared on The Herd with Colin Cowherd and defended his call while ranting against touchdown celebrations. Nonetheless, the Randy Moss play will forever be a favorite among everybody except Packers fans.
The Future of Football Celebrations
The NFL has gradually relaxed touchdown celebration rules to appease fans and generate social media content. Now, football lovers get creative choreography every week from September until the Super Bowl’s final whistle. Which one is your favorite? If you like Vikings wide receivers, you have plenty to choose from.
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Author
Jack Shaw is a senior writer at Modded. Jack is an avid enthusiast for keeping up with personal health and enjoying nature. He has over five years of experience writing in the men's lifestyle niche, and has written extensively on topics of fitness, exploring the outdoors and men's interests. His writings have been featured in SportsEd TV, Love Inc., and Offroad Xtreme among many more publications.
