NFL players have gone from taking a knee to doing the Trump in the endzone.
Move over, Griddy; there’s a new end-zone celebration in town. Yes, you read that right: the Trump Dance is taking the NFL by storm, and honestly, we’re equal parts confused, amused, and intrigued. Players across the league are shaking their arms, swaying their hips, and channeling their inner 45 in celebrations that feel plucked straight out of a late-night comedy skit.
Unfortunately, some of those players had flags thrown for their performances.
It all started when San Francisco 49ers star Nick Bosa busted out the now-viral move, inspired by former President-elect Donald Trump’s quirky dancing style. But this Sunday, the phenomenon reached new heights, with Raiders tight end Brock Bowers, Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley, and Lions defensive end Za’Darius Smith all jumping on the bandwagon. Love it or hate it, this trend is impossible to ignore.
Take Bowers, for example. The rookie caught a 23-yard touchdown for Las Vegas in a tough 34-19 loss to the Miami Dolphins. Instead of a traditional spike or Gronk-esque flex, he opted to shake his arms and sway his hips in true Trumpian fashion. After the game, Bowers admitted to USA Today that he picked it up after watching UFC fighter Jon Jones do the same thing Saturday night.
“I like watching UFC,” Bowers said. “I saw it and thought it was cool.”
Cool? Maybe. Entertaining? Definitely.
And Bowers isn’t alone. In Tennessee, Calvin Ridley broke out the herky-jerky move after a catch during the Titans’ 23-13 loss to Minnesota. He even got teammate Nick Westbrook-Ikhine to join in, making it a full-blown duet of awkward arm flailing and hip thrusting.
The real kicker? This trend seems to have Donald Trump’s tacit approval. Jon Jones himself performed the dance after defeating Stipe Miocic at Madison Square Garden, turning to Trump—seated ringside, no less—and giving him a thumbs-up. Is this the first thumbs-up-to-end-zone-dance pipeline we’ve ever seen? Probably.
Of course, not everyone’s thrilled. The Raiders kept Bowers’ postgame comments about the dance off their social media and transcripts, as if to downplay the whole situation. But let’s be real—when a celebration this absurd takes over the NFL, there’s no putting the toothpaste back in the tube.
So, what’s next? Will this trend fizzle out faster than a TikTok dance craze, or will we see quarterbacks pulling it out after game-winning touchdowns? Either way, the Trump Dance isn’t just a celebration—it’s a movement. And for better or worse, it’s here to stay.