The Top 10 Touchdown Celebrations of All Time
Cam Newton has retired the dab. Let’s figure out where it ranks among history’s best end-zone dances.
Cam Newton has officially retired the touchdown dance that polarized a nation. R.I.P. to the dab. You will be missed.
But where does the dab rank among the best touchdown celebrations ever? Let’s roll through the top 10 and find out.
10. Chad Johnson’s Proposal
I, Chad Johnson/Ochocino, take you, Random Cheerleader, to be my lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until massive fines from the NFL do us part.
Amen.
9. Terrell Owens’ Autograph Signing
The most famous autograph since some lady named Baby Ruth signed that baseball Scotty Smalls hit over the fence. T.O. was a complete showman and can have an entire celebration list of his own. Bonus points for playing an entire series with a sharpie in his sock.
8. Dab on Dem Folks
The dab slots in at a respectable number 8. The popularity of this simplistic celebration gets it on the list; everyone from French soccer stars to multi-billionaires was able to copy the dance move popularized by Cam. Can’t wait to see what the Panthers QB busts out for the 2016 season.
7. The Hynoceros
It’s not easy to make this list when you only score 1 career touchdown, but Henry Hynoski did just that with this absolute gem of a celebration. The perfect execution of a rhinoceros imitation makes this an all-time great. THIS is how you take full advantage of a rare opportunity.
6. Joe Horn’s Phone Call
Best use of a prop in a touchdown celebration goes to Joe Horn. The dude stashed a freakin’ cell phone in the goal post padding. That is dedication to his art and well worth the $30,000 he was fined. If only Joe Horn was playing after Snapchat was invented—he’d have the best story ever.
5. Randy Moss’ Moon
In a 2005 Wild Card Game, Randy Moss iced a win against the rival Green Bay Packers with a fourth quarter touchdown catch. Moss then did the unthinkable and mooned the Lambeau faithful. Brett Favre’s face shows you how the entire state of Wisconsin felt at that exact moment.
4. Tony Gonzalez’s Dunk
Tony Gonzalez was the greatest tight end of all time with a signature TD celebration that matched his career success. He also played basketball at the University of California, a fact he never let fans forget. Gonzalez can rest easy knowing that his dunk won’t be copied anymore, since the NFL now penalizes anyone who throws one through the uprights.
3. Victor Cruz’s Salsa
Victor Cruz wasted no time branding himself as an NFL dance legend. Following his first career TD, he whipped out what would become his patented salsa dance. His celebration also gave us one of the most touching moments in NFL history: After his grandmother passed away, Vic dedicated his salsa to the woman who taught him how to dance. Here’s to hoping Cruz can get back on the field next season and give us exactly what we want: more salsa.
2. Deion Sanders’ High Step
You don’t get the nickname Prime Time without an iconic TD celebration. The High Step has been the most imitated move in NFL history, but no one has done it with more swag. Props to Deion Sanders for having a legendary touchdown dance while being the only player on this list who didn’t play on offense.
- The Icky Shuffle
The Michael Jordan of touchdown cellys. Nothing on this list even comes close to Icky Wood’s perfectly choreographed dance. It was so perfect that it prompted the No Fun League to classify the dance an “excessive celebration” that could be penalized. That never stopped Icky; he would just run to the sidelines before putting on his show. The Shuffle was so iconic that it was memorialized in an excellent GEICO commercial.
G.O.A.T. status, official.
