Scoring touchdowns during each offensive possession is the unspoken goal for every NFL<\/a> team. For decades, celebrations have been the norm in accompanying touchdowns. It goes back all the way to the 1960s with Homer Jones and his touchdown spike.<\/p>\n Touchdown celebrations have become a choreographed production for some teams. Think back to the 1980s when Washington<\/a>\u2019s \u201cFun Bunch\u201d made enemies after its group of players participated in a jumping high-five after a score. And think recently when the Seattle Seahawks<\/a> did their best New Edition and *NSYNC impersonations, or when the Minnesota Vikings<\/a> decided to play a game of Duck, Duck, Goose in the end zone.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n GO DEEPER<\/p>\n The NFL’s most memorable TD celebrations: Deion Sanders’ high-step, the Ickey Shuffle, more<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/a><\/p>\n The 2023 NFL season has had its share of memorable touchdown celebrations. Each team has had its moment. Some moments, however, have been bigger than others. The Athletic<\/em>\u2019s team of Jason Jones, Matt Barrows and Vic Tafur got together to reminisce over the season and discuss the best touchdown celebration for each team.<\/p>\n \u201cStone Cold\u201d Steve Austin would be proud of Stefon Diggs\u2019 beer celebration during Week 4 as the Bills faced Miami<\/a>.<\/p>\n After scoring against the Dolphins, Diggs ran to the fans, grabbed a couple of beers and smashed them together. It was an act similar to what the legendary pro wrestler did in the WWE.<\/p>\n The Dolphins could be the subject of a celebration piece by themselves. Tyreek Hill<\/a>, Jaylen Waddle<\/a>, Raheem Mostert<\/a> and the crew have provided several memorable celebrations.<\/p>\n During a Week 6 game against Carolina<\/a>, Hill\u2019s 41-yard touchdown reception<\/a>, coupled with the use of a photographer\u2019s phone, resulted in a backflip, as well as a unique selfie<\/a>. It also ended up with the photographer being disciplined<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Patriots haven\u2019t had a lot of opportunities to celebrate on offense this season. After one of their biggest touchdowns of 2023 \u2014 Mike Gesicki<\/a>\u2019s game-winning touchdown catch late to beat Buffalo in Week 7 \u2014 multiple players did the Griddy<\/a>.<\/p>\n While some executed the dance, others still are unsure exactly what Mac Jones was doing<\/a>. On top of that, former Patriot Rob Gronkowski, a fun-loving player in his day, criticized the team<\/a> for being so happy about a regular-season win.<\/p>\n The end zone and the Jets haven\u2019t been acquainted most of the season, but their most dramatic touchdown celebration might have come Week 1 against Buffalo.<\/p>\n Xavier Gipson<\/a> used a 65-yard punt return to beat the Bills in overtime. He was mobbed by teammates and overcome with emotion for the win on the same night Aaron Rodgers<\/a> left the game with an Achilles injury.<\/p>\n This team does a lot of ball spinning and chest bumping. Two years ago, Jerry Jeudy<\/a> was even fined for his bow-and-arrow celebration<\/a> against Washington and thought about doing it again but had second thoughts<\/a> in a game against Dallas<\/a>.<\/p>\n Now, he just rides his horse<\/a> around every time he scores.<\/p>\n There hasn\u2019t been a potato sack race like the one in 2017<\/a> or anything that cool this season. And no, we aren\u2019t picking Taylor Swift\u2019s touchdown dance with Patrick Mahomes\u2019 wife, Brittany<\/a>, from the Week 7 win over the Chargers<\/a>.<\/p>\n Jerick McKinnon<\/a> got a lift in<\/a> after a touchdown during Week 14 against Buffalo. The bench-press celebration capped what was McKinnon\u2019s first rushing touchdown of the season.<\/p>\n It took the Christmas spirit \u2014 or, maybe, the Grinch spirit \u2014 to overtake the Raiders after a season of boring touchdown celebrations. Jack Jones<\/a> picked off Patrick Mahomes<\/a> on Christmas morning, and after staring down the Kansas City quarterback while running in for a touchdown, he offered the ball to a young Chiefs fan in the front row of the stands. When the excited fan reached for the ball, Jones pulled it back and merrily scampered off<\/a>.<\/p>\n There haven\u2019t been a lot of reasons to choreograph for a Chargers team sitting at the bottom of the AFC West. Gerald Everett<\/a>, however, did find a time to do his best Ray Lewis impersonation<\/a> during Week 12 \u2014 against Baltimore<\/a>, of all teams.<\/p>\n Austin Ekeler<\/a> actually celebrated a first down with his team trailing Las Vegas by 42 points. But that doesn\u2019t count.<\/p>\n The Ravens do a lot because they\u2019re actually throwing talented receivers the ball this season.<\/p>\n There was Odell Beckham Jr.<\/a>\u2019s Michael Jackson tribute<\/a>, but top honors should go to Zay Flowers \u2014 who did two in one game<\/a>. We didn\u2019t hate the bouquet throw, but we definitely liked the penalty kick more.<\/p>\n Joe Mixon<\/a> proved that there are some Dillon Brooks fans<\/a> out there.<\/p>\n Against Jacksonville<\/a> in Week 13, Mixon scored on a 6-yard run to tie the game 7-7. That score \u2014 and Mixon\u2019s dance, made popular by Brooks<\/a>, the Houston Rockets small forward brought with him from his time with the Memphis Grizzlies \u2014 was important, as the Bengals needed overtime to beat the Jaguars 34-31.<\/p>\n It\u2019s always fun when the big fellas up front get to celebrate. It\u2019s even better when a player comes home to celebrate.<\/p>\n Browns offensive tackle Dawand Jones<\/a> sustained a season-ending knee injury early in December, but during an October road matchup against the Indianapolis Colts<\/a>, Jones had the chance to deliver his own celebration after a Kareem Hunt<\/a> touchdown run. Jones, who attended Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis, was handed the ball, and the 6-foot-8, 374-pound lineman gave the Lucas Oil Stadium crowd a show<\/a> with a spike and a dance.<\/p>\n It\u2019s been a tough year for the Steelers wide receivers. And yet, they\u2019re the ones on the team going out of their way to celebrate touchdowns.<\/p>\n We have to give George Pickens<\/a> some love for his Week 2 performance against the Browns. Pickens took a pass from Kenny Pickett<\/a> and raced 71 yards for a touchdown. He then celebrated with the Acrisure Stadium crowd by taking a victory lap<\/a>.<\/p>\n C.J. Stroud<\/a> was more than three months from being born when the film \u201cBaby Boy\u201d was released. Clearly someone had him watch the movie as he acted out one of the best scenes when Jody (played by Tyrese Gibson) and his friend Sweet Pea (Omar Gooding) tried to find out who stole Jody\u2019s bicycle.<\/p>\n Stroud lined up his teammates and pretended to punch George Fant<\/a>, who fell out as part of the revenge scene reenactment.<\/p>\n Fans were denied seeing what Colts tight end Kylen Granson<\/a> would have done to celebrate his first career touchdown during Week 2, as his 4-yard, second-quarter catch needed an official review before being ruled a score.<\/p>\n But because Gardner Minshew<\/a> dancing or Zack Moss<\/a> dunking aren\u2019t exactly unique reactions, Granson gets the nod for thinking outside of the box. He took to Instagram to celebrate his first score, treating the football like a newborn child for a photo shoot.<\/p>\n Christian Kirk<\/a> gets props for pretending to be an Amazon delivery man in Week 7. But during Week 4, the defense got to have fun with the celebration.<\/p>\n After cornerback Darious Williams\u2019 pick six against Atlanta<\/a>, the defense reenacted the movie \u201cToy Story.\u201d The defenders were the toys who were active but fell to the ground once Andy (Williams) walked into the room<\/a>. Wide receiver Zay Jones said the celebration was his idea<\/a>.<\/p>\n With all respect to the Titans\u2019 touchdowns this year, the team\u2019s best celebration of the season wasn\u2019t even after a score.<\/p>\n It happened in a Week 4 game after the Titans defense forced a turnover against Cincinnati. The defense had a sack fumble and a recovery, then lined up for its version of a drumline<\/a> \u2014 similar to a scene from the film \u201cDrumline,\u201d starring Nick Cannon.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s be clear: Salvation Army kettles are for coins and bills, not food items. But we\u2019re fans of the Cowboys\u2019 move to stash a few turkey legs in one of the oversized end zone kettles late in a Thanksgiving romp over the Washington Commanders.<\/p>\n After Dak Prescott<\/a> hooked up with KaVontae Turpin<\/a> on a 34-yard touchdown, Turpin hopped into one of the kettles<\/a> to retrieve the prizes. Then he, Prescott and Jake Ferguson<\/a> got a head start on their Thanksgiving meals.<\/p>\n No one is quite sure what you call it \u2014 maybe not even Tommy DeVito<\/a> \u2014 but the Giants quarterback has MetLife Stadium, Northern New Jersey and the entire tri-state area doing his touchdown celebration<\/a>.<\/p>\n DeVito started his old-school hand gesture \u2014 pinching his fingers together and shaking the wrist \u2014 in Week 11, and it\u2019s caught fire since. \u201cI kind of thought it was just the old Italians,\u201d DeVito said. \u201cWhen they talk, they start doing (the hand gesture). It\u2019s just a little credit to them.\u201d Could there be a more perfect gesture for the DeVito-led G-men?<\/p>\n A.J. Brown<\/a> and DeVonta Smith<\/a> are taking their talents to South Philly. That was the message after Brown scored a 4-yard touchdown against the Cowboys in Week 9. The two receivers took on the roles of former Miami Heat teammates Dwyane Wade and LeBron James<\/a> with Smith tossing the ball in the air for the bigger Brown to slam.<\/p>\n Note: No crossbars were harmed in the making of this celebration. Brown stopped short of doing a LeBron-like dunk over the bar, an act that was banned in 2014<\/a>.<\/p>\n After running back Brian Robinson scored a 15-yard touchdown in Week 4 against Philadelphia, he hopped to his feet and flapped his arms in wobbly fashion<\/a>, a dig at Philly\u2019s \u201cFly Eagles Fly\u201d chant.<\/p>\n Or maybe it was a comment on the Eagles\u2019 rickety defense, which had eight missed tackles that day \u2014 including one on Robinson\u2019s touchdown run.<\/p>\n You\u2019d expect a guy nicknamed \u201cHollywood\u201d to be a bit of a showman. Marquise Brown<\/a> didn\u2019t disappoint after catching a 25-yard touchdown pass from Josh Dobbs against the Bengals in Week 5.<\/p>\n After the score, he leaped into the first row of seats<\/a> and celebrated with fans.<\/p>\n It might not win an Oscar for Most Original Score, but there seemed to be something behind Puka Nacua<\/a>\u2019s and Cooper Kupp<\/a>\u2019s leaping chest bump<\/a> following Nacua\u2019s 70-yard touchdown against the Browns in Week 13.<\/p>\n It was very similar to the celebrations Kupp used to have with a former teammate \u2014 current Houston Texan receiver Robert Woods<\/a>. Nacua happens to wear the same No. 17 Woods once had in L.A., and the celebration was tantamount to a proclamation that there\u2019s a new receiver duo in town.<\/p>\n Christian McCaffrey<\/a> was in the midst of what would become a 17-game scoring streak when he took a shovel pass into the end zone from 13 yards out in Week 6 against Cleveland, then spun the ball in the corner of the end zone. The 49ers tailback was on such a hot streak that George Kittle<\/a> bent over at the waist and pretended to warm his hands<\/a> over the spinning football.<\/p>\n Kittle also retrieved the ball, something he usually does after anyone scores, though he said at some point he stopped doing it for McCaffrey. \u201cHe scores way too much,\u201d Kittle said.<\/p>\n Maybe there are better trash talkers in the NFL, but no one is a better trash signer than DK Metcalf<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Seahawks wideout, who is learning American Sign Language, dissed longtime rival Ahkello Witherspoon<\/a> by signing \u201c44 is my son\u201d<\/a> following a Week 11 touchdown against the Rams. After a 31-yard score against the 49ers, he signed, \u201cI\u2019m a dog: w-o-o-f,\u201d<\/a> which are lyrics from a 2016 Migos song.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n GO DEEPER<\/p>\n \u2018He has the swag with it\u2019: DK Metcalf\u2019s sign language a \u2018hot topic\u2019 in Deaf community<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/a><\/p>\n The Bears have had their share of fun this season. Jaylon Johnson<\/a> brought back Randy Moss\u2019 controversial fake mooning<\/a> against Moss\u2019 old team, Minnesota, in Week 12. D\u2019Onta Foreman and Khari Blasingame re-enacted a viral video from a slapboxing match<\/a> during a win over the Raiders.<\/p>\n But their best celebration came from tight end Cole Kmet<\/a> during Week 4 against Denver. He scored a touchdown, and then had a fan in the end zone pretend to throw him a pitch, which Kmet hit for a home run<\/a> that another fan tried to catch at the wall behind the end zone.<\/p>\n Amon-Ra St. Brown<\/a> nearly brought a \u201cKey & Peele\u201d skit to life Week 1 with his hip thrust celebration<\/a>. Detroit\u2019s safe-for-work celebration of the season, however, came against the Raiders during Week 8 on Monday night.<\/p>\n Running back Jahmyr Gibbs<\/a> scored and took his leap into the stands to a new level. He actually got all the way into the stands and celebrated<\/a>. He also had to be very careful climbing out the stands, as the wall was not a short climb like Green Bay\u2019s Lambeau Field.<\/p>\n The celebration that followed Malik Heath<\/a>\u2019s first-ever touchdown stands out because it was so spontaneous, so pure.<\/p>\n After Heath made a late-game catch at the pylon against the Giants in Week 14, he crashed into down judge Tom Stephan, taking him to the ground. That led to a couple of uncertain seconds while Stephan got to his feet. The Packers trailed 21-16 at the time, and everyone was waiting on whether it was ruled a touchdown \u2014 including Heath, an undrafted rookie whose helmet was knocked off after crashing into the official.<\/p>\n When Stephan finally signaled touchdown, Heath and the Packers went bonkers, and Heath ran the length of the end zone<\/a> toward the Green Bay sideline.<\/p>\n The Vikings might take first prize for their keg stand celebration<\/a> that followed Mekhi Blackmon<\/a>\u2019s fumble recovery late in a Week 14 game against the Raiders. His teammates hoisted Blackmon upside down into the air, and defensive lineman Harrison Phillips<\/a> even pantomimed pumping the keg.<\/p>\n No, it technically wasn\u2019t a touchdown celebration, but there were no touchdowns in that game. The score was 0-0 at the time, and Minnesota ultimately won 3-0, the lowest-scoring game since 2007.<\/p>\n Jonnu Smith<\/a> ran a long way, 60 yards, for a touchdown in Week 9 against Minnesota. When the tight end finally got to the end zone and tried to stop, he slipped on his back.<\/p>\n No worries, Smith played it off with his first-ever snow angel in Atlanta<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Panthers don\u2019t score much, but when their No. 1 draft pick got his first touchdown, they \u2026 threw the ball in the stands?<\/p>\n In Carolina\u2019s season opener against Atlanta, quarterback Bryce Young<\/a> threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to tight end Hayden Hurst<\/a>, who hurled the ball toward the Mercedes-Benz Stadium crowd<\/a> after scoring. Important note: The Panthers later got the ball back for Young.<\/p>\n Is the best Saints celebration of the year a Jimmy Graham pump fake<\/a>?<\/p>\n We mentioned earlier the banning of the crossbar dunking celebration in 2014. Graham was the first person to get penalized for that back in August 2014, as the league fined him $30,000 for dunking twice<\/a> in a preseason game against the Titans.<\/p>\n The Buccaneers don\u2019t get points for originality, but if it\u2019s not broke, don\u2019t fix it.<\/p>\n The Buccaneers broke out their annual row-the-boat celebration<\/a> last month against the Titans. Ironically, the first time they did it was in 2018 \u2014 against their current quarterback, Baker Mayfield, when they stopped him at the 1-yard line to beat the Browns.<\/p>\n This series is part of a partnership with Las Vegas.<\/i><\/p>\n The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.<\/i><\/p>\n (Top photos of DK Metcalf, Stefon Diggs<\/a> and Tyreek Hill: Michael Owens, Peter Nicholls and Megan Briggs \/ Getty Images<\/em>)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\nAFC East<\/h2>\n
Buffalo Bills<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/cdn.theathletic.com\/app\/uploads\/2023\/12\/26001131\/GettyImages-1716163790.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n Stefon Diggs celebrates in WWE \u201cStone Cold\u201d Steve Austin fashion against the Miami Dolphins. (Timothy T Ludwig \/ Getty Images)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nMiami Dolphins<\/h3>\n
New England Patriots<\/a><\/h3>\n
New York Jets<\/a><\/h3>\n
AFC West<\/h2>\n
Denver Broncos<\/a><\/h3>\n
Kansas City Chiefs<\/a><\/h3>\n
Las Vegas Raiders<\/a><\/h3>\n
Los Angeles Chargers<\/h3>\n
AFC North<\/h2>\n
Baltimore Ravens<\/h3>\n
Cincinnati Bengals<\/a><\/h3>\n
Cleveland Browns<\/a><\/h3>\n
Pittsburgh Steelers<\/a><\/h3>\n
AFC South<\/h2>\n
Houston Texans<\/a><\/h3>\n
Indianapolis Colts<\/h3>\n
\n<\/blockquote>\n
Jacksonville Jaguars<\/h3>\n
Tennessee Titans<\/a><\/h3>\n
NFC East<\/h2>\n
Dallas Cowboys<\/h3>\n
New York Giants<\/a><\/h3>\n
Philadelphia Eagles<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/cdn.theathletic.com\/app\/uploads\/2023\/12\/25225915\/GettyImages-1777180580-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n A.J. Brown celebrates with a post-touchdown dunk with DeVonta Smith (6) against the Dallas Cowboys. (Mitchell Leff \/ Getty Images)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nWashington Commanders<\/h3>\n
NFC West<\/h2>\n
Arizona Cardinals<\/a><\/h3>\n
Los Angeles Rams<\/a><\/h3>\n
San Francisco 49ers<\/a><\/h3>\n
Seattle Seahawks<\/h3>\n
![\"go-deeper\"\/](\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/cdn.theathletic.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=128,height=128,fit=cover,format=auto\/app\/uploads\/2023\/12\/08171617\/120823_MetcalfASL-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/div>\nNFC North<\/h2>\n
Chicago Bears<\/a><\/h3>\n
Detroit Lions<\/a><\/h3>\n
Green Bay Packers<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/cdn.theathletic.com\/app\/uploads\/2023\/12\/26012811\/GettyImages-1863569658-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n Malik Heath (18) scored his first NFL touchdown against the New York Giants on Dec. 11. (Jim McIsaac \/ Getty Images)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nMinnesota Vikings<\/h3>\n
NFC South<\/h2>\n
Atlanta Falcons<\/h3>\n
Carolina Panthers<\/h3>\n
New Orleans Saints<\/a><\/h3>\n
Tampa Bay Buccaneers<\/a><\/h3>\n