Image via Complex Original
While everyone is obviously excited and ready for the start of the 2013-14 NFL season, it’s going to be a little sad to see a noticeable absence in the over-the-top and elaborate end zone celebrations, which made the league so much fun to watch. With a laundry list of restrictions on players, which prohibit such things as sack dances, spiking the ball, and more, who wants to repeatedly eat a five-figure fine at the expense of breaking an additional sweat and giving the fans a little something special?
With that disheartening fact in mind, it’s probably best to take this time to remember when guys would put that exclamation point on their special moment once they hit pay dirt with something absolutely odd and absurd but ultimately, memorable. From Terrell Owens putting his stamp—not once, but twice—on the Dallas Cowboys’ star logo at midfield, to the original dances created by the likes of Jamal Anderson and Deion Sanders, these are The NFL’s Most Memorable End Zone Celebrations.
Joe Horn’s Cell-ebration
With the NFL upon us, keep in mind that you want to be parked in front of your TV sets during those evening games. Why? Because the players know that the entire world is watching, and if the opportunity presents itself, they want to give you something that you’ll never forget. For example, Joe Horn, who made sure to bless his family and the Sunday Night Football audience with something unforgettable.
Terrell Owens Breaks Out the Sharpie
Date: October 14, 2002
Matchup:49ers at Seahawks
Terrell Owens scored a touchdown, took out a Sharpie, signed his name on the ball, and gave it to a fan. Big whoop, right? Wrong! The various different levels of burn on this celebration are what make it so memorable. Yes, Owens did whip out a Sharpie and signed the ball. But, prior to the game, the 49ers wide receiver promised his financial adviser Greg Eastman that he would not only score a TD, but that he would give him an autographed pigskin during the contest.
When that promise turned out to actually come true, Owens signed the football and handed it over to Eastman, who was coincidentally sitting in the luxury box of Shawn Springs—a.k.a. the guy who T.O. burned for that exact touchdown. Still, Springs took it in stride. “I officially fired my financial planner that he gave the ball to,'” Springs said jokingly after the game. “I would have done the same thing.”
Terrell Owens Disrespects the Dallas Star
Date: September 24, 2000
Matchup:49ers at Cowboys
Future NFL players should learn from Terrell Owens. When playing an away game, don’t go to midfield and stunt while standing on the team’s logo after scoring a touchdown. Not only is it a disrespectful move, but in Owens’ case, you may play for that team a of couple years later. In a game against the Dallas Cowboys in 2000, T.O. scored a touchdown in the first quarter and immediately sprinted to the team’s “star” logo at the 50-yard line and stood there with his arms spread out. Obviously, the players on Big D didn’t appreciate the gesture, and in the ’Boys very next possession, Emmitt Smith reclaimed the star after reaching the end zone from one-yard out. But that wasn’t the last we heard from Owens.
With the game well out of reach, T.O. hauled in another touchdown in the fourth quarter to increase the 49ers’ lead to 41-17 and once again, went to midfield to stand over the star. However, this time, former Dallas player George Teague laid a hit on Owens as he attempted to pull the stunt again.
Randy Moss Moons the Green Bay Faithful
Date: January 9, 2005
Matchup: Vikings at Packers
If you have been following the NFL for the past decade, then you know very well about the time when Randy Moss motioned as if he was mooning the Lambeau Field crowd and rubbed his rear end against the field goal post. If you were watching it on TV, you probably heard the absolute disgust in announcer Joe Buck’s voice in regards to the gesture. However, what you may not have known was that Moss’ actions were the result of Packers fans mooning the opposing team’s buses. It may not change your opinion on the celebration, but hey, don’t dish it out if you can’t take it.
Deion Sanders’ High-Stepping End Zone Dance
Date: Multiple Occasions
Matchup: Multiple Occasions
Often imitated but never duplicated, Deion Sanders’ high-step dance move became synonymous with the man himself. Much like another celebration on this list, The Ickey Shuffle, Deion’s move isn’t all that complex, but it was just so much fun to do. Just ask the league’s current players, including Cam Newton, who broke out the move a couple years back while adding his own spin to it at the end.
The Dirty Bird
Date: October 11, 1998
Matchup: Falcons at Giants
According to former Atlanta Falcons running back Jamal Anderson, the name “Dirty Bird” came three weeks prior to debuting the dance move when the players heard a fan screaming, “Here come them Dirty Birds!” at the Georgia Dome. The evening before their Sunday night contest against the New York Giants, Anderson and a couple of his teammates discussed what they could do to get more attention on how well they were playing (3-1 at the time). Then, Jamal remembered his time with a crew called the Polo Posse in college, who would say, “That ’Lo” and made what eventually became the first move, the bent arm, which goes across the body of the actual Dirty Bird dance. Anderson thought it looked like a wing. Unfortunately, Anderson didn’t score against the Giants, but the following week he did reach the end zone, where he broke out the dance, and the rest is history.
The Ickey Shuffle
Date: 1988
Matchup:Unknown
Ickey Woods may have only spent three years in the league, but his presence is still felt to this day thanks to his signature dance move. The Ickey Shuffle was created by the Bengals’ back during his rookie season in 1988, and his “three hops to the left, three to the right, three back, spike and finger twirl” routine was simple enough for anyone and everyone to replicate. But as they say, nothing is as good as the original.
Chad Johnson Putts the Pigskin
Date: November 6, 2005
Matchup: Bengals at Ravens
Admittedly, it was extremely difficult to limit Chad Johnson to one spot on a list of the most memorable touchdown celebrations. This is the same guy who used his time after scoring a touchdown to break out the Riverdance, propose to a Bengals cheerleader, hold up a sign saying “Dear NFL, PLEASE Don’t Fine Me AGAIN!!!!!!!,” pose for a fake photograph with his teammate Peter Warrick, and the list goes on and on. But there was something memorable about seeing Johnson use the pylon to insinuate that he was playing golf with the football (see 2:45 mark in the above video). Johnson was fined $5,000 for the league’s policy against “prolonged, excessive, and premeditated displays,” but really couldn’t that just describe every Ochocinco TD celebration?
Johnnie Morton Busts Out the Worm
Date: November 9, 2003
Matchup: Browns at Chiefs
If you’re wondering why Johnnie Morton would even do “The Worm,” we would like to counter with, why not? Even with all the pads on, Morton made the move look effortless. Now, excuse us as we try to pull this one off.
Steve Smith Rows the Boat
Date: October 30, 2005
Matchup: Vikings at Panthers
The “Love Boat” party scandal in October 2005, which allegedly included 13 members of the Minnesota Vikings team, was still fresh in the minds of everyone in the sports world. So, when the Carolina Panthers went up against the Vikings later in the month, Steve Smith decided to get in a little dig at their expense. How? Try sitting down on the field after hauling in a 13-yard pass for a touchdown and doing a rowing motion. For those unfamiliar with what was going on at the time, people probably thought Smith was mocking an actual Viking in a ship, but it goes much deeper than that.