Highlighting the NFL’s finest landing celebrations of the 2023 season

Scoring touchdowns throughout every offensive possession is the unstated aim for each NFL workforce. For many years, celebrations have been the norm in accompanying touchdowns. It goes again all the best way to the Nineteen Sixties with Homer Jones and his landing spike.

Touchdown celebrations have grow to be a choreographed manufacturing for some groups. Think again to the Nineteen Eighties when Washington’s “Fun Bunch” made enemies after its group of gamers participated in a leaping high-five after a rating. And suppose lately when the Seattle Seahawks did their finest New Edition and *NSYNC impersonations, or when the Minnesota Vikings determined to play a sport of Duck, Duck, Goose in the long run zone.

The 2023 NFL season has had its share of memorable landing celebrations. Each workforce has had its second. Some moments, nevertheless, have been greater than others. The Athletic’s workforce of Jason Jones, Matt Barrows and Vic Tafur obtained collectively to reminisce over the season and talk about one of the best landing celebration for every workforce.

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AFC East

Buffalo Bills

“Stone Cold” Steve Austin could be happy with Stefon Diggs’ beer celebration throughout Week 4 because the Bills confronted Miami.

After scoring in opposition to the Dolphins, Diggs ran to the followers, grabbed a few beers and smashed them collectively. It was an act much like what the legendary professional wrestler did within the WWE.

Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins may very well be the topic of a celebration piece by themselves. Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Raheem Mostert and the crew have supplied a number of memorable celebrations.

During a Week 6 sport in opposition to Carolina, Hill’s 41-yard landing reception, coupled with the usage of a photographer’s telephone, resulted in a backflip, in addition to a distinctive selfie. It additionally ended up with the photographer being disciplined.

New England Patriots

The Patriots haven’t had loads of alternatives to rejoice on offense this season. After certainly one of their largest touchdowns of 2023 — Mike Gesicki’s game-winning landing catch late to beat Buffalo in Week 7 — a number of gamers did the Griddy.

While some executed the dance, others nonetheless are not sure precisely what Mac Jones was doing. On prime of that, former Patriot Rob Gronkowski, a fun-loving participant in his day, criticized the workforce for being so completely happy a couple of regular-season win.

New York Jets

The finish zone and the Jets haven’t been acquainted a lot of the season, however their most dramatic landing celebration may need come Week 1 in opposition to Buffalo.

Xavier Gipson used a 65-yard punt return to beat the Bills in time beyond regulation. He was mobbed by teammates and overcome with emotion for the win on the identical night time Aaron Rodgers left the sport with an Achilles harm.

AFC West

Denver Broncos

This workforce does loads of ball spinning and chest bumping. Two years in the past, Jerry Jeudy was even fined for his bow-and-arrow celebration in opposition to Washington and thought of doing it once more however had second ideas in a sport in opposition to Dallas.

Now, he simply rides his horse round each time he scores.

Kansas City Chiefs

There hasn’t been a potato sack race just like the one in 2017 or something that cool this season. And no, we aren’t selecting Taylor Swift’s landing dance with Patrick Mahomes’ spouse, Brittany, from the Week 7 win over the Chargers.

Jerick McKinnon obtained a raise in after a landing throughout Week 14 in opposition to Buffalo. The bench-press celebration capped what was McKinnon’s first dashing landing of the season.

Las Vegas Raiders

It took the Christmas spirit — or, possibly, the Grinch spirit — to overhaul the Raiders after a season of boring landing celebrations. Jack Jones picked off Patrick Mahomes on Christmas morning, and after staring down the Kansas City quarterback whereas working in for a landing, he provided the ball to a younger Chiefs fan within the entrance row of the stands. When the excited fan reached for the ball, Jones pulled it again and merrily scampered off.

Los Angeles Chargers

There haven’t been loads of causes to choreograph for a Chargers workforce sitting on the backside of the AFC West. Gerald Everett, nevertheless, did discover a time to do his finest Ray Lewis impersonation throughout Week 12 — in opposition to Baltimore, of all groups.

Austin Ekeler truly celebrated a primary down together with his workforce trailing Las Vegas by 42 factors. But that doesn’t rely.

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens do lots as a result of they’re truly throwing gifted receivers the ball this season.

There was Odell Beckham Jr.’s Michael Jackson tribute, however prime honors ought to go to Zay Flowers — who did two in a single sport. We didn’t hate the bouquet throw, however we positively favored the penalty kick extra.

Cincinnati Bengals

Joe Mixon proved that there are some Dillon Brooks followers on the market.

Against Jacksonville in Week 13, Mixon scored on a 6-yard run to tie the sport 7-7. That rating — and Mixon’s dance, made common by Brooks, the Houston Rockets small ahead introduced with him from his time with the Memphis Grizzlies — was necessary, because the Bengals wanted time beyond regulation to beat the Jaguars 34-31.

Cleveland Browns

It’s all the time enjoyable when the massive fellas up entrance get to rejoice. It’s even higher when a participant comes dwelling to rejoice.

Browns offensive sort out Dawand Jones sustained a season-ending knee harm early in December, however throughout an October street matchup in opposition to the Indianapolis Colts, Jones had the prospect to ship his personal celebration after a Kareem Hunt landing 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 present with a spike and a dance.

Pittsburgh Steelers

It’s been a troublesome 12 months for the Steelers broad receivers. And but, they’re those on the workforce going out of their option to rejoice touchdowns.

We have to present George Pickens some love for his Week 2 efficiency in opposition to the Browns. Pickens took a move from Kenny Pickett and raced 71 yards for a landing. He then celebrated with the Acrisure Stadium crowd by taking a victory lap.

AFC South

Houston Texans

C.J. Stroud was greater than three months from being born when the movie “Baby Boy” was launched. Clearly somebody had him watch the film as he acted out the most effective scenes when Jody (performed by Tyrese Gibson) and his buddy Sweet Pea (Omar Gooding) tried to search out out who stole Jody’s bicycle.

Stroud lined up his teammates and pretended to punch George Fant, who fell out as a part of the revenge scene reenactment.

Indianapolis Colts

Fans have been denied seeing what Colts tight finish Kylen Granson would have carried out to rejoice his first profession landing throughout Week 2, as his 4-yard, second-quarter catch wanted an official evaluate earlier than being dominated a rating.

But as a result of Gardner Minshew dancing or Zack Moss dunking aren’t precisely distinctive reactions, Granson will get the nod for pondering exterior of the field. He took to Instagram to rejoice his first rating, treating the soccer like a new child baby for a photograph shoot.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Christian Kirk will get props for pretending to be an Amazon supply man in Week 7. But throughout Week 4, the protection obtained to have enjoyable with the celebration.

After cornerback Darious Williams’ decide six in opposition to Atlanta, the protection reenacted the film “Toy Story.” The defenders have been the toys who have been energetic however fell to the bottom as soon as Andy (Williams) walked into the room. Wide receiver Zay Jones stated the celebration was his concept.

Tennessee Titans

With all respect to the Titans’ touchdowns this 12 months, the workforce’s finest celebration of the season wasn’t even after a rating.

It occurred in a Week 4 sport after the Titans protection compelled a turnover in opposition to Cincinnati. The protection had a sack fumble and a restoration, then lined up for its model of a drumline — much like a scene from the movie “Drumline,” starring Nick Cannon.

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys

Let’s be clear: Salvation Army kettles are for cash and payments, not meals objects. But we’re followers of the Cowboys’ transfer to stash a number of turkey legs in one of many outsized finish zone kettles late in a Thanksgiving romp over the Washington Commanders.

After Dak Prescott connected with KaVontae Turpin on a 34-yard landing, Turpin hopped into one of many kettles to retrieve the prizes. Then he, Prescott and Jake Ferguson obtained a head begin on their Thanksgiving meals.

New York Giants

No one is kind of positive what you name it — possibly not even Tommy DeVito — however the Giants quarterback has MetLife Stadium, Northern New Jersey and the whole tri-state space doing his landing celebration.

DeVito began his old-school hand gesture — pinching his fingers collectively and shaking the wrist — in Week 11, and it’s caught hearth since. “I kind of thought it was just the old Italians,” DeVito stated. “When they talk, they start doing (the hand gesture). It’s just a little credit to them.” Could there be a extra good gesture for the DeVito-led G-men?

Philadelphia Eagles

A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith are taking their abilities to South Philly. That was the message after Brown scored a 4-yard landing in opposition to the Cowboys in Week 9. The two receivers took on the roles of former Miami Heat teammates Dwyane Wade and LeBron James with Smith tossing the ball within the air for the larger Brown to slam.

Note: No crossbars have been harmed within the making of this celebration. Brown stopped in need of doing a LeBron-like dunk over the bar, an act that was banned in 2014.

Washington Commanders

After working again Brian Robinson scored a 15-yard landing in Week 4 in opposition to Philadelphia, he hopped to his toes and flapped his arms in wobbly trend, a dig at Philly’s “Fly Eagles Fly” chant.

Or possibly it was a touch upon the Eagles’ rickety protection, which had eight missed tackles that day — together with one on Robinson’s landing run.

NFC West

Arizona Cardinals

You’d anticipate a man nicknamed “Hollywood” to be a little bit of a showman. Marquise Brown didn’t disappoint after catching a 25-yard landing move from Josh Dobbs in opposition to the Bengals in Week 5.

After the rating, he leaped into the primary row of seats and celebrated with followers.

Los Angeles Rams

It won’t win an Oscar for Most Original Score, however there appeared to be one thing behind Puka Nacua’s and Cooper Kupp’s leaping chest bump following Nacua’s 70-yard landing in opposition to the Browns in Week 13.

It was similar to the celebrations Kupp used to have with a former teammate — present Houston Texan receiver Robert Woods. Nacua occurs to put on the identical No. 17 Woods as soon as had in L.A., and the celebration was tantamount to a proclamation that there’s a brand new receiver duo on the town.

San Francisco 49ers

Christian McCaffrey was within the midst of what would grow to be a 17-game scoring streak when he took a shovel move into the tip zone from 13 yards out in Week 6 in opposition to Cleveland, then spun the ball within the nook of the tip zone. The 49ers tailback was on such a scorching streak that George Kittle bent over on the waist and pretended to heat his fingers over the spinning soccer.

Kittle additionally retrieved the ball, one thing he often does after anybody scores, although he stated in some unspecified time in the future he stopped doing it for McCaffrey. “He scores way too much,” Kittle stated.

Seattle Seahawks

Maybe there are higher trash talkers within the NFL, however nobody is a greater trash signer than DK Metcalf.

The Seahawks wideout, who’s studying American Sign Language, dissed longtime rival Ahkello Witherspoon by signing “44 is my son” following a Week 11 landing in opposition to the Rams. After a 31-yard rating in opposition to the 49ers, he signed, “I’m a dog: w-o-o-f,” that are lyrics from a 2016 Migos track.

NFC North

Chicago Bears

The Bears have had their share of enjoyable this season. Jaylon Johnson introduced again Randy Moss’ controversial pretend mooning in opposition to Moss’ previous workforce, Minnesota, in Week 12. D’Onta Foreman and Khari Blasingame re-enacted a viral video from a slapboxing match throughout a win over the Raiders.

But their finest celebration got here from tight finish Cole Kmet throughout Week 4 in opposition to Denver. He scored a landing, after which had a fan in the long run zone faux to throw him a pitch, which Kmet hit for a house run that one other fan tried to catch on the wall behind the tip zone.

Detroit Lions

Amon-Ra St. Brown almost introduced a “Key & Peele” skit to life Week 1 together with his hip thrust celebration. Detroit’s safe-for-work celebration of the season, nevertheless, got here in opposition to the Raiders throughout Week 8 on Monday night time.

Running again Jahmyr Gibbs scored and took his leap into the stands to a brand new stage. He truly obtained all the best way into the stands and celebrated. He additionally needed to be very cautious climbing out the stands, because the wall was not a brief climb like Green Bay’s Lambeau Field.

Green Bay Packers

The celebration that adopted Malik Heath’s first-ever landing stands out as a result of it was so spontaneous, so pure.

After Heath made a late-game catch on the pylon in opposition to the Giants in Week 14, he crashed into down decide Tom Stephan, taking him to the bottom. That led to a few unsure seconds whereas Stephan obtained to his toes. The Packers trailed 21-16 on the time, and everybody was ready on whether or not it was dominated a landing — together with Heath, an undrafted rookie whose helmet was knocked off after crashing into the official.

When Stephan lastly signaled landing, Heath and the Packers went bonkers, and Heath ran the size of the tip zone towards the Green Bay sideline.

Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings would possibly take first prize for his or her keg stand celebration that adopted Mekhi Blackmon’s fumble restoration late in a Week 14 sport in opposition to the Raiders. His teammates hoisted Blackmon the wrong way up into the air, and defensive lineman Harrison Phillips even pantomimed pumping the keg.

No, it technically wasn’t a landing celebration, however there have been no touchdowns in that sport. The rating was 0-0 on the time, and Minnesota in the end gained 3-0, the lowest-scoring sport since 2007.

NFC South

Atlanta Falcons

Jonnu Smith ran a great distance, 60 yards, for a landing in Week 9 in opposition to Minnesota. When the tight finish lastly obtained to the tip zone and tried to cease, he slipped on his again.

No worries, Smith performed it off together with his first-ever snow angel in Atlanta.

Carolina Panthers

The Panthers don’t rating a lot, however when their No. 1 draft decide obtained his first landing, they … threw the ball within the stands?

In Carolina’s season opener in opposition to Atlanta, quarterback Bryce Young threw a 4-yard landing move to tight finish Hayden Hurst, who hurled the ball towards the Mercedes-Benz Stadium crowd after scoring. Important notice: The Panthers later obtained the ball again for Young.

New Orleans Saints

Is one of the best Saints celebration of the 12 months a Jimmy Graham pump pretend?

We talked about earlier the banning of the crossbar dunking celebration in 2014. Graham was the primary individual to get penalized for that again in August 2014, because the league fined him $30,000 for dunking twice in a preseason sport in opposition to the Titans.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers don’t get factors for originality, but when it’s not broke, don’t repair it.

The Buccaneers broke out their annual row-the-boat celebration final month in opposition to the Titans. Ironically, the primary time they did it was in 2018 — in opposition to their present quarterback, Baker Mayfield, once they stopped him on the 1-yard line to beat the Browns.

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(Top photographs of DK Metcalf, Stefon Diggs and Tyreek Hill: Michael Owens, Peter Nicholls and Megan Briggs / Getty Images)