The NFL “has no problem” with its players incorporating the “Trump dance” into their on-field celebrations.
San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa celebrated the sack of Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield in Week 10 by performing President-elect Donald Trump’s signature dance that has gone viral.
He was joined over the weekend by Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers, Tennessee Titans wide receivers Calvin Ridley and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, and Detroit Lions defensive backs Za’ Darius Smith and Malcolm Rodríguez, showing their performances after great plays.
“There is no problem with a celebration dance like the one that took place [Sunday] or the week before with the 49ers on Nov. 10,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told Front Office Sports. “It’s up to the networks to cover them as they see fit.”
NFL rules allow players to celebrate as long as the celebrations are not excessive and do not include violent or sexually suggestive acts. Players are also not allowed to wear printed hats or clothing that promotes political opinions, and Bosa was fined $11,255 for wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat on the field after a game.
However, the “Trump dance” is not considered a political statement by the league.
Stars from other sports have also shown off the dance since the election two weeks ago, including UFC champion Jon Jones and U.S. men’s national team soccer player Christian Pulisic, who celebrated with the dance after a goal against Jamaica. on Monday night.
Jones celebrated his victory over Stipe Miocic on Saturday night by dancing and then pointed to Trump sitting in the ring at Madison Square Garden and gave him a thumbs up.
Bowers said he got the idea to celebrate a touchdown on Sunday with the dance after watching Jones do it during the UFC event the night before.
“I’ve seen everyone do it,” Bowers told USA Today Sports. “I watched the UFC fight last night and Jon Jones did it. I like watching the UFC, so I watched it and thought it was cool.”
On Tuesday, Trump posted a message to his Truth Social account that read, “TRUMP’S DANCE SWEPS THE NATION,” accompanied by a compilation of videos of NFL players celebrating.
Field Level Media and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
