It started with a sack. Then a touchdown. Then, suddenly, everyone was doing the herky-jerky, double-fist-pump shimmy that has become synonymous with the 45th and 47th President. If you've spent even ten seconds on social media lately, you’ve seen the nfl trump dance videos taking over your feed. It’s not just one player or one team anymore; it’s a full-blown cultural moment that has the league office, broadcasters, and fans all talking at once.
Honestly, it caught a lot of people off guard. For years, the NFL felt like a place where political expression was a one-way street or a source of immense corporate anxiety. Now? The "Trump Dance" is basically the new Griddy.
The Spark: How the Trend Exploded
Nick Bosa didn't just start a trend; he kicked the door down. Back on November 10, 2024, after dropping Baker Mayfield for a sack, the San Francisco 49ers star broke out the move. He wasn't alone. Teammates Leonard Floyd, Fred Warner, and Sam Okuayinonu joined in. It was a defiant follow-up to Bosa being fined $11,255 for wearing a "Make America Great Again" hat during a postgame interview just a week earlier.
The fine was for a uniform violation—specifically, "conveying personal messages" without league approval. But the dance? That’s just a celebration. And the NFL knows it.
Then came the weekend that changed everything. On November 17, 2024, the floodgates opened. Raiders rookie sensation Brock Bowers hauled in a 23-yard touchdown against the Dolphins and immediately went into the shimmy. When asked about it later, Bowers didn't make it a political manifesto. He told USA Today, "I've seen everyone do it. I watched the UFC fight last night and Jon Jones did it. I thought it was cool."
He wasn't the only one.
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- Calvin Ridley and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (Titans) did it after a big play.
- Za'Darius Smith and Malcolm Rodriguez (Lions) busted it out after a sack.
- Even Amon-Ra St. Brown kept the momentum going well into 2025, performing it in front of the President during a "Salute to Service" game.
Why NFL Trump Dance Videos Went Viral
It’s about the "cool factor" and the "controversial factor" colliding. Sports celebrations have always been about personality. When Jon Jones did the dance at UFC 309 in front of Trump himself at Madison Square Garden, it gave athletes a "green light" to have some fun with it.
There is also a sense of "fearlessness" that former players like Brian Urlacher have pointed out. Urlacher mentioned on Fox News that players used to be "scared" to show support for Trump. Now? That hesitation seems to have evaporated for many. Whether it's a political statement or just a viral meme, the visual is unmistakable. It’s short, it’s easy to mimic, and it generates millions of views.
The Broadcaster Dilemma
One of the weirdest parts of this whole saga was how the media handled it. NFL Trump dance videos started disappearing—or rather, they were being "edited."
During that Raiders-Dolphins game, the CBS broadcast showed Bowers doing the dance live. But when the "NFL on CBS" social media accounts posted the highlight, they curiously cut the video right before the dance started, jumping straight to a shot of Raiders owner Mark Davis. People noticed. Outkick and other outlets called it out as a "cover-up," though others argued it was just a standard editing choice for brevity.
Even more bizarre was the Raiders' PR team. After Bowers gave his "I saw Jon Jones do it" answer, they abruptly ended his press conference. The team’s official YouTube channel and website transcript completely omitted the question and the dance. It felt like the teams were more nervous about the dance than the players were.
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Is the League Going to Ban It?
The short answer: No.
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy made it clear: "There's no issue with a celebratory dance such as what took place." The league has a long history of letting players express themselves through celebrations as long as they aren't "excessive" or "inappropriate" (think: anything involving a prop or being overtly vulgar).
Stephen A. Smith, who isn't exactly a MAGA die-hard, actually defended the players' right to do it. On his podcast, he ranted about being "pissed off" that the NFL even had to address it. His point was simple: It’s America. Players can support who they want. If they want to dance like the President-elect, let 'em dance.
The Impact Beyond the End Zone
This isn't just a football thing anymore. It’s a global sports phenomenon.
- Christian Pulisic did it after scoring for the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team.
- Charley Hull did it on the golf course.
- Players for the English soccer club Barnsley even did it after a goal.
- Detroit Tigers players like Gleyber Torres brought it to the MLB diamond.
Even the music world felt the ripple. "Y.M.C.A." by the Village People—the unofficial soundtrack to the dance—shot back onto the Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic charts for the first time in nearly 50 years.
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Realities and Misconceptions
There’s a lot of talk about whether every player doing this is a secret political operative. Probably not. For guys like Nick Bosa, yeah, the support is clear. But for a 22-year-old rookie like Brock Bowers, it’s often just about what’s trending on TikTok and UFC highlights.
It’s also worth noting the contrast. Just a few years ago, the league was defined by the "taking a knee" protests. Today, the pendulum has swung toward a different kind of expression. It shows how much the cultural "vibe" of the locker room changes with the political climate of the country.
What to Look for Next
If you’re looking for more nfl trump dance videos, keep an eye on the big prime-time games. The trend isn't slowing down; if anything, it’s becoming a standard part of the celebration rotation.
- Watch the "All-22" footage: Networks often cut away to commercials or owners' boxes, but the raw stadium feeds usually capture the full celebration.
- Follow the Players, Not the Teams: Team social media accounts are still playing it safe and often edit the dances out. The players' personal Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) accounts are where the unedited footage lives.
- Check the Fine Sheets: While the dance is safe, "messages" on gear aren't. If a player tries to pair the dance with a custom undershirt or a hat, expect the league to drop a fine.
The reality is that sports and politics have always been roommates. Sometimes they get along, sometimes they scream at each other, but they’re never moving out. The Trump dance is just the latest chapter in that long, complicated history.
To stay ahead of how these trends impact the league, you should follow independent sports reporters who cover the intersection of culture and the NFL. They tend to catch the details that official team broadcasts might "accidentally" skip over during the next big touchdown celebration.