The NFL is sometimes called the "No Fun League" because of its strict, and sometimes seemingly arbitrary, rules.
But there were plenty of moments throughout the 2023 season that made fans smile.
Touchdown celebrations are one of the ways teams can show their creativity and moxie. Sometimes, they're individual celebrations for one player to show off a hidden talent or engage with fans. Other times, they're carefully choreographed team efforts that have pop culture references.
Either way, they are simply a lot of fun.
The Miami Dolphins seemed to have a great touchdown celebration pretty much every game. But plenty of other teams showed their spirit, and players such as DK Metcalf used their touchdown celebrations for something bigger than themselves.
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What's more thrilling than a Tyreek Hill touchdown? A roller coaster!
The Miami Dolphins did this exquisitely choreographed touchdown celebration in Week 13 against the Washington Commanders after a 78-yard score from Tua Tagovailoa to the star receiver.
They had safety belts and everything.
Stefon Diggs is a man of the people.
In the Buffalo Bills' Week 4 matchup against the Miami Dolphins, the star receiver hauled in three touchdowns. He started the action off with an 11-yard score, went over to the fans and sprayed some beers in a move reminiscent of former WWE star "Stone Cold" Steve Austin's signature celebration.
Fans might have wondered if they were at Soldier Field or Wrigley Field with this Chicago Bears touchdown celebration.
After nabbing a 22-yard touchdown pass from Justin Fields during Week 4 against the Denver Broncos, tight end Cole Kmet had his own fun with some fans. One person pretended to throw a pitch and Kmet swung with expert form. He "watched" the imaginary ball fly into the stands as another fan played outfield and attempted to rob him of the score.
C.J. Stroud impressed the nation with his rookie season, leading the Houston Texans to the AFC South title.
Besides his stats and leadership, the former Ohio State standout also turned heads with his touchdown celebrations. Among them was the "Squabble," the viral dance that involves just the right amount of bounce. Stroud wasn't the only NFL player to do the ditty, but he made the most waves for it and is credited with helping popularize it.
Stroud did the Squabble in Week 3 after a massive 68-yard touchdown to Tank Dell and again in Week 9 after powering in a two-point conversion during a historic five-touchdown, 470-yard performance.
Left, right, let me see you do it.
The Cincinnati Bengals had a down year and missed the playoffs two years after going to the Super Bowl.
But that didn't stop them from having a little bit of fun.
In Week 13 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, they showed off in prime time in their White Bengal uniforms with a 6-yard touchdown run from Joe Mixon. They celebrated by reenacting the Memphis Grizzlies' tunnel dance led by Dillon Brooks.
You would never know it's a football team and not a boy band.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White paid homage to Lil Yachty with this touchdown celebration.
In Week 15 against the Green Bay Packers, White caught a 26-yard pass from Baker Mayfield to reach the end zone. He hopped and mimicked the Atlanta rapper's viral walkout from his set at Lyrical Lemonade's Summer Smash. White's teammates loved it.
Here's another gem from the Miami Dolphins. This one's from Week 2 against the New England Patriots.
After a 2-yard touchdown pass from Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill transformed into Columbus Short for this celebration. His teammates huddled around him and he slid out on his elbow, just like the grand finale in "Stomp the Yard."
Thetas, Thetas, Thetas. We rep the Thetas.
C.J. Stroud did his own homage to a classic film. During the Week 12 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Houston Texans quarterback ran in a touchdown and paid tribute to the 2001 movie "Baby Boy."
Stroud took on the role of Tyrese Gibson's Jody and reenacted the park confrontation. His teammates lined up just like in the movie, and Stroud pretended to interrogate them before knocking down George Fant.
He must've hit him in the teeth.
Zay Flowers acknowledged a highlight of his first NFL season in a fitting way.
The rookie out of Boston College got not one, but two touchdowns for the Baltimore Ravens in Week 12 against the Los Angeles Chargers. The second score featured him acting out a penalty kick in the style of the other football.
But for the first touchdown celebration, which came after a 3-yard pass from Lamar Jackson, Flowers had his teammates line up, he turned his back and tossed the football like a bouquet of flowers.
A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith put themselves in esteemed conversation with this touchdown celebration.
In the Philadelphia Eagles' Week 9 rivalry game against the Dallas Cowboys, Brown scored a 4-yard touchdown, much to the joy of the Philly faithful at Lincoln Financial Field.
Brown pretended to dunk the ball into the field goal post. (Key word "pretended" because actually dunking the ball was banned by the "No Fun League" in 2014.) Smith ran toward cameras with his arms out to his sides.
They ended up close to perfectly recreating the iconic Miami Heat photo of Dwyane Wade and LeBron James.
BONUS: Veteran tight end Jimmy Graham also had some fun with the "no dunks allowed" policy. He announced his return and scored a touchdown in the New Orleans Saints' Week 2 game against the Carolina Panthers. Graham jumped up to nearly perform his signature celebration — he was a basketball player in college — but stopped just short.
DK Metcalf had a handful of great American Sign Language touchdown celebrations this season. The Seattle Seahawks receiver started learning sign language to avoid getting penalized for trash talking, and also to raise awareness for the deaf and hard-of-hearing communities.
The best celebration in our book was in Week 13 when he scored a 73-yard touchdown against the stout Dallas Cowboys defense. Metcalf signed "Standing on Business" to let the world know he was getting his job done. He credited teammate Boye Mafe with the idea.
A backflip has become somewhat of a signature celebration for Tyreek Hill. He did one in the Miami Dolphins' regular-season finale against the Buffalo Bills.
But that one was aight compared to the incredible selfie backflip he did in Week 6 against the Carolina Panthers. After grabbing a 41-yard touchdown that put Miami up for good, the superstar wideout grabbed the cell phone of the videographer who was standing by and recorded while performing his acrobatic leap.
Hill was fined for using a prop during his celebration and the videographer, who is a Hill's friend, had his credential revoked. (Remember, "No Fun League.") But it was a special moment that will go down in NFL history. No one can take that away.
The defense got in on the fun too!
If the Miami Dolphins have the crown for best touchdown celebrations, the Minnesota Vikings have to take the title for best defensive party moves.
Rookie cornerback and special teams player NaJee Thompson has the role of celebration choreographer and came up with ideas such as the limbo and duck, duck, goose.
But the one that really caught the nation's attention was in Week 14 against the Las Vegas Raiders. After cornerback Mekhi Blackmon recovered a fumble, his teammates lifted him up by his feet and he placed his hands on linebacker Ivan Pace Jr.'s back to do a keg stand. The rest of the defense surrounded him and cheered him on just like a real life party.
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