Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez and defensive end Za’Darius Smith unveiled a creative sack celebration during their game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.
After Smith and Jack Campbell combined for a sack of Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones, the two players engaged in a unique group celebration.
They mimicked swinging golf clubs, followed by a quick dance move, which initially led some to believe the celebration was politically inspired.
However, Rodriguez and Smith later clarified to Lions OnSI that their celebration was a tribute to the classic 1980s comedy Caddyshack, starring Chevy Chase and Rodney Dangerfield.
In the film, a gopher performs a dance that mirrors the moves performed by the two Lions players. The idea for the celebration came to Rodriguez and Smith on game day.
Smith, in his first game with the Lions after being traded from the Cleveland Browns at the trade deadline, began by crawling on the field to impersonate the gopher from the movie. As the play ended, Campbell also joined the fun.
Rodriguez was also playing in his first game back after recovering from an ankle injury that kept him sidelined for two weeks. The trio’s sack celebration was part of a dominant defensive performance by the Lions, who held the Jaguars scoreless for most of the game.
Detroit’s defense only allowed two field goals—one at the start and one at the end of the first half. The Lions went on to win 52-6, with the Jaguars failing to reach the end zone throughout the rest of the game.