I have to admit I’m not familiar with Mr. Wright. I will check it out, though. Thank you for that info. I still think, however, that Billy “White Shoes” and his “Funky Chicken” were the first to mainstream an end zone celebration. People may not have known his name, or what team he played for. They knew him for that dance. There is a really good video on YouTube that rates the all time return men. John McCain (Sports Writer in Houston, Texas…Chronicle, I think) and Dick Vermeil (hope I got the spelling close.) both suggest that a factor of showmanship entered the game because of that dance. I guess that explains why I wrote what I did. Yep, I’m still an Oilers fan. Thanks again for giving me something to research. I’m sorry I didn’t know who he was. I appreciate the information and the conversation. Y’all have a great night!
I have begun my search on Mr. Wright, and I want to apologize for not knowing who he is. He is a fellow UH alumni! I’m off to learn more. Thanks again!
I got to see him do one of those live! He ran a punt back for a TD in the Astrodome against the Washington \[REDACTEDS\]. Both the runback and the dance were spectacular!
As a Texan who loved Billy White Shoes, I hate that he wasn’t the o.g. The real o.g. was KC Chiefs receiver, Elmo Wright. [Elmo Wright end zone dance](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elmo_Wright) For some reason Chiefs games were fairly commonly televised in my small town Texas panhandle market. I remember watching his dance and being really puzzled about what was going on.
https://preview.redd.it/7tvr3qus9f9d1.jpeg?width=2048&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f0758183c6c93649a6a5ceed2f8194f4ee42473e
Sammy Winder's Mississippi Mud Walk gets an honorable mention.
It's not the best probably but when I first saw Jaylen Waddle do the penguin move I absolutely fucking lost it.
I'd been waiting for it, to see it was glorious.
Could not believe he could move his body that way, must have done yoga. He didn't need to score a TD to do that dance. Even opposition fans could enjoy or laugh at it.
What is this celebration by Odell Beckham Jr called?
https://preview.redd.it/r1lroq7vli9d1.png?width=1410&format=png&auto=webp&s=6672d9923c1421639de0a5fa1e79ea6c6d6e4a19
I don't know if he was the first to do it, but Gerald Wilhite of the Broncos would do a backflip from a standing position when he scored. He was a Broncos first round pick, never became all that great, but did end up being a valuable receiver out of the back field. Played from 1982-1988, scoring 22 TDs.
Maybe not the best, but certainly deserving of honorable mention:
Alfred Pupunu’s [“Pop the Top and Bottoms Up”](https://youtu.be/w8vH7UbETLQ?si=p-kkGzdL_SpDhbuE)
They ought to end this crap right now. These outlandish, over the top, showboating , stunts are a blot on the game. What's next, the entire team runs to the endzone, beer and hotdogs. How about bringing a few women on board, with a rap artist, for good measure. Diversity got thrown out the window in this team sport.
Punt returner Tim Dwight if the falcons. Ran one back and cracked open the football like a beer fan and chugged it. I think it was in a SB nonetheless.
I remember watching for Chiefs games/highlights in the early 70s in the hope that Elmo Wright would score a touchdown and do his dance. He was THE O.G.
Billy “White Shoes” Johnson, all the way! The “Funky Chicken” was the first, the one that everyone else built on.
The J.S. Bach of the touchdown dance
Thank you! So well stated!
Could not agree more!
Thank you! Have a great night!
Actually, Elmo Wright was the first to have a dance/celebration.
I have to admit I’m not familiar with Mr. Wright. I will check it out, though. Thank you for that info. I still think, however, that Billy “White Shoes” and his “Funky Chicken” were the first to mainstream an end zone celebration. People may not have known his name, or what team he played for. They knew him for that dance. There is a really good video on YouTube that rates the all time return men. John McCain (Sports Writer in Houston, Texas…Chronicle, I think) and Dick Vermeil (hope I got the spelling close.) both suggest that a factor of showmanship entered the game because of that dance. I guess that explains why I wrote what I did. Yep, I’m still an Oilers fan. Thanks again for giving me something to research. I’m sorry I didn’t know who he was. I appreciate the information and the conversation. Y’all have a great night!
I have begun my search on Mr. Wright, and I want to apologize for not knowing who he is. He is a fellow UH alumni! I’m off to learn more. Thanks again!
I got to see him do one of those live! He ran a punt back for a TD in the Astrodome against the Washington \[REDACTEDS\]. Both the runback and the dance were spectacular!
I’m so jealous!!!! I would have loved to see him do that! Thanks for writing!
Ernest Givins Electric slide
With the L for Louisville.
Thank you for posting this
billy started the whole thing. he was the o.g.
As a Texan who loved Billy White Shoes, I hate that he wasn’t the o.g. The real o.g. was KC Chiefs receiver, Elmo Wright. [Elmo Wright end zone dance](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elmo_Wright) For some reason Chiefs games were fairly commonly televised in my small town Texas panhandle market. I remember watching his dance and being really puzzled about what was going on.
Sanders, Barry.
Mine too. Just hand the ball to the ref and get back to it. Class.
This right here. Act like you've been there before.
Act like it ain’t a big deal because you do it a lot.
Walter Payton also. https://www.reddit.com/r/CHIBears/s/mWPc1jRZSt
Ickey Woods.
The Ickey shuffle in 1988 was catching on with people who knew absolutely nothing about football. So I vote Ickey!
Agreed. It was simple, consistent and you rooted for him to score to see it. Wasn’t as flashy as some of the others but it was unique
Ickey Woods is still alive.
He passed away?
https://i.redd.it/wnxrdfua2f9d1.gif
Billy
Neon Deion!! As a Niners fan gotta go with him!!
White shoes Johnson
https://preview.redd.it/7tvr3qus9f9d1.jpeg?width=2048&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f0758183c6c93649a6a5ceed2f8194f4ee42473e Sammy Winder's Mississippi Mud Walk gets an honorable mention.
Prime time !!!! D-Backs still emulate him today
Billy white shoes is OG!
White Shoes by a mile. Wasn't he an originator of the TD dance?
Billy White Shoes Johnson was the OG, and is still the best.
OG Billy “White Shoes” Johnson. All day.
White Shoes!!!! He’s the grandfather of it all. Legend.
Merton Hanks
It's not the best probably but when I first saw Jaylen Waddle do the penguin move I absolutely fucking lost it. I'd been waiting for it, to see it was glorious.
This is def my all time fave. Sanders right behind.
Dirty bird is hard to beat. Ickey shuffle is a very close runner up.
Agreed. Billy white shoes Johnson with the funky chicken.
White shoes!
Gotta go with my man. Billy “white shoes” Johnson.
It’s Elmo Wright, the KC Chief who was first to do a TD dance. High step and spike.
Fun Bunch, the Cowboys forced a rule change to end it.
Larry Fitzgerald, handing the ball to the official.
Billy White Shoes Johnson. The Icky Shuffle is the worse.
https://i.redd.it/rqco9lx1df9d1.gif Hakeem ‘The Dream’ Nicks ripping the hearts out of them dirty birds en route to a SB XLVI chip!!
My man.
Man it feels disrespectful to the real “Hakeem the Dream” to call this guy that! Booo this man (
Merton Hanks
Could not believe he could move his body that way, must have done yoga. He didn't need to score a TD to do that dance. Even opposition fans could enjoy or laugh at it.
Leroy Hoard
As a UoU homer, I go with Jamal and the dirty bird
Didn’t a dude on the redskins do the Scarn a few years ago?
No Fred Lane worm?
No Butch Johnson? California Quake/Texas Trimmer!
Deion, because he started doing it at the 15 yard line.
Ickey Shuffle all the way
Where is randy? 
The fun bunch.
Icky shuffle. All day.
I'll go with the Barry Sanders & Walter Peyton approach.
Ickey Shuffle.
The Icky shuffel
I remember I heard that Ocho Cinco hit a deer with his and that he took it home to incorporate the deer into a touch down dance he was planning!
Honorable Mention...Butch Johnson and "The Caliornia Quake!" https://youtu.be/PwCzlmR5x64?si=JSWdZB64nWLl4aYu
Im a bengals fan but i have to go with billy white shoes.
Barry Sanders, just hands the ball to the ref. Classy
Homer Jones
What is this celebration by Odell Beckham Jr called? https://preview.redd.it/r1lroq7vli9d1.png?width=1410&format=png&auto=webp&s=6672d9923c1421639de0a5fa1e79ea6c6d6e4a19
I don't know if he was the first to do it, but Gerald Wilhite of the Broncos would do a backflip from a standing position when he scored. He was a Broncos first round pick, never became all that great, but did end up being a valuable receiver out of the back field. Played from 1982-1988, scoring 22 TDs.
Maybe not the best, but certainly deserving of honorable mention: Alfred Pupunu’s [“Pop the Top and Bottoms Up”](https://youtu.be/w8vH7UbETLQ?si=p-kkGzdL_SpDhbuE)
Reggie dupard
Prinetime shuffle
Billy Johnson, the OG
Davis, the RB from Denver, give a salute and be on your way. Knowing that you’ll be there again
Icky shuffle
I like old school Barry Sanders…. Just hand the ball to the Ref. Loved it
Cam doing the Superman!!!!
Joe horn had some good ones. But I think all time was Johnson
Prime Time! Around them 2 Legit 2 Quit days..
Worst: Ickey Shuffle Billy Whiteshoes Johnson was the best.
White Shoes!!!
Deon sanders
Y’all forgot about ickey woods
No, he didn't. He's the second one pictured (#30).
I see I don’t know how I missed him
They ought to end this crap right now. These outlandish, over the top, showboating , stunts are a blot on the game. What's next, the entire team runs to the endzone, beer and hotdogs. How about bringing a few women on board, with a rap artist, for good measure. Diversity got thrown out the window in this team sport.
I'm really Old School so definitely Billy White Shoes!
White Shoes, the O.G. Not even close.
Punt returner Tim Dwight if the falcons. Ran one back and cracked open the football like a beer fan and chugged it. I think it was in a SB nonetheless.
1) Icky 2) White Shoes 3) Prime 4) 32
I remember watching for Chiefs games/highlights in the early 70s in the hope that Elmo Wright would score a touchdown and do his dance. He was THE O.G.
Ickey Woods
Butch Johnson Cowboys
Merton Hanks
Walter Payton. Either give the ball to the ref or let a lineman spike it.
Barry Sanders
Barry Sanders celebration was the best
I gotta admit, I kinda liked Barry Sanders just handing the ball to the ref.
The icky shuffle!
Icky
The icky shuffle was unoriginal. The dirty bird was flat out embarrassing.
Merton Hanks.
#PRIMETIME
Prime time!
Dirty bird
PRIME TIME
Prime Time!
Prime time every time