The NFL says it has no problem with “Trump dance” parties

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 a 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 linemen Za’Darius Smith and Malcolm Rodriguez, who showed off their big-play returns.

“There is no problem with a celebratory dance like what happened (Sunday) or the previous week 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 involve violent or sexual acts. Players are also prohibited from wearing printed hats or clothing that promote political views, and Bosa was fined $11,255 for wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat on the field after a game.

But the “Trump dance” is not considered a political statement by the league.

Stars in other sports have also performed the dance since the election two weeks ago, including UFC champion Jon Jones and US men’s soccer player Christian Pulisic, who celebrated with the dance after a goal against Jamaica on Monday night.

Jones celebrated his win over Stipe Miocic on Saturday night with the dance, then pointed to Trump seated ringside in Madison Square Garden and gave him a thumbs up.

Bowers said he came up with the idea to celebrate a touchdown Sunday with the dance after watching Jones do it during the UFC event the previous night.

“I’ve seen everybody do it,” Bowers told USA Today Sports. “I watched the UFC fight last night and Jon Jones did it. I like watching UFC so I watched it and thought it was cool.”

On Tuesday, Trump posted a message to his Truth Social account that read “TRUMP DANCE SWEEPS THE NATION,” accompanied by a video compilation of NFL players celebrating.

Field Level Media and the Associated Press contributed to this report.