Miami: Cincinnati Bengals’ leading rusher ‘Ickey Woods’ (C) teaches teammates (L-R) Lewis Billups (24); David Fulcher (33); Solomon Wilcots (partially hidden); and Eric Thomas (22), the ‘Ickey Shuffle’ that he performs after each touchdown. The teammates formed the ‘chorus line’ during a picture taking session for the press.

Do you like fun? Well, then — I’ve got wonderful news for you. More than 30 years after the NFL started to clamp down on group touchdown celebrations by introducing language to the 1984 rulebook that banned “any prolonged, excessive, premeditated celebration by individual players or groups of players,” the No Fun League has taken a rather astonishing step in the other direction.

“We are relaxing our rules on celebrations to allow players more room to have fun after they make big plays,” commissioner Roger Goodell wrote in a rather uncharacteristic letter to fans on Tuesday.

Touchdown scorers are now able to use the football as a prop, go to the ground and even include teammates in “group demonstrations” without being penalized.

That 180-degree turn might give us a chance to update this rather stagnant list of great team-oriented celebrations that we’ve enjoyed throughout NFL history:

1. The Dirty Bird

Atlanta Falcons running back Jamal Anderson was the centerpiece, but watching his offensive linemen join in was just magic. For several years in the 1990s, the entire Georgia Dome would join Anderson’s celebratory dance. It was the ultimate group demonstration.

2. The Bob ‘N Weave

Spearheaded by Torry Holt, this was a hallmark of the “Greatest Show on Turf” St. Louis Rams.

3. The Mile High Salute

Simple and understated yet powerful and respectful, the Denver Broncos’ go-to celebration has often said, “We’ve been here before.”

4. The Lambeau Leap

 

Obviously a classic, and an exception to recent NFL rules because of that. Involving the fans makes it seem even more fun. It’s not always a group celebration, but several players often join the touchdown scorer on the leap.

5. The Ickey Shuffle

Like most group celebrations, this one had a ring leader. It was Ickey Woods’ dance, but his teammates often joined in.

6. The Fun Bunch

Washington Redskins wide receivers Art Monk, Virgil Seay, Charlie Brown, and Alvin Garrett, running back Otis Wonsley and tight ends Rick Walker, and Don Warren were called “The Fun Bunch” for their leaping group high-fives in the early 1980s. Pretty basic and seemingly tame, but it was this that led to new rules penalizing “excessive celebrations” in ’84.

Who might join this list in 2017? Watch out for the Pittsburgh Steelers receiving corps, led by Antonio Brown. Odell Beckham Jr. and his fellow New York Giants will also surely be scheming something up, and never count out Cam Newton and his offensive teammates with the Carolina Panthers.

About Brad Gagnon

Brad Gagnon has been passionate about both sports and mass media since he was in diapers -- a passion that won't die until he's in them again. Based in Toronto, he's worked as a national NFL blog editor at theScore.com, a producer and writer at theScore Television Network and a host, reporter and play-by-play voice at Rogers TV. His work has also appeared at CBSSports.com, Deadspin, FoxSports.com, The Guardian, The Hockey News and elsewhere at Comeback Media, but his day gig has him covering the NFL nationally for Bleacher Report.