Rico Dowdle was fined for his touchdown celebration Sunday in a win over the Packers. Grant Halverson / Getty Images

Three days after Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle was flagged for reenacting the famous “Key & Peele” sketch with his touchdown celebration Sunday, Dowdle announced on social media he was fined by the NFL.

“Key said I got three pumps but I guess the NFL disagrees,” Dowdle wrote in the GoFundMe he created Wednesday.

Starting a go fund me 🤣 they got me 🥹

— Rico Dowdle (@ricodowdle) November 5, 2025

He jokingly said he started the GoFundMe to cover the costs of the fine, but then turned the situation into an opportunity to support a good cause.

“Actually, 100% of what is raised through this fundraiser will be sent to Children’s Home Society of North Carolina,” the 27-year-old wrote. “Children’s Home Society promotes the right of every child to a permanent, safe, and loving family. They specialize in education and prevention programs, family preservation, and adoption and foster care.”

As of Thursday morning, more than $14,700 has been raised.

Dowdle’s celebration came after a touchdown run in the third quarter of Carolina’s 16-13 win over the Green Bay Packers. Acting out the sketch, Dowdle celebrated with exactly two hip thrusts, counted by his onlooking teammates.

Under “Key & Peele” rules, anything less than three thrusts is fair game, but not in the NFL. Section 3, Article 1 of the league rulebook states “an act that is sexually suggestive or offensive” is a forbidden act of unsportsmanlike conduct. It’s worth noting that this section of the rule didn’t exist in the rulebook prior to the release of the “Key & Peele” sketch in 2012.

Keegan-Michael Key went to social media after the celebration to defend Dowdle. Key played fictional wide receiver Dingle McCringleberry in the sketch, known for his “three-pump” touchdown celebration.

“Rico, man you got robbed,” Key said. “You only did two pumps. I’m sorry man. Now I’m going to have to write a new sketch.”

Dowdle isn’t the first to recreate the McCringleberry touchdown celebration. Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers celebrated with a pair of pumps in 2020 after scoring a touchdown. Rodgers wasn’t flagged, so it appears Dowdle may have a right to be outraged.

Hingle McCringleberry would be proud 😂 pic.twitter.com/oxrjHD5gXU

— PFF Fantasy (@PFF_Fantasy) October 18, 2020

Nov 6, 2025

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Jordy Fee-Platt is a Trending Writer for The Athletic. Before joining The Athletic, Fee-Platt was the Broadcasting and PR Associate for the Hudson Valley Renegades, High-A affiliate of the New York Yankees. He has also been a writer and editor for Hoops HQ, a college basketball website. Jordy is a graduate of Arizona State University’s Cronkite School, where he covered Phoenix pro sports, including the 2023 World Series. He hails from San Francisco, CA. Follow Jordy on Twitter @jfeep