Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers went viral during Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins, despite his team’s struggles. Late in the third quarter, after catching a touchdown pass from Gardner Minshew II, Bowers celebrated with a dance move that mimicked President-elect Donald Trump’s signature rally gesture.
When asked about his inspiration, Bowers clarified he wasn’t making a political statement but simply thought the move was “cool.” He mentioned seeing UFC fighter Jon Jones perform it during a match the night before. “I watched the UFC fight last night and saw Jon Jones do it. I like UFC, so I thought it was cool,” Bowers told *The New York Post*.
The Raiders ultimately lost the game 34-19, falling to 2-8 on the season, while the Dolphins improved to 4-6. The Raiders are set to face the Denver Broncos next week at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Bowers’ dance is part of a growing trend in the NFL, with players like Tennessee Titans’ Calvin Ridley and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Detroit Lions’ Za’Darius Smith and Malcolm Rodriguez, and San Francisco 49ers’ Nick Bosa also performing the move. Bosa, a vocal Trump supporter, sparked further conversation when he joined in last week.
Even UFC star Jon Jones got in on the trend, performing the dance with Trump in attendance. The celebration comes as Trump prepares to return to the White House in January, following his decisive electoral victory over Vice President Kamala Harris. This win makes Trump the second U.S. president in history to serve nonconsecutive terms, following Grover Cleveland’s return to office in 1892.
