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NFL's most celebrated traditionsThe Lambeau Leap is nice and so is raising the 12th Man flag in Seattle, but what's the best tradition in the NFL?
Some football traditions are born on a whim. Maybe during a defining moment. Others take meticulous planning. FOXSports.com has crunched the numbers, done the research and present our favourite football traditions.
'IN-COM-PLETE'Nothing enrages opposing quarterbacks at Mile High than a fueled Denver fanbase screaming 'IN-COM-PLETE' after a dropped reception or sailed pass. Congratulations, Broncos fans. You know how to get underneath the skin of Philip Rivers with the best of them.
Chants that spell out Team NamesSome fan-driven chants come and go. The Eagles and Jets have it figured out. Scream at the top of your lungs, while spelling your team name. J-E-T-S! JETS! JETS! JETS!
Patriots musketsTo Patriots’ fans, they’re known as the End Zone Militia. To casual fans, they’re the crazy dudes in subzero temperatures firing off muskets at a football field. With more than 10 minutemen sitting behind each end zone, they pull the trigger every time the home team scores.
Tampa Bay cannonsIf you’ve ever been lucky enough to attend a game at Raymond James Stadium, you’re likely familiar with a stadium-rocking celebration when the Buccaneers score. With a large pirate ship positioned in one of the end zones, cannons fire off when the team scores a touchdown.
Pink in OctoberThe NFL promotes breast cancer awareness month better than any other sport. Whether it’s cleats, gloves, towels or other memorabilia items, the league sets aside its overwhelming amount of testosterone to attack the colour pink on all its products.
Opening NightYou’ve waited all summer, watched hours and hours of preseason football, waited some more and then … it’s opening night. In fact, the energy is heightened and it almost feels like the Super Bowl. Since 2004, the defending champions have hosted the kickoff game, except in 2013 when there was a scheduling snafu with the Baltimore Ravens.
The Terrible TowelOther teams have tried to replicate the Terrible Towel, but have fallen short. Known as being the first rally towel, the yellow piece of cloth runs deep along with Klondike bars and dark beers in Pittsburgh culture. Feel-good fact: Millions of dollars have been raised via the proceeds of The Terrible Towel to benefit Allegheny Valley School, which looks after people with mental and physical disabilities.
Lambeau LeapWhat started as a spontaneous jump into the crowd by former Packers DB Leroy Butler in 1993 has manifested itself into a Sunday staple at Lambeau Field. Now, after nearly every Packers touchdown, a member of the green and gold leaps into the crowd. The NFL has banned dunking over the end zone and using props, but the Lambeau Leap survived the competition committee’s wrath because it has been grandfathered in.
Raising the 12th man flag in SeattleThe Seahawks had no idea they’d be creating one of the NFL’s most exciting traditions when they installed a giant flagpole in the south end zone of CenturyLink Field in 2003. Since then, more than 100 different people have raised the 12th Man flag on gameday, sparking life and energy into the hometown crowd. What a spectacle.
Gatorade BathYou’re not a Super Bowl champion until your head coach is drenched in gallons of Gatorade. Pete Carroll got a drum of lemon lime Gatorade dumped on him to christen his first Super Bowl win.