It also had the Dolphins on the lips of those who love talking about Donald Trump.
While the game was all about Tua Tagovailoa’s command of the Dolphins’ offense as he racked up 317 yards in the air, including four touchdown passes, the moment that set social media ablaze came courtesy of veteran defensive lineman Zach Sieler.
After forcing a fumble by New England quarterback Drake Maye late in the third quarter, Sieler broke out the “Trump Dance,” a viral celebration recently that has been gaining traction in the sports world in the wake of the soon-to-be 47th U.S. president’s own triumph earlier this month.
We have no idea whom Sieler voted for. But it should come as no surprise that he — the same man who owns Clay Gully Outfitters, a sprawling 5,000-acre ranch located 30 minutes from Lake Okeechobee where tourgoers can partake in duck, wild turkey, and even iguana hunting — might lean toward the right. But after breaking out his version of the Trump Dance, a few larger red-hat accounts — including a Marjorie Taylor Greene parody account with 700,000-plus followers — made sure the rest of the world knew that just as it was on Election Day, Miami is now Trumpland.
By evening, Trump’s official campaign account, @TrumpWarRoom, wanted in on the act — and was promptly retweeted by a gloating Jimmy Patronis, Florida’s chief financial officer.
Regardless of your political preferences, what Sieler does while celebrating a significant moment on the gridiron should be fine by you as long as he makes the play. After the debacle that was banishing Colin Kaepernick from the NFL for kneeling for the National Anthem as a form of protest for racial equality, players should be free to peacefully and harmlessly express themselves as they’d like.
That’s been the NFL’s stance, anyway. So, like it or not, the Trump Dance is here to stay. NFL officials recently addressed the growing trend, confirming they have “no issue” with the celebration. “It’s up to the networks to cover them as they see fit,” a league spokesperson has said.
The dance, a homage to the once-and-future president’s unique method of vibing to, of all things, the Village People’s gay anthem “Y.M.C.A.,” isn’t only an NFL phenomenon; it has made its rounds across sports, with UFC champion Jon Jones, golfer Charley Hull, and USMNT soccer star Christian Pulisic among recent bandwagoners. So, regardless of whether Sieler continues to boogie, expect it to persist for the foreseeable future.
As for matters non-Trump, the Dolphins’ victory, coupled with the Detroit Lions’ win over the Indianapolis Colts, kept Miami’s postseason aspirations alive. The Colts’ loss dropped the team to 5-7, a half-game back of the Dolphins, who are squarely in the playoff picture.
