The dab became one of the most recognizable celebratory gestures of the 2010s, crossing from hip-hop culture into mainstream sports, politics, and pop culture in a remarkably short time. While the move originated in Atlanta’s rap scene, many Americans first encountered it on a massive stage through professional football. This has led to a frequently asked question among fans and historians of the sport alike: What NFL player made the dab popular? The answer lies at the intersection of cultural influence, timing, and the immense visibility of the National Football League.
TLDR: Although the dab originated in Atlanta’s hip-hop scene, Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton is widely credited with making it nationally popular in the NFL during the 2015 season. Newton’s MVP performance, combined with nationally televised games and playoff appearances, brought the celebration to millions of viewers. His consistent use of the move after touchdowns turned it into a defining image of that NFL season. While he did not invent the dab, he played the central role in popularizing it in professional football.
The Origins of the Dab
Before examining the NFL’s role, it is important to clarify that the dab did not originate in football. The move emerged from Atlanta’s hip-hop culture in the early 2010s. Artists such as Migos, Skippa da Flippa, and others in the Southern rap scene incorporated the gesture into music videos and lyrics.
The dance move involves tucking one’s head into a bent elbow while raising the opposite arm outward and slightly upward. Often performed quickly and emphatically, it became associated with youth culture and celebratory confidence.
- Originated in Atlanta’s music scene
- Popularized in local clubs and music videos
- Spread through social media platforms like Vine and Instagram
By the time it reached the NFL, the dab was already circulating online. However, it had not yet reached the level of mainstream ubiquity that would follow.
Cam Newton and the 2015 Season
The NFL player most commonly credited with making the dab popular is Cam Newton, quarterback of the Carolina Panthers.
Newton began incorporating the dab into his touchdown celebrations during the 2015 NFL season. That year proved to be historic for both Newton and the Panthers. Carolina finished the regular season with a 15–1 record, securing the top seed in the NFC. Newton would go on to win the NFL Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.
Image not found in postmetaThe timing was crucial. Because the Panthers were winning games in dramatic fashion and frequently appearing in nationally televised prime-time matchups, Newton’s celebrations were broadcast to millions of viewers each week. Every touchdown became an opportunity for a highly visible dab.
Newton didn’t use the celebration occasionally. He used it regularly. That repetition cemented the move in the public imagination.
Why Cam Newton’s Dab Went Viral
Several factors contributed to Newton’s outsized role in popularizing the gesture:
- Performance Excellence: Newton accounted for 45 total touchdowns in 2015, giving him numerous high-profile moments to celebrate.
- National Exposure: The Panthers’ winning streak attracted intense media coverage.
- Charismatic Personality: Newton’s expressive style made his celebrations memorable.
- Television Reach: NFL broadcasts command massive weekly audiences.
Other players may have dabbled in the celebration around the same time, but none did so with the same frequency or visibility. In sports culture, repetition and success amplify symbolism. Newton embodied both.
The Role of the Super Bowl
The Panthers’ run to Super Bowl 50 further cemented Newton’s association with the dab. Although Carolina ultimately lost to the Denver Broncos, the two-week lead-up to the championship brought the dab into constant sports media discussion.
By early 2016, the gesture was unavoidable. Professional athletes, college players, high school teams, and even youth leagues were imitating it.
What had once been a regional dance move became a nationwide phenomenon. Analysts debated it. Commentators referenced it. Late-night television hosts mimicked it. The gesture had transcended sport.
Debate Over “Who Really Started It”
It is important to distinguish between originating the dab and popularizing it in the NFL.
Members of Migos have publicly emphasized that the move originated in Atlanta’s music community. Their claim is historically supported. Cam Newton himself acknowledged that he did not invent the dab, crediting its cultural origins.
The key question, however, is not who invented it, but who made it nationally popular within professional football. On that point, sports historians and media consensus overwhelmingly point to Newton.
Other NFL players who briefly used the dab include:
- Russell Wilson
- Von Miller
- Various defensive players after sacks
Yet none were as persistently linked to the move as the Panthers quarterback during 2015.
Cultural Impact Beyond Football
The reach of Newton’s dab extended far outside stadiums. The move appeared in:
- Political events
- School classrooms
- Celebrity award shows
- International soccer celebrations
It even became part of video game animations and sports highlight reels. In Madden NFL, players could trigger celebrations that resembled the move, reinforcing its cultural permanence.
When athletes at every level mimic a professional player’s celebration, it marks the arrival of a cultural moment. By early 2016, children across the United States were dabbing after scoring in youth football games. Many of them associated the gesture directly with Cam Newton.
The Criticism and Controversy
Not everyone welcomed the celebratory style. Some critics argued that excessive celebrations detracted from sportsmanship. Newton himself faced heightened scrutiny, partly because of his expressive personality and partly due to long-standing debates within football culture about appropriate conduct.
Despite criticism, the NFL at the time permitted individual celebrations that were not deemed taunting. Newton’s dab generally complied with league rules.
The very controversy may have amplified its visibility. In professional sports, criticism often intensifies attention rather than diminishing it.
Why Timing Matters in Cultural Moments
One of the most important elements in explaining Newton’s influence is timing. The mid-2010s marked:
- The rapid rise of social media sharing
- Explosion of short-form video platforms
- Increased meme culture
When Newton dabbed after touchdowns, clips spread instantly through Twitter, Instagram, and sports blogs. Highlight packages circulated within minutes of live broadcasts. The move was perfectly suited to digital repetition: simple, distinctive, and easy to imitate.
Had the same performance occurred a decade earlier, its reach might have been more limited. Instead, Newton’s MVP season coincided with peak viral amplification.
Legacy of the Dab in the NFL
While the dab’s cultural peak was relatively brief, it remains an enduring symbol of the 2015 NFL season. When football historians look back at that year, images of Newton celebrating in the end zone frequently accompany discussions of the Panthers’ dominance.
Over time, new celebrations have emerged. The NFL is constantly evolving in its expressive language. Yet few moves have achieved the same broad, cross-generational penetration so rapidly.
The legacy can be summarized in several ways:
- Cultural Bridge: It connected hip-hop culture and professional football in a visible way.
- Signature Moment: It symbolized Cam Newton’s MVP season.
- Viral Phenomenon: It demonstrated the growing power of social media in shaping sports culture.
Final Assessment: What NFL Player Made the Dab Popular?
The historical evidence is clear: Cam Newton made the dab popular in the NFL.
He did not invent the move, nor did he claim to. However, his extraordinary 2015 season, coupled with prime-time exposure, repeated use, and a charismatic presence, transformed the dab from a regional dance into a national sports phenomenon.
In professional athletics, gestures become iconic when performance, personality, and visibility converge. Newton’s MVP campaign provided precisely that convergence. As a result, the image of a quarterback lowering his head into his elbow remains one of the enduring visual symbols of mid-2010s football.
For those seeking a definitive answer grounded in both cultural context and sports history, the conclusion is straightforward: while Atlanta’s hip-hop artists created the dab, it was Cam Newton who carried it into living rooms across America and made it a defining moment in NFL history.