So much has happened in the week since Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle’s touchdown celebration Sunday during his team’s win against the Green Bay Packers. Dowdle’s celebration paid tribute to an iconic Key & Peele sketch with two pelvic thrusts — or pumps.
Well, Dowdle was immediately flagged for the two-pumps celebration, the NFL later fined him more than $14,000 and the Panthers running back then started a GoFundMe campaign in response to his fine. Dowdle is asking fans to donate with “100% of what is raised through this fundraiser will be sent to Children’s Home Society of North Carolina.”
A great response with a benefit to kids in North Carolina over only mild fun being allowed in the NFL, but the excitement didn’t end there. Keegan-Michael Key, one of the stars of Key & Peele, surprised Dowdle and the Panthers with a virtual appearance during a team meeting.
Rico was pretty pumped to see him pic.twitter.com/azDvoWgvEr
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) November 8, 2025
“Let’s get an expert,” Panthers coach Dave Canales said to the team. “Can we get Keegan-Michael Key to explain to us [how many pumps are allowed]?”
Canales then brought Dowdle up to the front of the room, and Key — who obviously loved the Key & Peele-inspired celebration — explained: “The reason I’m here is I wanted to share with you guy, especially you, Rico, that I’ve done my recent research, and apparently, I guess, the rules that are made up in a comedy sketch do not necessarily reflect the rules in the NFL.”
Key’s wife, Elisa Pugliese, also joined the meeting, and they shared that they’re donating $15,000 to Dowdle’s GoFundMe, adding that they were eager to donate to the charity of his choice regardless.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Keegan-Michael Key surprised Panthers’ Rico Dowdle after ‘2 pumps’ fine
