CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 12: Rico Dowdle #5 of the Carolina Panthers runs for a touchdown during the third quarter against the Dallas Cowboys in the game at Bank of America Stadium on October 12, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle got creative in dealing with the punishment handed by the NFL.
The league fined the running back a reported $14,491 for his “two-pump” celebration after scoring a touchdown in Sunday’s 16-13 road win against the Green Bay Packers. The celebration was a reference to a 2013 Key & Peele comedy sketch.
Since the NFL bans any celebrations of a sexual nature, the gesture resulted in the Panthers being penalized with a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
Dowdle posted about his fine on Wednesday on his X account and said he was going to start a GoFundMe page. However, what started out as a joke, Dowdle will be using the fundraiser for a charity donation.
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“Actually, 100% of what is raised through this fundraiser will be sent to Children’s Home Society of North Carolina,” Dowdle wrote on the GoFundMe page. “Children’s Home Society promotes the right of every child to a permanent, safe, and loving family. They specialize in education and prevention programs, family preservation, and adoption and foster care. Let’s raise some money.”
As of Thursday afternoon, over $18,000 has been raised and is nearing the $20,000 target amount.
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