CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carolina Panthers coach Dave Canales shocked his gamers Saturday by having comic Keegan-Michael Key make clear why the NFL fined working again Rico Dowdle $14,491 for his two pelvic-pump celebration in Sunday’s 16-13 upset of the Inexperienced Bay Packers.
“We have nonetheless obtained to get clarification on the rule, Rico, in case so [it happens again] … Let’s get an skilled,” Canales stated throughout the assembly. “Can we get Keegan-Michael Key to elucidate it to us?”
The staff burst into laughter as Key, whose “Key & Peele” comedy sketch on pelvic pumps first aired on Comedy Central in 2013 and who defended Dowdle earlier this week, confirmed up on the massive display screen.
Rico was fairly pumped to see him pic.twitter.com/azDvoWgvEr
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) November 8, 2025
Then Canales requested Dowdle to return to the entrance.
“We wish to be on it,” Canales stated of the league rule that, Dowdle assumed, due to the sketch and what he’d seen different gamers do, made two pumps acceptable.
Key stated the rationale he was requested to elucidate was that he had carried out analysis on the rule and got here to a brand new conclusion
“Apparently, I assume, the principles which might be made up in a comedy sketch don’t essentially mirror the principles of the NFL,” he stated.
Extra laughter from gamers ensued.
Key joked he did some math and confirmed $14,000 for 2 pumps equals $7,000 per pump, so if Dowdle does no pumps for his subsequent celebration that will equal “zero thousand {dollars} in a superb.”
Extra laughter.
The comic then launched his spouse, Elle Key, who introduced the couple was going to donate $15,000 to Dowdle’s GoFundMe.
Dowdle introduced by way of social media after the NFL fined him $14,491 for the celebration that he was partnering with GoFundMe to make use of his superb cash for charity.
I’ve partnered with GoFundMe to place cash for fines in the direction of a better trigger!!… Click on the hyperlink to be taught extra.https://t.co/CFdO3HLHC2
— Rico Dowdle (@ricodowdle) November 6, 2025
As of early Saturday afternoon, the fund had raised greater than $27,000.
“It was a joke at first,” Dowdle stated Thursday as he defined the superb and the following GoFundMe. “It became one thing a lot greater … Fortunately, everyone was capable of really donate to a better trigger. These youngsters are actually needy individuals within the basis.”
When requested what he deliberate to do to rejoice if he scored Sunday towards the New Orleans Saints, Dowdle deadpanned: “Wait and see.”