Dunk. Shower. Bath. For more than 40 years, these words have captured a moment in sports that’s far more than a sideline stunt — it’s the signature move of champions drenching their coach in Gatorade.
That’s part of what makes it so special. There’s no official name for this tradition; it’s up to what the athletes want to call it and speaks to the joy of winning a big game, Jeff Kearney, Global Head of Sports Marketing for Gatorade, explains.
“The fact that people refer to it in different ways speaks to the symbolism of the moment. It’s almost a rite of passage — into the world of being a champion, or a way to celebrate the sweat that went into the win. The moment speaks for itself.”
Whatever name athletes and fans want to give it — the iconic moment has been on the NFL sidelines since the ‘80s.
The start of the sideline dunk era
The inaugural Gatorade dunk is debatable. Some people trace the first to 1985, when New York Giants defensive lineman Jim Burt dumped a cooler over head coach Bill Parcells after a win against Washington — more payback for Parcells’ tough coaching style than a planned celebration. Others point to the Chicago Bears in 1984, when players occasionally dumped water or Gatorade on head coach Mike Ditka after big wins, a spontaneous celebration that predated the ritual.
Either way, the moment stuck and became an NFL staple.
Linebacker Harry Carson, often credited with popularizing the practice, and other Giants players embraced the stunt and kept it going throughout the 1985 and 1986 seasons. By the time New York won Super Bowl XXI in 1987, the Gatorade dunk was no longer a one-off — it was a full-fledged celebratory ritual.
“The Gatorade dunk is a completely organic, athlete-driven moment. That’s what makes it so unique,” Jeff says. “It came from the team and the culture inside the locker room, and they created it themselves. Now, here we are decades later with this iconic celebration.”
The ritual that keeps growing
As TV cameras showcased the moment, the Gatorade dunk began to spread beyond the NFL — to college teams, high schools, and other professional leagues — and even inspired parodies on TV and in movies, making it one of the most recognizable victory moments in sports.
The beauty of the Gatorade dunk is that it can mean something different to every team, Jeff explains. “It might celebrate a rivalry win at a neighborhood game, a coach’s 100th victory, or any moment that feels special to that team. Beyond a trophy, the Gatorade dunk can take on extra meaning depending on the community and the moment.”
Supporting athletes every step of the way
One of the most intriguing things about the Gatorade dunk is that it isn’t orchestrated by the brand — it happens organically, year after year. It’s a nod to the hard work and dedication the Gatorade team puts into fueling athletes so they can perform at their best.
“The beauty of the Gatorade dunk is that we’re not a sponsor; we’re a supplier,” Jeff says. “We’re part of the action, supporting athletes through training, practices, and off-season work. So, it only makes sense that after all the hard work, they get to celebrate the moment with the fuel that got them there.”