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A history of Cam Newton and the ‘Dab’

Back in October, Cam Newton sparked a nationwide dance craze by hitting the ‘Dab’ to celebrate first downs and touchdowns. Though the dance was created by rap

Kenny Ducey

A history of Cam Newton and the ‘Dab’
A history of Cam Newton and the ‘Dab’ /

Back in October, Cam Newton sparked a nationwide dance craze by hitting the ‘Dab’ to celebrate first downs and touchdowns. Though the dance was created by rap group Migos, and first introduced to the NFL by Bengals running back Jeremy Hill, Newton is widely credited for making the dance popular. With his love for the move, excellence in football, and national audience, Newton was the perfect candidate to take the ‘Dab’ and launch the nation into a frenzy.

While the ‘Dab’ was created in the summer, and Cam debuted it in October, the movement is still going strong today. He’ll likely dab more than once in Sunday’s Super Bowl.

Here’s a brief timeline of Cam Newton and the ‘Dab.’

Oct. 18, 2015 – First recorded in-game dab

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Nov. 15, 2015 – Dab and scuffle with the Titans

Newton dances for eight seconds after a late touchdown against the Titans. When two Titans players confront him about the celebration, he continues to dance in their faces, even as he backs away. This was highly controversial.

After the game, he explains that he does the dance because his 16-year-old brother once urged him to.

Nov. 17, 2015 – Mother writes letter about Newton’s dab

Tennesee Titans fan Rosemary Plorin, who was at the game with her 9-year-old daughter, writes a letter to Newton about his dab that is obtained by The Charlotte Observer.

“I don’t know about your family life Mr. Newton, but I think I’m safe in saying thousands of kids watch you every week,” she says. “You have amazing talent and an incredible platform to be a role model for them. Unfortunately, what you modeled for them today was egotism, arrogance and poor sportsmanship.”

Nov. 27, 2015 – Dab courtside at the Hornets game

[youtube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySilAPr6fW4]

Dec. 13, 2015 – Team dab

All of the Panthers catch on to the ‘Dab’ in December. Well, everyone except for Greg Olsen.

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Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
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Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Feb. 5, 2016 – Cam dabs for Snoop Dogg

Feb. 6, 2016 – Panthers dab in team photo before Super Bowl

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Kenny Ducey
KENNY DUCEY

Kenny Ducey writes baseball, basketball and off-beat stories for SI.com. He is a member of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, and an editor at Baseball Prospectus.

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