Pretty much any NFL fan can name at least one major NFL tradition. As many of them have been in place for decades, they’ve also managed to become synonymous with specific teams, rowdy audiences, and even in some instances, specific players. The importance of each NFL tradition can vary from person to person, but it almost seems impossible to witness a game without spotting at least one major tradition.

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The traditions often seem bizarre to those that aren’t in the know, but for fans of any given team, there are traditions that they could never miss out on. With a wide history of unique traditions even partaken by the best players in the league, the NFL is never in a shortage of passionate fans and players.

10 The Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders

Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader Performance

The story of the formation of America’s Sweethearts is one that many likely don’t know. They are by far the most famous cheerleading squad in all of sports and as such, have become a tradition of legend to be included as much as possible during Cowboy’s games.

As the story supposedly goes, way back in the 60s, a stripper began getting the crowd excited during a Cotton Bowl game. She quickly gained notoriety, and that led the franchise to realize that adding in some additional entertainment would be a great way to earn even more money.

9 The Gatorade Bath

An NFL Gatorade Bath

There’s no way sports fans haven’t witnessed a Gatorade Bath at some point. It’s a striking image and one that is hard to push from your mind. It is said that the tradition was started by the New York Giants back in the mid-80s.

The story has varied over the years, but the basic and generally agreed on narrative is that the Gatorade bath was simply a way for a Giants player to get back at their coach for their treatment. From there, it turned into a gesture of excitement, victory, and love for people across the sports world.

8 The Steelers Terrible Towels

The Steelers Terrible Towels

Anyone who has ever attended a Steelers game should be acutely aware of the Terrible Towels that almost everyone in attendance seems to have on hand. The surprising origin of the towel actually stems back to a radio host in 1975.

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The entire purpose of the Terrible Towels initially was to be a simple gimmick for the Steelers broadcaster. Luckily, the Steelers performed well when the towels were introduced, essentially solidifying them in the minds of the Pittsburgh fans. It’s a simple origin for a simple gimmick that fans can’t get enough of.

7 The Detroit Lions Playing On Thanksgiving

Detroit Lions Crowd
© Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

The tradition of football on Thanksgiving is something that existed well before any team in particular adopted the tradition, but Detroit is recognized as the first and longest-running team to uphold the Thanksgiving games.

The reason for the tradition is that college games were often played around the same time, and the NFL wanted to be a part of that historic college tradition. It’s really as simple as that, with Detroit simply having the most spirit when it comes to personal responsibility for the tradition.

6 The Packers Lambeau Leap

The Lambeau Leap
AP Photo/Matt Ludtke

Whether anyone knows it or not, many long-time fans of the NFL have seen at least a clip of the Lambeau Leap at some point. It’s a celebration in which a player attempts to jump into the NFL crowd to celebrate with their fans.

The leap was originally conceived back in 1993 when Packers star LeRoy Butler dove into the crowd at Lambeau Field after a tremendous touchdown. The celebration immediately became famous and is considered an incredibly important Packers tradition to this day.

5 The Seattle 12s

Seattle Seahawks Fans
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

A lot of people have heard of the Seattle 12s but have mixed ideas of what it truly means. The real idea stems back to roughly 2002, and it is a tradition of honoring the incredible Seattle fans that come out each game and support the team regardless of which side of the wins column they’re on.

The team refers to the fans as their 12th man, and has even retired the number 12 jersey in honor of the fans. They also get referred to as the 12s because of how loud the fans are, winning different Guinness World Records for their immense noise level.

4 The Cheeseheads

Packers Cheeseheads

Another famous Packers tradition comes in the form of all those enormous blocks of cheese an NFL fan can see during any Packers home game. The cheesehead hats, which are designed to resemble a hunk of cheese, have been worn since 1987.

The was relatively famous, but it boomed in popularity after a famous story of the cheesehead hat being used to protect someone in a plane accident began to circulate. Since then, the hat has been a mainstay for Packers fans and they were them at every opportunity they get.

3 The Patriots End Zone Militia

End Zone Militia
AP Photo by Winslow Townson

The group of revolutionary war re-enactors that fire off their muskets whenever the Patriots score have been around since roughly 1996. Dubbed the End Zone Militia, their historic celebration instantly became a beloved tradition by the fans.

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Their inclusion seems to be not only a gimmick to help rally both the team and fans, but as a way to tie into the historic nature of the Patriots overall branding. Some End Zone Militia members actually work as re-enactors who take people on tours when they aren’t busy on the field.

2 The Raiders' Black Hole

The Raiders' Black Hole

Despite The Raiders getting a new home over the last few years, that hasn’t stopped fans from continuing the tradition of the Black Hole. The term is another name for the fans as a whole, but it stems from a tradition set by a specific section of fans.

The Black Hole was named for sections 104-107 of the Raiders Coliseum, a section featuring the rowdiest and most diehard fans. They often paint their faces to show their pride, and the specific sections of the fanbase has been a tradition since 1995.

1 Tampa Bay’s Canon

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cannons

There are few NFL celebration traditions as rowdy and heart-stopping as the Buccaneers cannon that fires whenever the team scores. It’s a tradition that actually stems back to the city's historical pirate roots, and has been in place for decades.

The tradition actually caused quite a bit of controversy as the Super Bowl ruled that the cannon could not be fired when they played against the Chiefs. Still, Buccaneers fans can never get enough of hearing the boom of their iconic cannons when a play goes their way.

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