Against the Jaguars, the Lions Show Off Their Distinct Sack Celebration

Malcolm Rodriguez and Za’Darius Smith share what inspired the sack celebration.

After splitting a sack against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, defensive end Za’Darius Smith and linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez of the Detroit Lions celebrated as a team.

After Smith defeated Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones, the two players swung make-believe golf clubs before quickly dancing. At first, a lot of people thought the two athletes were performing a well-liked and politically connected celebration.

Rodriguez and Smith, however, both told Lions OnSI that the celebration was based on the classic comedy film “Caddyshack,” which starred Rodney Dangerfield and Chevy Chase.

One of the gophers in the film dances similarly to Smith and Rodriguez. At the end of the act, Campbell even joined in on the fun. “On gameday, they thought of the celebration,” Rodriguez stated. Smith started off by mimicking the gopher from the movie by crawling on the field.

Smith was participating in his first Lions game following his trade deadline acquisition from the Cleveland Browns. Rodriguez, meanwhile, was participating in his first game since missing the previous two due to an ankle ailment.

Throughout Sunday’s game, the Jaguars were kept out of the end zone by a defensive effort that included both players. The Lions’ defence allowed field goals on Jacksonville’s opening and closing drives of the first half and failed to score any points for the rest of the game, which resulted in a 52-6 victory.

49ers’ $40 million star anticipated to transition from San Francisco to the Lions

In Week 11 of the 2024 season, the Detroit Lions had their most commanding victory by defeating the Jacksonville Jaguars 52-6. Dan Campbell’s team have a 9-1 record and occupies single first place in the NFC North as they approach the last seven games of the season.

The Lions possess one of the most robust rosters in the NFL and exhibit little conspicuous deficiencies. Despite enhancements in 2024, Detroit’s secondary remains significantly lacking. The backend has exhibited significant inconsistency for the Lions this season, prompting general manager Brad Holmes to consider augmenting the roster.

Given the Lions’ pursuit of a defensive back this summer, Bleacher Report’s Scouting Department posits that San Francisco 49ers’ cornerback Charvarius Ward might be a sensible addition to Detroit.

Acquiring San Francisco 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward would be advantageous for any club with Super Bowl ambitions. He is a premier starter on the perimeter with extensive playoff experience, having participated in Super Bowls for both the 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs.

“In 2024, secondary play remains one of Detroit’s few vulnerabilities.” Considering that Davis will be a free agency in the spring, the Lions should definitely evaluate their cornerback possibilities in the open market.

Despite the 49ers’ lacklustre performance this season, Ward is enjoying another remarkable campaign, permitting only a 53.1% completion percentage and an 86.5 passer rating when targeted across seven games. The former Chief is a reliable starting cornerback with significant championship experience, having been selected as a Pro Bowler and second-team All-Pro in 2023.

Ward is expected to seek a substantial deal in the free market; nevertheless, it should remain within the Lions’ financial capacity. Should the club fail to re-sign Carlton Davis, a free agency this summer, Brad Holmes ought to substitute Davis with the seasoned Charvarius Ward.