Lambeau Leap
![Packers tight end Robert Tonyan jumping on top of the wall around Lambeau Field, leaning in to the fans situation in the stands, after scoring a touchdown](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/Robert_Tonyan.jpg/220px-Robert_Tonyan.jpg)
TheLambeau Leapis atouchdown celebrationinAmerican footballin which a player leaps into thebleachersbehind theend zoneafter scoring. The celebration was popularized afterGreen Bay PackersplayerLeRoy Butlerjumped into theLambeau Fieldbleachers after scoring a touchdown from a fumble recovery against theLos Angeles Raiderson December 26, 1993. The celebration has remained popular ever since, even as theNational Football Leaguetightened rules on touchdown celebrations in the early 2000s. Some safety concerns have been noted by players and staff, including inappropriate touching by fans and the possibility of an injury to the player leaping into the bleachers. Although uncommon, the celebration has been attempted by multiple players from opposing teams at Lambeau Field. The Lambeau Leap is an important component of the history and traditions of the Packers.
Background
[edit]The first Lambeau Leap occurred on December 26, 1993, in a historically cold game between theGreen Bay Packersand theLos Angeles Raiders.[1][2]With the Packers leading 14–0 in the fourth quarter, Raiders quarterbackVince Evanstook the snap, rolled to his right, and completed a short pass to running backRandy Jordan.Jordan was immediately hit by Packers safetyLeRoy Butlerand fumbled the ball.[3]The ball bounced directly into Packers defensive linemanReggie White's hands; White turned around and tried to run to the end zone. However, Raiders guardSteve Wisniewskigot a hold of White and slowly tackled him.[2][4]As White was falling out of bounds, he tossed the ball to Butler, who ran the ball the rest of the way to the end zone for a touchdown.[5]After Butler scored, he dropped the ball, pointed to the bleachers, and leaped into the first row of fans, who then proceeded to embrace him for a few seconds.[6]Butler dropped back down to the field, recovered the ball, and celebrated the score with his teammates.[4]The Packers went on to win the game 28–0.[2]The win clinched the team's first playoff berth in 11 years.[5]At the time,instant replaywas not in use in the NFL; had it been, replays clearly showed White stepping out of bounds prior to tossing the ball to Butler. The Raiders also argued that Jordan never fully completed catching the football and the pass should have been ruled incomplete.[7]
Although other players would perform the Leap, it was popularized by wide receiverRobert Brooks,who would do it after every touchdown he scored.[8]When the NFL updated rules regardingexcessive celebrationsin 2000 and 2014, the Lambeau Leap wasgrandfatheredinto the new rules, permitting it to continue, because it was an individual act of celebration that did not take on the form of taunting.[9][10]
Safety concerns
[edit]A few safety concerns have been noted by past Packers players and commentators. Primarily, there have been concerns for the player performing the Leap, specifically as they come down off the wall. In 2003, during a renovation of Lambeau Field, the wall between the field and stands was lowered, allowing for an easier leap for players.[6]Players have also noted that they have been touched inappropriately while performing the Leap and have had various drinks and food spilled on them.[11]Many players have also had trouble completing the Leap, either crashing into the wall too hard or not jumping high enough.[12]Due to theCOVID-19 pandemic,theNational Football League(NFL) removed fans from the first six to eight rows of the stands during the2020 NFL seasonin order to limit possible interactions or exposure between players and fans.[13]As a result, the Lambeau Leap was effectively banned for the whole season.[14]This did not prevent players from leaping into the empty stands to reenact a Lambeau Leap.[15]
Legacy
[edit]The Lambeau Leap has become an important part of the Green Bay Packers tradition. It is now an expectation that all Packers players who score at Lambeau Field perform the Leap. It also provides a connection between the players and the fans.[16]In 2014, a statue was built outside of Lambeau Field commemorating the Leap. It featured a shortened replica of the end zone wall and four Packers fans, which allows visitors to pose for pictures while doing their own Lambeau Leap.[17]Another replica wall was also built inside theGreen Bay Packers Hall of Famehighlighting the history of the Leap while also allowing fans to perform their own Lambeau Leap.[18]
The Packers have used the Lambeau Leap for various outreach events with fans. The Packers have hosted the Ultimate Lambeau Leap, a fundraiser event for theSpecial Olympics.In 2013, people who raised over $1,500 for the charity were given the opportunity to rappel down the side of Lambeau Field.[19]Taking advantage of a pun on the word "leap", the Packers also promoted aLeap Dayevent on February 29, 2020, that allowed a select group of fans to perform the Lambeau Leap at Lambeau Field.[20]
In 2020, theMilwaukee Journal Sentinelnamed the first Lambeau Leap as the 43rd greatest Wisconsin sports moment.[2]
Notable leaps
[edit]Occasionally, an opposing player will attempt a Lambeau Leap, with mixed results. During the2007 NFC Championship game,New York Giantsrunning backBrandon Jacobsfaked a Lambeau Leap after scoring a touchdown, angering many Packers fans in the stands.[21]Before a game against the Packers on September 20, 2009,Cincinnati Bengalswide receiverChad Johnson,then known as Chad Ochocinco, announced he would do a Lambeau Leap if he scored a touchdown, and then followed through by leaping into the arms of pre-arranged fans wearing Bengals jerseys.[22]
Packers kickerMason Crosbyperformed his first career Lambeau Leap after kicking a game-winning field goal against theDetroit Lionsin 2019. This was unique as it was Crosby's 13th season with the Packers and came after a field goal, not a touchdown.[23]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^Brown, Jeff (January 19, 1997)."Lambeau Leaps in Superdome?".La Crosse Tribune(clipping). p. 6.Archivedfrom the original on May 20, 2019.RetrievedMay 20,2019– viaNewspapers.com.
- ^abcdRadcliffe, JR (April 10, 2020)."50 in 50: LeRoy Butler landed in the crowd for a celebration that became iconic".Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.Archivedfrom the original on May 6, 2021.RetrievedJanuary 5,2022.
- ^Hodkiewicz, Wes (November 17, 2022)."LeRoy Butler: Forever Part of Lambeau Field".Packers.com.Archivedfrom the original on November 18, 2022.RetrievedNovember 18,2022.
- ^abThe First Lambeau Leap.YouTube.com.December 26, 1993.Archivedfrom the original on January 7, 2022.RetrievedJanuary 7,2022– viaLeRoy Butler.
- ^ab"'Lambeau Leap' turns 15 ".NFL.com.Associated Press.December 26, 2008.Archivedfrom the original on January 7, 2022.RetrievedJanuary 5,2022.
- ^abTomlinson, Dylan B. (September 5, 2003)."Lambeau Leap less steep".Marshfield News-Herald(clipping). p. 13.Archivedfrom the original on May 20, 2019.RetrievedMay 20,2019– viaNewspapers.com.
- ^Radcliffe, JR (February 10, 2022)."LeRoy Butler catalyzed the Lambeau Leap for the Green Bay Packers, one of the greatest traditions in the NFL".Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.Archivedfrom the original on November 17, 2023.RetrievedJanuary 17,2024.
- ^Knapinski, Dick (January 23, 1997)."Leap of Faith".Fond du Lac Commonwealth Reporter(clipping). p. 37.Archivedfrom the original on May 20, 2019.RetrievedMay 20,2019– viaNewspapers.com.
- ^Imnan, Cam (October 15, 2000)."'Lambeau Leap' gets league OK ".Clarion-Ledger(clipping). p. 30.Archivedfrom the original on May 20, 2019.RetrievedMay 20,2019– viaNewspapers.com.
- ^Triplett, Mike (March 26, 2014)."Goalpost dunks will draw flags".ESPN Internet Ventures.Archivedfrom the original on June 26, 2017.RetrievedMarch 12,2019.
- ^Kahler, Kalyn (December 9, 2016)."The Art of the Lambeau Leap".Sports Illustrated.Archivedfrom the original on January 7, 2022.RetrievedJanuary 7,2022.
- ^Garber, Greg (January 8, 2015)."A brief history of the Lambeau Leap".ESPN Internet Ventures.Archivedfrom the original on August 17, 2018.
- ^Roth, Chris (June 24, 2020)."NFL to limit fans; will affect Lambeau Leap".WBAY.com.Archivedfrom the original on October 26, 2020.RetrievedJanuary 5,2022.
- ^Huber, Bill (June 24, 2020)."Butler Understands COVID Policy That Could Ground Lambeau Leaps".Sports Illustrated.Archivedfrom the original on October 27, 2020.RetrievedJanuary 5,2022.
- ^Megargee, Steve (September 20, 2020)."Jones' big day helps Packers beat Lions 42-21 in home opener".KSAT.com.Associated Press.Archivedfrom the original on January 7, 2022.RetrievedJanuary 7,2022.
- ^"Lambeau Leap Statue unveiled".Green Bay Packers, Inc.August 1, 2014. Archived fromthe originalon January 2, 2015.RetrievedMarch 12,2019.
- ^Minske, Rachel (August 2, 2014)."New Packers statue honors Lambeau Leap".The Post-Crescent(clipping). p. A5.Archivedfrom the original on May 20, 2019.RetrievedMay 20,2019– viaNewspapers.com.
- ^J F (February 20, 2011)."Lovable Lambeau: The Green Bay Packers' Stadium Is Still The NFL's Best".Bleacher Report.Archivedfrom the original on January 7, 2022.RetrievedJanuary 7,2022.
- ^Swedien, Jon (August 3, 2013)."Lambeau Leap takes on new form".Leader-Telegram(clipping). p. B1.Archivedfrom the original on May 20, 2019.RetrievedMay 20,2019– viaNewspapers.com.
- ^"Madison man proposes at Lambeau Field on Leap Day".NBC15.com.February 29, 2020.Archivedfrom the original on March 1, 2020.RetrievedJanuary 5,2022.
- ^"Manning, Giants head to Super Bowl for rematch with Pats".ESPN Internet Ventures.Associated Press.January 21, 2008. Archived fromthe originalon June 26, 2017.RetrievedMarch 12,2019.
- ^"Ochocinco finds end zone in Green Bay".ESPN Internet Ventures.Associated Press.September 23, 2009.Archivedfrom the original on December 26, 2017.RetrievedMarch 12,2019.
- ^Radcliffe, JR; Owczarski, Jim (October 14, 2019)."Let Mason Crosby's Lambeau Leap be your moment of zen this week".Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.Archivedfrom the original on January 24, 2021.RetrievedJanuary 4,2022.
External links
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)