Drew Lock celebrations, explained: Seahawks QB's post-TD creativity, from Buzz Lightyear to backpack to 'Anchorman'

David Suggs

•
Drew Lock celebrations, explained: Seahawks QB's post-TD creativity, from Buzz Lightyear to backpack to 'Anchorman' image

The amphitheater erupts into a cacophony of thunderous applause, shaking from the rhythm that swirls along its walls. The conductor of such theatrics? A gaunt gunslinger who looms larger than life inside the pocket: Seahawks QB Drew Lock.

Lock is one of the league's more recognizable backups. He's dovetailed between middling starter and capable understudy over the course of his four-year career. And although he hasn't quite found sustainable success, he does draw glares for at least one reason.

The haggard hurler has a tendency to bust a move whenever he finds paydirt, employing increasingly dizzying choreography to express his euphoria after scoring a touchdown. It's one of Lock's signature traits: of his 32 career touchdowns, a great many of them were accompanied with operatic flair.

MORE: How much money has Drew Lock earned in his NFL career?

Here's what you need to know about Lock's most iconic touchdown celebrations.

Drew Lock celebrations, explained

Much like Michelangelo or Mozart, Lock has produced copious works of art throughout his time under the spotlight. His first foray into the world of miming came in 2017, the year he decided to get into his bag...literally.

Backpack celebration

Lock's four-year spell at Missouri was sparkled with scores: 108 of them in total. He was at his absolute pinnacle in 2017, the season where he exploded for 44 touchdown passes and 3,964 yards en route to a earning first-team All-SEC honors.

Lock clearly had an affinity for the end zone. And like any perfectionist, he had mapped out just what to do when the ball crossed the plane.

The then-junior decided to don an invisible backpack when he found the promised land, gleefully tightening up his makeshift straps whenever the opportunity presented itself. First graders had nothing on Lock, whose love of passing was only matched by his adoration of JanSport.

It was a brash gesture, admittedly. And it certainly rubbed some folks the wrong way, including, most famously, Texas and its head coach, Tom Herman. The Longhorns had some fun with Lock's go-to move after plucking him in their head-to-head matchup, much to the chagrin of the Tigers faithful. 

Nevertheless, all publicity is good publicity. And if there's one thing Texas' response showed, it was that Lock was a force to be messed with once he breached the plane of the end zone.

MORE: Revisiting Drew Lock's impressive career at Missouri

'Whammy!'

The scores dried up for Lock a bit as a senior; the Tigers lost some talent in their receiving corps and the SEC slate is a notoriously brutal one. Even then, Lock still had some magic in his arm. He also had an appreciation for pop culture that stretched way beyond his years.

Lock opted for a new way to mark his scores: by yelling out the word, "Whammy!"

The phrase hit like a buckshot to the ears of nearby defenders. But where did such an expression come from?

Lock was just 8 years old when "Anchorman" came out. It left an impression on him all the same, however. And the then-senior decided to pay homage to the classic film by interpolating one of its most iconic lines, delivered by faux sports broadcaster Champ Kind (played by David Koechner):

"Whammy," Lock said back in 2018. "Whammy's the new thing. If you've seen Anchorman,... when they start broadcasting sports, touchdowns, 3-pointers, slam dunks, home runs, all he yells is 'Whammy.' So when we score touchdowns, it's 'Whammy' now."

Talk about calling an audible.

MORE: Revisiting trade that landed QB Drew Lock with Seahawks, Russell Wilson with Broncos

Buzz Lightyear

Lock entered the professional ranks in 2019. It was only right for him to mark the occasion with another alteration to his war chest of celebrations.

He scoured the pop culture world for another decorative bow to add to his collection. Ultimately, he found an answer in the unlikeliest of places: Pixar.

Lock turned back the clock, mimicking Buzz Lightyear while acting as if he was firing off light beams into the endless darkness. Suffice to say, it took the NFL by storm.

Lock's inspiration for the gesture actually came from his then-teammates on the Broncos. Denver's offensive line suggested that Lock reinterpret the move during his next foray into the promised land.

Still, Lock had some idea of what he was getting himself into.

"I love that movie," Lock said of the 'Toy Story' franchise, the series that birthed the celly. "All four of them... Buzz is older than me. We've got to bring back some legends sometimes."

Lock isn't one of the league's best players. He is, however, one of its most ebullient personalities. And that shines through when he finds paydirt. Because more often than not, you're going to see something you've never witnessed before afterwards.

David Suggs

David Suggs Photo

David Suggs is a content producer at The Sporting News. A long-suffering Everton, Wizards and Commanders fan, he has learned to get used to losing over the years. In his free time, he enjoys skateboarding (poorly), listening to the likes of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and D’Angelo, and penning short journal entries.