How Rico Dowdle Has Raised Money for Charity After NFL Fine for Viral TD Celebration

Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle is using his fine from the NFL to raise money for charity.

The league fined Dowdle $14,491 for his Hingle McCringleberry-inspired touchdown celebration in Sunday's win over the Green Bay Packers. He posted on social media afterward that he was starting a GoFundMe to pay for the punishment.

After joking about it, though, Dowdle decided to follow through on the plan by launching a GoFundMe to raise money for "his fines" that will actually go to the Children's Home Society of North Carolina.

The Children's Home Society of North Carolina is a non-profit organization that focuses on providing services to children and families across the state.

For those who might be unfamiliar with the Key and Peele sketch, Hingle McCringleberry was constantly being flagged for excessive celebrations due to violating the "two-pump rule."

Dowdle obeyed the two-pump rule after his touchdown late in the third quarter, but the officials still flagged him for unsportsmanlike conduct.

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After the NFL announced Dowdle's fine, his agent posted on X they would be appealing the decision. There has been no ruling about the appeal at this point.

Even though the league decided to fine Dowdle, his ability to turn it into a positive charitable venture adds to the good vibes of this Panthers team.

The Panthers have quietly put themselves into the playoff race in the NFC with five wins in their last seven games after an 0-2 start. They are over .500 going into Week 10 for the first time since 2019.

Dowdle has been a big reason for Carolina's surprise success. He has 735 rushing yards, four touchdowns in nine games. Jonathan Taylor and James Cook III are the only running backs averaging more yards per attempt than Dowdle's 5.6.

Carolina's win over the Packers was spurred on in large part by Dowdle running for 130 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries.