The Griddy, a dance move that’s become synonymous with sports celebrations and viral TikTok trends, originated from an unlikely source. Unlike many dance crazes that emerge from professional choreographers, this distinctive side-to-side shuffle with synchronized arm movements has humble beginnings that trace back to a high school football player with a creative spirit.
The Birth of a Viral Celebration
Allen Davis, known by his nickname “Griddy,” created the dance in 2018 while at Landry-Walker High School in New Orleans. What began as a spontaneous locker room celebration quickly caught the attention of his teammates. The dance features a distinctive side-to-side shuffle while tapping your heels, combined with swinging arms and a motion that mimics looking through binoculars or glasses.
Davis’s friend, Louisiana State University wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, helped propel the dance to national prominence when he began performing it after scoring touchdowns during LSU’s championship season. By 2025, the dance has evolved from a local New Orleans trend to a global phenomenon that transcends sports, age groups, and cultures.
How The Griddy Went Mainstream
While Davis created the move, it was professional athletes who gave it wings. After Chase introduced it to the collegiate level, NFL players like Justin Jefferson truly catapulted the Griddy into mainstream consciousness. Jefferson, who was Chase’s teammate at LSU before joining the Minnesota Vikings, made the dance his signature touchdown celebration.
“I never imagined something I did for fun would become this big,” Davis once mentioned in an interview. “Seeing professional athletes doing my dance on national television is surreal.”
Cultural Impact Beyond Sports
What makes the Griddy special is how it crossed over from sports into broader pop culture. By 2025, the dance has appeared in video games like Fortnite, been performed by celebrities at award shows, and become a staple in music videos. Its simplicity makes it accessible – anyone can do it with minimal practice – which contributed significantly to its viral spread on social media platforms.
The Digital Explosion
TikTok deserves special mention for amplifying the Griddy’s popularity. The platform’s algorithm helped showcase everyday people performing the dance, creating a feedback loop that encouraged more participation. Dance challenges featuring the Griddy regularly accumulate millions of views, with creators adding their personal flair to the basic moves.
The Griddy represents something uniquely modern – a dance created by a teenager that, through the digital ecosystem and sports media, transformed into a cultural touchstone. It reminds us that in our connected world, creativity can come from anywhere and spread everywhere.
While many dance trends fade quickly, the Griddy has shown remarkable staying power. Perhaps it’s because the dance captures a perfect blend of athletic celebration, playful energy, and accessible fun – elements that resonate across different communities. What began as Allen Davis’s creative expression has become a shared cultural language, proving that sometimes the most impactful inventions are the ones that bring people together through joy and movement.
