D.K. Metcalf of the Seattle Seahawks explains the significance of the sign-language celebration.
Receiver D.K. Metcalf of the Seattle Seahawks gives teammate Boye Mafe credit for inspiring him in a number of ways, including his “standing on business” sign language celebration.
D.K. Metcalf, a receiver for the Seattle Seahawks, has arguably perfected the most original touchdown celebration in the league over the last few weeks.
Rather than using words to disparage his opponents, Metcalf has chosen to do so by using American Sign Language. This type of celebration was first seen by him against the Los Angeles Rams, when he beat cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon for a touchdown and signed “44, my son” in reference to him. After scoring one of his three touchdowns for the evening in Thursday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys, Metcalf signed “standing on business” flawlessly.
Initially, Metcalf picked up the celebration as a way to avoid fines while trash talking, as he revealed last week on The Rich Eisen Show. However, there’s also another, more personal inspiration. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Metcalf revealed that the idea for his “standing on business” celebration came from teammate Boye Mafe, who also knows ASL.
Even still, there’s yet another inspiration, and easily the most heart-warming of all. Metcalf shared that he took an ASL course in college, but as time went on, he began to see how important awareness is for those who use it. Now, the star receiver is taking ASL classes on his days off with a deaf teacher from Tennessee, and it’s had a profound impact on him.
“My teacher—we talk over Zoom once a week, every Tuesday. His name’s Darrell Utley from Tennessee,” Metcalf told reporters. “It’s been fun, every time we interact and I know something he signs to me… I get to challenge myself to learn something new and also to bring light to a community who I didn’t know felt unseen.”
Furthermore, Metcalf stated that he intends to invite Utley and his deaf wife to the Seahawks’ New Year’s Eve game in Nashville against the Tennessee Titans.
What was once merely a means for Metcalf to agitate his rivals has unpredictably evolved into a touching tale for all parties concerned.
