Sports

Cam Ward Does Not Deserve Credit For His Zombieland Celebration So Western Kentucky Is Taking It Back

by Last Updated
Cam Ward Celebration Western Kentucky Helmet Zombieland
Getty Image / Western Kentucky University

Cam Ward stole his viral touchdown celebration from Western Kentucky. The Tops are taking it back.

They released a new helmet for their upcoming game against Florida International.

It combines the best mascot in college football with the ‘Zombieland celebration’ that started in Bowling Green. And it will make its debut on ESPN for Weekday CUSA.

What is the Zombieland celebration?

For those who are not familiar, Cam Ward went extremely viral during his senior season of college football at Miami. His celebration also followed him to the NFL with the Tennessee Titans.

The No. 1 overall pick holds his left hand over his mouth, extends his right arm out in front of him, and shakes his right hand upside down after he or one of his receivers finds the end zone.

Cam Ward Celebration
Getty Image

It went global. Football players on all levels of the sport, from Pop Warner to NFL, hit the ‘Cam Ward’ celebration last fall.

You cannot watch a football game in 2025 without seeing someone hit the celebration. Even Madden got in on the action!

You get the idea. It’s everywhere.

Western Kentucky deserves credit, not Cam Ward.

Nobody really knows what the celebration means but it did not just ~come to exist~ overnight. It is something that has existed at Western Kentucky since August of 2022.

Ward himself refuses to take credit for its existence. He gave a shoutout to offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle, who brought the celebration with him to Washington State and introduced it to his quarterback.

@atozsportsnashville

#Titans QB Cam Ward has an amazing celebration. #tennesseetitans #atozsports #nfl #nfldraft #camward #miamihurricanes #celebration

♬ original sound – AtoZ Sports Nashville

Arbuckle actually took the celebration from the Hilltoppers defense.

So there you have it. Cam Ward got it from Arbuckle who got it from Western Kentucky.

With that transgression in mind, the Tops are set to debut a new helmet on Tuesday. It will feature their mascot, Big Red, doing the Zombieland Celebration. They’re perfect.

Ward may get all of the credit in the mainstream but real ball-knowers know who started it!