Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle was fined on Wednesday for reenacting the famous “Key and Peele” sketch with his touchdown celebration last week. The 27-year-old jokingly created a GoFundMe to ask for help paying the fine, but turned it into an opportunity to raise money for charity.
The story added a new twist on Saturday. Panthers head coach Dave Canales surprised Dowdle and his teammates with an appearance from Keegan-Michael Key at a team meeting.
“Let’s get an expert,” Canales said. “Can we get Keegan-Michael Key to explain this to us?”
Rico was pretty pumped to see him pic.twitter.com/azDvoWgvEr
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) November 8, 2025
The comedian then appeared on the big screen in the meeting room, and Canales asked Dowdle to come to the front of the room.
“I just want to say I’m very honored that you would choose a Key and Peele sketch for your celebration,” Michael Key said. “The reason I’m here is I wanted to share with you guys, especially with you Rico, is that I’ve done my recent research and apparently, I guess the rules that are made up in a comedy sketch do not necessarily reflect the rules in the NFL.”
Michael Key also provided some results of the mathematical research he put together on the calculation of the fine.
“14,000 dollars for two pumps, so that’s seven grand a pump,” Michael Key said. “That means if you do zero pumps, then that would then cost you zero thousand dollars and a fine.”
After seeing the celebration earlier this week, Michael-Key posted his response on social media, outraged that Dowdle had been penalized.
“Rico, man you got robbed,” Key said. “You only did two pumps. I’m sorry man. Now I’m going to have to write a new sketch.”
At the conclusion of his virtual visit with the Panthers, Michael-Key had one final surprise for Dowdle. He introduced his wife, Elle Key, who had something to say to the Carolina running back.
“We just wanted to let you know that we saw your GoFundMe,” Key said. “But even before that we were gonna make a donation to the charity of your choice for 15,000 dollars.”
It was a nice gesture from the Keys, building on a thoughtful idea from Dowdle. His GoFundMe, which had raised $14,700 as of Thursday morning, has now generated over $27,000 in donations. The proceeds benefit Children’s Home Society of North Carolina, which “promotes the right of every child to a permanent, safe, and loving family”.
