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NFL Championship Gatorade Bath Color History & Past Winners

One of the many traditions of the NFL Championship takes place right at the conclusion of the game, when players from the winning team douse their head coach in Gatorade.

Dubbed the “Gatorade bath,” it has been tradition in the NFL since the mid-1980s and essentially kicks off the celebrations of the title-winning team.

The Gatorade bath has become such a phenomenon that bettors can pick what color they think the Gatorade will be as it pours out of the cooler and onto the head and shoulders of the head coach.

Here, we take a look at the history of the Gatorade bath and a list of past colors used.

History of the Gatorade bath in the NFL Championship

The origin of the Gatorade bath in the NFL dates back to the 1984 New York Giants, according to multiple online sources.

After a 37-13 regular season win over Washington, Giants nose tackle Jim Burt dumped a full Gatorade jug on head coach Bill Parcells, who told his team in the lead up to the game that he would be fired if they lost.

The Giants continued this tradition on their through the mid-80s and ultimately won the 1986 title, which they of course celebrated with a Gatorade shower over Parcells.

Not only has the Gatorade bath tradition spread across the NFL, but also across American professional and collegiate sports, and even internationally in Australian cricket and Brazilian soccer.

To this day, it is reserved for the biggest wins, and there are none bigger than the NFL championship. Dating back to 2001, the winning head coach has received a Gatorade bath all but four years.

Gatorade bath color past winners

Year

Winning Team

Gatorade Color

2025

Philadelphia Eagles

Yellow

2024

Kansas City Chiefs

Purple

2023

Kansas City Chiefs

Purple

2022

Los Angeles Rams

Blue

2021

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Blue

2020

Kansas City Chiefs

Orange

2019

New England Patriots

Blue

2018

Philadelphia Eagles

Yellow

2017

New England Patriots

None

2016

Denver Broncos

Orange

2015

New England Patriots

Blue

2014

Seattle Seahawks

Orange

2013

Baltimore Ravens

None

2012

New York Giants

Purple

2011

Green Bay Packers

Orange

2010

New Orleans Saints

Orange

2009

Pittsburgh Steelers

Yellow

2008

New York Giants

Clear

2007

Indianapolis Colts

Clear

2006

Pittsburgh Steelers

Clear

2005

New England Patriots

Clear

2004

New England Patriots

None

2003

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Purple

2002

New England Patriots

None

2001

Baltimore Ravens

Yellow

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