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.
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.
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 |