After his second interception against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night, Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph revived a former 49ers star's famed celebration.
In the NFC title game rematch, Joseph broke out the chicken dance that former Niners defensive back Merton Hanks frequently did during the 1990s, when Hanks spent all but one of his nine career years in San Francisco.
Joseph picked off Brock Purdy twice on Monday night to give him nine defensive interceptions for the season, the most in the NFL. He broke out the celebration after each of them, but ESPN didn't put up a replay of the dance until after the second pick.
Once it did, the dance was instantly recognized by ESPN analyst Troy Aikman, who interrupted the point he was making to call out the dance as an ode to Hanks.
"I know that one," Aikman said with a laugh. "We would play San Francisco and he got a few on me and that was his move. I recognize that one."
The former Cowboys quarterback faced Hanks eight times in the 1990s in the regular season and playoffs, with Hanks grabbing two interceptions against him- both of which came in a 1994 matchup at Candlestick.
Just before the game ended, ESPN showed Joseph's dance again and then a flashback to Hanks' dance. Play-by-play announcer Joe Buck needled Aikman about the two picks, with Aikman replying, "It felt like it was more than that." Then Aikman doubled down.
"I used to hate [it] when he did that after he intercepted me," Aikman said.
While Hanks didn't comment on the dance ode himself, he re-posted someone else's post on X about the Aikman quip. "Troy Aikman had a war flashback when he saw that @MertonHanks36 celebration from Kerby Joseph LMAO," @fsh733 wrote.
It was the end of an eventful night for Joseph, who shoved 49ers receiver Jauan Jennings into the stands during a first quarter altercation.
