Brandon Mebane explains the origins of his belly-roll dance

Brandon Mebane’s belly-roll dance is unlike any other in the NFL, a little indecent yet exceedingly comical and impossible to look away from.

But it’s not quite original. The Seahawks defensive tackle stopped by “The Barbershop” on 710 ESPN Seattle earlier this week and explained the inspiration behind his signature celebration.

“I’m a big MC Hammer fan,” he said. “I got that from MC Hammer.”

The flashy dance moves that accompanied Hammer’s rapping were all about fancy footwork. Mebane’s celebration for a big play in the backfield, however, is all about his prodigious midsection.

If it’s not seared into your memory by this point, here’s how it goes: Mebane – all 311 pounds of him – leans back with his arms at his sides and rolls his hips in a way that accentuates his jiggling belly, which is sometimes exposed when his jersey is un-tucked.

“I just call it ‘Pumps and a Bump’,” he said.

That’s the name of the MC Hammer song that inspired Mebane’s celebration. Check out the music video and see if you notice anything familiar.

“Growing up, Hammer was the man,” Mebane said. “So I was like, ‘I’ve got to give a shout-out to Hammer’ because Hammer makes you dance. I don’t care who you are – If you was a fan of MC Hammer, Hammer made you dance.”