Football is a team sport, so what better way to celebrate a score than with an anime technique to combine two heroes?
Fans of the National Football League’s Cleveland Browns haven’t had much to smile about over the past few years. The team had an abysmal 1-15 record during the 2016 season, then lost every single one of its games in 2017.
But things are looking just a little bit brighter this year. On September 20, the Browns got their first win since December of 2016, and in their next game, versus the Oakland Raiders, rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield hit tight end Darren Fells for the first touchdown pass of his professional career, as well as Fells’ first of the season.
.@BakerMayfield's first career TD pass goes 49 yards to @DarrenFells! #Browns #CLEvsOAK
— NFL (@NFL) September 30, 2018
📺: FOX https://t.co/UedVjY62Yo
But while the big scoring play itself was enough to excite football fans, those who also enjoy anime were electrified when Fells’ teammate and fellow tight end David Njoku (number 85) joined him in the endzone for a two-man celebration.
Or maybe we should call that a one-man celebration, since they’re doing the Fusion Dance from martial arts anime Dragon Ball Z, which the series’ heroes use to combine their bodies and consciousnesses, like Goten and Trunks do in the comparison clip below.
Fells and Njoku did the fusion dance to become Fjoku 🔮 @DarrenFells @David_Njoku80 https://t.co/zxSqEHZB5Q
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) September 30, 2018
Sadly, despite Mayfield’s 49-yard strike giving the Browns a 17-7 lead, Cleveland’s defense would give up 21 points in the fourth quarter, including a tying score with just 30 seconds left, which sent the game into overtime, where the Raiders would pull out a 45-42 victory. The Browns’ record now stands at one win, two losses, and one tie, which suggests it’s likely going to be another tough season for the team and fans, but at least they can always look back to the play where their players seemed superhuman, even if just for a moment.
Source: Instagram/clevelandbrowns, Twitter/@thecheckdown via Anime News Network/Lynzee Loveridge
[ Read in Japanese ]
Follow Casey on Twitter, where he’d like to remind everyone who hasn’t watched Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure recently that it’s totally true that San Dimas High School football rules.
[ Read in Japanese ]

Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026
Visiting Japan’s one-and-only, and only-for-a-limited-time, Dragon Ball noodle restaurant[Photos]
One Piece creator has hidden secret of anime treasure’s identity in chest at bottom of real-world ocean
Japan’s cherry blossom season predicted to start earlier than we’d thought, especially in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026
Visiting Japan’s one-and-only, and only-for-a-limited-time, Dragon Ball noodle restaurant[Photos]
One Piece creator has hidden secret of anime treasure’s identity in chest at bottom of real-world ocean
Japan’s cherry blossom season predicted to start earlier than we’d thought, especially in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Top Secret Cookie Recipe Finally Comes to Light
Man arrested in rural Japan on charges of leaving obscene DVDs in stores as gifts for “healthy men”
Studio Ghibli releases new action figures featuring Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind characters
Abandoned school being used for foreign tourists to experience Japanese high school in Chiba
Over four billion yen in lost cash was found in Tokyo last year, setting new record
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever Hinamatsuri Girls’ Day Frappuccino
Japanese restaurant chain serves Dragon Ball donuts and Senzu Beans this spring
Is Tokyo Station’s startlingly expensive wagyu bento boxed lunch worth its high price?[Taste test]
Japan Extreme Budget Travel! A trip from Tokyo to Izumo for just 30,000 yen [Part 2]
Japan’s craziest burger chain takes menchi katsu to new extreme levels
Sakura Festival in Chiyoda mixes illuminations, boats, music, and Rilakkuma in the heart of Tokyo
Viral Japanese cheesecake from Osaka has a lesser known rival called Aunt Wanda
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Foreigners accounting for over 80 percent of off-course skiers needing rescue in Japan’s Hokkaido
Super-salty pizza sends six kids to the hospital in Japan, linguistics blamed
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura Frappuccino for cherry blossom season 2026
Foreign tourists in Japan will get free Shinkansen tickets to promote regional tourism
The 10 most annoying things foreign tourists do on Japanese trains, according to locals
Take a trip to Japan’s Dododo Land, the most irritating place on Earth
Naruto and Converse team up for new line of shinobi sneakers[Photos]
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Top Secret Cookie Recipe Finally Comes to Light
Man arrested in rural Japan on charges of leaving obscene DVDs in stores as gifts for “healthy men”
Studio Ghibli releases new action figures featuring Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind characters
Abandoned school being used for foreign tourists to experience Japanese high school in Chiba
Over four billion yen in lost cash was found in Tokyo last year, setting new record
Is Tokyo Station’s startlingly expensive wagyu bento boxed lunch worth its high price?[Taste test]
The smallest Family Mart in Japan closes down
Studio Ghibli now sells plush toys seen on Howl’s bed from Howl’s Moving Castle
Sakura Festival in Chiyoda mixes illuminations, boats, music, and Rilakkuma in the heart of Tokyo
Live-action One Piece’s Luffy teaches Sesame Street’s Elmo a Japanese word for friendship[Video]
Cute Japanese Shiba Inu joins in adorable “Handshaking Championship” with its owner