Ryan Fitzpatrick’s shirtless antics at Buffalo Bills games have become a beloved ritual for fans. He’s ripped that shirt off so many times that you’d think it’s part of the game plan. However, on Thursday night at MetLife Stadium, Fitzpatrick broke his usual routine by making a special exception for a New York Giants rookie.

“I made a promise this morning that shirt wouldn’t come off unless I was in Buffalo….easy exception for Skattebo,” Fitzpatrick wrote on X, talking about the iconic moment. It all started on the Prime Video postgame show when Jaxson Dart called out Fitzpatrick with a playful challenge.

“I’ve been seeing Fitz take his shirt off. If you take it off, Skat will take it off,” Dart said. And then it happened.

Cam Skattebo, the sizzling new running back, didn’t just rip his shirt off; he set the bar high by chest-bumping Fitzpatrick in a wild celebration. Fitzpatrick, ever the showman, hesitated briefly. But then he watched Skattebo pull off his jersey and rip off his shirt. As Skattebo did it, Fitzpatrick shouted,

“Skaaattteboooooo!” The veteran quarterback responded in kind, whipping off his iconic Hawaiian shirt to join the shirtless festivities before delivering a signature chest bump. By doing this, he broke his tradition of ripping his shirt only for the Bills. 

The shirtless scene unfolded after the Giants stunned the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Philadelphia Eagles, in a prime-time thriller. The moment was electric, charging the energy of the Giants’ blowout 34-17 victory and ending their eight-game NFC East losing streak. 

Their first win over a defending champ since 1998, before either rookie was born, is a sign this Giants squad just might be different. Skattebo charged through the Eagles’ defense like a wrecking ball, rushing for three touchdowns. It was his career night, lighting up the stadium and the fans. 

First-year QB Jaxson Dart also stepped up, throwing for 195 yards and a touchdown. The Giants’ offense, powered by these two exciting rookies, made a statement no one saw coming. Especially since Skattebo became the first Giants player since 2011 to rack up three rushing TDs in a game.

Skattebo and Dart’s performances were so memorable that they caused Fitzpatrick to join in the excitement. It made the night unforgettable for both the fans and the players. But Fitzpatrick’s shirtless antics? They’re not exactly new.

Ryan Fitzpatrick’s shirt-off moment with Josh Allen

Ryan Fitzpatrick’s love of ripping off his shirt is a special tradition born in Buffalo with the Bills. The former Bills quarterback first made this a thing in January 2022 by celebrating a playoff win shirtless with Bills Mafia, even in freezing weather. 

Since then, Fitzpatrick has turned it into a recurring tradition on Amazon Prime broadcasts. The crowd chants, the signs, the endless calls for him to “take it off,” and Fitzpatrick never disappoints. He did it recently in Week 3 when the Bills went against Miami.

Fitzpatrick finally gave in again after “take it off” chants, but only after Josh Allen helped him unbutton his shirt. The crowd and cameras loved it. Allen was seen laughing, watching Fitzpatrick go full celebration mode, joking about the timing coinciding with his parents’ anniversary. Allen said,

“He’s a showman, come on now, he knew he was going to do, he wanted to play hard to get, but you know what. Happy anniversary, Mom and Dad.” The moment was another reminder of why Fitzpatrick’s shirtless celebrations have become iconic. They’re spontaneous, fun, and fully human.