shouldergate
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
A 1978 controversy around the Pittsburgh Steelers practising in shoulder pads during an off-season period in which such drills were not allowed under NFL rules.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “shouldergate” mean?
A 1978 controversy around the Pittsburgh Steelers practising in shoulder pads during an off-season period in which such drills were not allowed under NFL rules.
Is “shouldergate” formal or informal?
shouldergate is generally slang.