7", "Hair length proposal delayed until May; defensive helmet radios approved", NFL passes "Brian Bosworth rule," linebackers can now wear jerseys numbered 40-49, "Rules of the Name, or How The Emmitt Rule Became the Emmitt Rule", "Calvin Johnson catch: Another silly NFL rule", ESPN.com: NFL votes to rein in TD celebrations, "CBA inertia? The offensive unit in American football consists of a quarterback, linemen, backs, tight ends and receivers. Who is the best wide receiver in the NFL? "Heyward remembered fondly at memorial service", "Craig Heyward, Who Was N.F.L. Entering the 2021 season, Zuerlein has converted on 82.2% of his field-goal attempts. An alliterative play on his last name and his speed; White, who led the league in rushing in his short three-year NFL career, was dismayed to find the nickname stuck with him well into his legal career (eventually ending up a Supreme Court Justice). Defensive ends and tackles are collectively called defensive linemen, while the cornerbacks and safeties are collectively called defensive backs, or the secondary . He would then play seven seasons with the Oakland Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs, earning three AFL All-Star Game selections along the way. His nickname was bestowed by ESPNs Chris Berman in a nod to the 1991 film Sleeping with the Enemy. Stay tuned for more Bermanisms later in our list. However, sometimes, it can be difficult to come up with a good nickname for ourselves. Perhaps the Bears were trying to bestow Dalton with a new nickname, QB1, with a viral tweet shortly after the signing. Bum was a fine head coach in his own right, guiding the Luv Ya Blue-era Houston Oilers to consecutive AFC Championship Games in the 1978 and 1979 seasons. Required fields are marked *. FACTORS - South Bend (Southern Michigan League) FAITH WARRIORS - Tampa Bayshore Christian HS FL FALCONS - Link to "Falcons" page FALCONZ . His initials and his alter ego for making catches on the sideline. 110. Nicknames for entire teams, or whole offensive or defensive units. Nicknames are usually preceded by 'The'. "The mechanics are different than any . Find the perfect funny nicknames for you. Punter: The kicker's counterpart, a punter kicks the ball to the opposing team after his team has surrendered the ball on downs or has scored. But it does tend to generate a bit of a chuckle when that quarterback is Andy Dalton, someone known much more as a game manager than a gunslinger. The best American football team nicknames are subjective and can vary depending on personal preference. His high school teammates referred to him as "young buck" as he was a freshman on the varsity team. McFadden rushed for 4,590 yards and 41 touchdowns in three seasons with the Razorbacks, finishing second in Heisman Trophy balloting twice. Heyward had an unusually large head, which he often used as a battering ram. Honey Badger Tyrann Mathieu played at LSU in 2010 and 2011, which was around the same time that the . Here are the nicknames for NFL teams in alphabetical order: The best American Football team nicknames are subjective and can vary depending on personal opinions. Outside fullback They play on the left and right flanks and see that the ball doesn't pass over them. The Hoosiers are coming off two seasons where injuries . It's like planking, but dumber. I didnt think anything of it, Thompson told the Times. The stalwart Wright earned six consecutive Pro Bowl selections from 1971-76 with the Dallas Cowboys. One of the greatest players to come out of the Buffalo area, Johnston has worked as a television analyst for many years since retiring as a player in 2000. 10. He will be eligible for membership in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2023. This thread is archived. 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He concluded his playing career with the Los Angeles Rams in 1977. 16, page 23, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, played multiple offensive and defensive positions, Tuesday Morning Quarterback#"TMQ" team nicknames, Football Nicknames: Over 7,400 Listed by Terry Pruyne, "Beneath Brown Bags, Saints Had Loyal Fans", "A look back at the many New York Giant handles, aliases, and nicknames", "Sports E-Cyclopedia History of the NY Giants", "NFL Beat: Rhodes' Warriors need a nickname", "Why Patriots defensive players nicknamed themselves 'The Boogeymen', "Scary-good Patriots 'Boogeymen' lead NFL's top D", "Boston TE party: Gronkowski unstoppable for Patriots", "Boston's TE Party: Patriots' Gronkowski & Hernandez Key to Offensive Juggernaut", "Tank Younger, 73, First Star From Black College to Play in N.F.L., Dies", "NFL Playoffs Begin with Wild Card Weekend", "Reebok Detroit Lions Cardiac Cats T-shirt", "No Lions comeback this time: Cardiac Cats rest easy", "Leftwich, Cardiac Jags Stun Kansas City", "New England Deflatriots? pass defense or interception). Longtime Dallas Cowboys fullback Daryl Johnston got his animalistic nickname as a rookie in 1989. Here are some popular nicknames for various positions in American football: Quarterback: "QB" or "signal caller" Running back: "RB" Wide Receiver: "WR" Tight End: "TE" Offensive Line: "OL" (includes Center, Guard, Tackle) Fullback: "FB" Center: "C" Guard: "G" Tackle: "T" Defensive Line: "DL" (includes Defensive End, Defensive Tackle) The following nicknames are given to a unit (defensive, offensive and special teams) or a secondary nickname given to some teams used to describe a style of play or attitude of teams at times in accordance with phrases in popular culture of the time. He also recorded 32 interceptions in seven NFL seasons, earning five Pro Bowl nods and three first-team All-Pro selections. Converted from tight end to tackle, Rayfield Wright was far more nimble than contemporary offensive linemen. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. The moniker came from the student section when Greene was a collegiate standout at North Texas. One of the greatest cover corners in NFL history, Deion Sanders actually received his nickname for exploits on the basketball court. I am proud of it, and my dad, frankly, loved it.. Reference to his incredible speed-won two gold medals and set, A contraction of "bumblebee," based on his aunt's thick southern accent (common to many others in the Phillips family including his son. Or write about sports? Steve threw for more than 5,000 yards as a college senior en route to being the No. He also made an impact as a wide receiver, reeling in 162 catches for 1,747 yards and nine touchdowns as a pro. The name is an allusion to a, A play on the initials he had used as his. Lane ranks fourth in NFL history with 68 interceptions. Self-bestowed nickname Smart used on the back of his jersey during his time in the. The No. Long snapper: Perhaps the most unappreciated position, this player snaps the ball to the punter. Not only does it contain a rhyme and play off his last name, it perfectly described his physical running style. [40] Jackson 5: [41] Nickname of the 2017 Jacksonville Jaguars secondary coming from the famous music group. He registered 14,746 passing yards and 77 touchdown passes in 11 seasons with the Steelers, Chicago Bears and Baltimore Ravens. He then registered 7,535 yards from scrimmage and 33 total touchdowns as a professional. Left: Darryl Norenberg-USA TODAY Sports. He has recorded more than 400 career tackles in a nine-year pro career with the Jets, Giants, Lions, Packers and Seahawks. This list is over 100 linebacker names and most of them have been actually used by College and NFL football teams in the past. He scored 1,608 career points and booted the winning field goal in the final seconds of the 1950 NFL Championship Game. Hall of Fame tight end Dave Casper was dubbed The Ghost due to his sharing a name with the cartoon character Casper the Friendly Ghost, but his football ability was no joke. Merriman finished his career with 224 tackles and 45 sacks. Martin was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2012. He was then beset by injuries that limited him to 33 games over his final five NFL seasons with the Chargers and Buffalo Bills. This is a misdirection version of the football play above. The persona of Joe Cool dates to at least 1971 in pop culture, with Snoopy from the comic strip Peanuts, but it came to be connected in a football sense with Joe Montana. He earned co-MVP honors in Super Bowl XII and was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on the first ballot in 1994. Easley rightfully earned his nickname as The Enforcer for this style of play on the field. McFarland was an All-America performer in college for the LSU Tigers and recorded 22 sacks, six fumble recoveries and four forced fumbles in a nine-year pro career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Indianapolis Coltsthat included a Super Bowl Bowl XXXVII ring with the Bucs. One of the greatest players ever from the talent-rich Jacksonville area, Bob Hayes earned his nickname as a tribute to his blistering speed. His stunning plays combined with his number, 80, After the early 20th century multimedia hero, His style of diving into receivers and diving into pass paths for interception, and for Polamalu's Polynesian ancestry, A play off the nickname of William "The Refrigerator" Perry whom the, A reference to his last name and to the cartoon and movie. Not only did longtime NFL running back Craig Heyward have a terrific nickname, but there also was an awesome backstory behind it. For example, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish would be listed under "I" for "Irish". 1 overall pick in the 1949 NFL draft out of the University of Pennsylvania actually got his nickname because he sold concrete as an offseason job. The Houston Oilers drafted Brazile with the No. NFL opponents found him less adorable, evidenced by his 38 interceptions and eight pick-sixes over his 13-year career with the Bears and Carolina Panthers. Nicknames are very common in real life, especially in sports. The duo is largely responsible for the Vikings fielding such a stiff run defense, and they make it nearly impossible for the opposition to consistently gain yardage between the tackles. While the one goalkeeper per team is a constant, the number of defenders . His remarkable ability to maintain a high level of play during the latter years of his 20-year career. Legend has it that Ed Jones couldnt find football pants long enough to fit correctly on his first day of college practice at Tennessee State. Mix had a degree in law at the time he played professional football. With all that in mind, Touchdown Wire presents a completely subjective look at the 101 greatest nicknames in football history. Tommy the Tuna? Presumably, Parcells was referring to Charlie the Tuna of StarKist fame. We all know that a nickname is a substitute for the proper name of a familiar person, place, or thing, for affection or fun. Nicknames for individual players, coaches and personnel. Earl Campbells nickname originates in the fact that his hometown of Tyler, Texas, boasts a long history as a leader in the commercial production of roses. Gold Member. A reference to mobster. Reference to Colston's shyness and ability to make big plays. 14. The nickname was earned for accomplishments on the field. So the student body would chant, Nobody stops the bus. 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