2 min read. Grange would play nine pro seasons seven with the Bears and two with the erstwhile New York Yankees football club. White, one of the greatest defensive players in football history, had been ordained as a Baptist minister at age 17 and so the moniker was a tribute to both of his areas of expertise. So, let's start browsing through these amazing nicknames. Nickname given to him by coach Vermeil because of his big play ability in the return game. An allusion to. One of the greatest players ever produced in the Lone Star State, Campbell won the 1977 Heisman Trophy with the Texas Longhorns. One significant point to note is there is no contact allowed in 7 on 7 or 5 on 5 flag football. Merriman finished his career with 224 tackles and 45 sacks. Many outside linebackers play up on the line of scrimmage (as opposed to backing up the line), wide receivers no longer only play out . Not only does the word missile sound similar to the name Ismail, but the moniker complements older brother Raghib Rocket Ismail. Drafted No. Cereal Killers. We arent sure who gave Henry Hynoski his nickname, but we are certain that Hynocerous is a brilliant handle. Find the perfect funny nicknames for you. Robert Brazile received his villainous nickname at a college all-star event from fellow linebacker Richard Wood, with an endorsement from famed sports commentator Howard Cosell. After 16 NFL seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills and New York Jets, Gore has compiled 16,000 rushing yards, 3,985 receiving yards and 100 total touchdowns. A football nomad who has toiled for the Rams, Bengals, Bills, Titans, Texans, Jets, Buccaneers and Dolphins, Fitzpatrick signed with the Washington Football Team in March 2021. From the section Football. These are not all official names, and some national teams have more than one nickname. Manning, the onetime Tennessee Volunteers star, already had won a Super Bowl with the Indianapolis Colts by that point. Aug 10, 2018 3,818 4,015 1. And, let's face it: We can all agree that the "Elbert Shuffle" isn't nearly as cool-sounding a name. With the 2022 NFL season less than 100 days away, PFF has answered those questions and then some by using the grades and data in PFF Premium Stats to rank the best players at every . The origins of some nicknames are unclear with various stories being put forward. After terrorizing SEC quarterbacks for three seasons, he made an immediate impact with the Tennessee Titans as the No. Payton was one of the most gifted players in football history, a running back who seamlessly blended aggression and finesse on the field. McMichael recorded 95 sacks, 17 fumble recoveries and 13 forced fumbles in 15 pro seasons with the Bears, Patriots and Packers. Raji gave himself the nickname The Freezer in a nod to William The Refrigerator Perry, the famed Chicago Bears defensive lineman who occasionally was called upon to run the ball in goal-line situations. Other nicknames include: J-Load, Hefty Lefty, Abominable Throwman, Round Mound of Touchdown, Quarter(got)back, He Ate Me, and BBQ (Big Beautiful Quarterback). The original XFL allowed players to wear nicknames on the back of their jerseys, and none was better than Rod Smarts He Hate Me. After catching the eyes of NFL scouts with the XFLs Las Vegas Outlaws, the running back signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2001. Washington Football Team head coach Ron Rivera became known as Riverboat Ron as a nod to riverboat gamblers because of his willingness to take risks. Wrangler Stampede. Dick Night Train Lane set an NFL record with 14 interceptions for the Los Angeles Rams in 1952, a mark that still stands today. Here are some popular nicknames for offensive positions in American football: Below are some popular nicknames for defensive positions in American football: Here are some popular nicknames for various positions in American football: Here are some popular nicknames for players in fantasy football: Note: Some of the players mentioned may no longer be in the NFL, and there could be many more nicknames for players, these are some of the popular ones. The task for the offense is to move the ball forward and into the opposition's endzone to score touchdowns, or close enough to attempt a field goal. The next month, the Bears selected Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Justin Fields in the first round of the NFL draft. Left: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports. The Miami Dolphins drafted Jim Jensen as a quarterback out of the erstwhile program at Boston University in 1981. Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018, Brazile racked up 1,281 career tackles and seven consecutive Pro Bowl selections from 1976-82. In order from left to right, they are: the Left Tackle (LT), Left Guard (LG), Center (C), Right Guard (RG) and Right Tackle (RT). He was even more impressive as a pro, rushing for 13,662 yards and 91 touchdowns in 13 seasons with the Steelers and Rams. Again, there's no definitive explanation for where this moniker has come from, with some suggesting that it was because the players used to wear baggy shorts in the early days of the clubs existence. The names below are so unique and strange you might just think we made them up. He then recorded 5,040 yards from scrimmage and 25 total touchdowns in a seven-year pro career. pass defense or interception). We were standing in the elevator in the dorm and he nearly took up the whole elevator, Brown later said. Ickey. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. With all that in mind, Touchdown Wire presents a completely subjective look at the 101 greatest nicknames in football history. Henderson played in three Super Bowls with the Cowboys, winning one. Most of the other position group names are just as misleading. Football (Soccer) Team Nicknames Home > Sports > List > Football > Teams > Nicknames > men Football Team Nicknames Many football teams from around the world have another name by which they are more well known. Nicknames for entire teams, or whole offensive or defensive units. In 12 seasons with the Broncos, he registered 1,145 tackles and 79 sacks. Best Fantasy Team Names Based on Running Backs. ", His initials. The moniker came from the student section when Greene was a collegiate standout at North Texas. Best known for his Ickey Shuffle touchdown celebration, Elbert Ickey Woods rumbled into the hearts of fans and helped lead the Cincinnati Bengals to Super Bowl XXIII as a rookie in the 1988 season. However, sometimes, it can be difficult to come up with a good nickname for ourselves. Each name is special, while some are pretty hilarious. Last updated on 27 March 2020 27 March 2020. Okoye rushed for 4,897 yards and 40 touchdowns in six NFL seasons. 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He was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on the first ballot in 1993. One of the greatest players ever from the talent-rich Jacksonville area, Bob Hayes earned his nickname as a tribute to his blistering speed. 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An all-around great athlete, he earned recognition for his abilities including 5 Pro Bowl selections, 5 total All-Pro selections, AFC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 1981, AFC Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1983, NFL 1980s All-Decade Team honors, is in the Seattle Seahawks Ring of Honor and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, despite only playing for seven seasons. Here are the critical positions on a football offense: Quarterback The quarterback is the "general" - and the most important player - of the offensive team. 3 overall pick in the 1956 NFL draft, Cassady played eight pro seasons with the Detroit Lions, Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles. Reggie Whites nickname might sound like the title of a cabinet member, but it actually was inspired by a higher calling. 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. Interestingly, Tillman went on to a career as an FBI agent after retiring from the NFL. Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill is arguably the fastest man in the NFL, and he seems ready to accept all challenges to that throne. Because of his physical tackling, and apparent resemblance to the cartoon character. The soccer, the player who plays central midfield (CM) is positioned at the center of the team between the defense and attack. ) Thomas recorded 17 interceptions during his six-year NFL career and was a member of the 1976 Raiders team that won Super Bowl XI. 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The term Beast Mode, as it relates to football, evolved over the career of Marshawn Lynch in reference to his powerful running style. Hutson, who held the NFLs career record for touchdown catches (99) for 44 years after his retirement, was part of the inaugural Pro Football Hall of Fame class in 1963. He compiled 71,838 yards and 508 touchdown passes over the course of a brilliant 20-year career with the Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers, New York Jets and Minnesota Vikings. Proper training and positioning prepare officials to be in the right place to make the right call. Johnson once joked that his often fluctuating weight was due to his frequent defecation. 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). He acquired his nickname as a child, a product of his brothers inability to pronounce his given name. Reggie White - The Minister of Defense, his brothers inability to pronounce his given name, the original Air McNair at quarterback at Alcorn State, earned the nickname from a Texas sportswriter, greatest players to hail from the Pittsburgh area, by scoring the Giants first touchdown in Super Bowl XXV, after he scored four touchdowns in a game in junior college, the subject of a clue on the game show Jeopardy!, Johnson referred to himself as a star and Chrebet as a flashlight, he ranks among the top players ever produced, explained to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, one of the greatest players ever developed in football-crazy Texas, Fitzpatrick signed with the Washington Football Team, by ESPN broadcasters Chris Berman and Trey Wingo, gained his nickname from a college teammate at Boise State, one of the best high school football products from the state of Michigan, Knighton said at Super Bowl XLVIII media day, earned Sherman a phone call from actor Peter Cullen, the suboptimal diet he maintained early in his career, He was dubbed Bummel, which later was shortened to Bum, dubbed Contact by Kansas City Chiefs teammate Jerry Mays, One of the greatest players ever to hail from the state of Virginia. 8. 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