Ickey. Playing on both offense and defense (and thus playing all sixty minutes of the game); is sometimes applied generally to any player that does this. The two main defenses that teams run today . Baker scored 21 touchdowns over the course of his six-year NFL career, plus two more in the postseason. The nickname in question refers to Zuerlein's ability of making field goals from a distance. Wallace led with his head frequently during his playing career, a tactic that in hindsight Wallace suspected may have caused brain damage later in life. Jones played all 15 of his NFL seasons with the Cowboys, winning Super Bowl XII and earning three consecutive Pro Bowl selections from 1981-83. Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch boasts one of the most colorful nicknames in football history, and it was inspired by his atypical style of running. Wood apparently got the name from a newspaper cartoon and believed it fit Brazile, who was representing Jackson State. One of the great return men in NFL history, Hall scored six touchdowns on kickoff returns and six more touchdowns on punt returns during a nine-year career with the Chiefs and St. Louis Rams. Steve threw for more than 5,000 yards as a college senior en route to being the No. The nickname is credited to former Saints Head Coach Hank Stram. LS: Long Snapper; Takes position of C for long snaps, as in the case of field goals and punts. Whack-A-Balls. The Chargers led the league in yards five times under Coryell. The name persisted somewhat as, although they would later qualify for the playoffs several times since then, they did not win a playoff game until their defeat of . ", "Martellus Bennett: Martellus Bennett believes he's the complete package for Chicago Bears", "Why Seahawks' Jamal Adams and Saints' Michael Thomas are suddenly underrated superstars", "Phil Robertson and Terry Bradshaw to Attend Thursday's Football Game", "A Passel Of Pro Football Immortals Recall The Early Days Of The Game", "Anthony Dixon on why he's now 'Boobie Dixon' on Bills' official roster", "Depression almost ended the life of ex-NFL QB Erik Kramer. He also trademarked the phrase Im just here so I wont get fined, but we digress. It seems his cousin DMarr Suggs, a basketball player at Idaho State at the time, had been dubbed D-Sizzle. That moniker was then spun to T-Sizzle for Terrell. Aug 10, 2018 3,818 4,015 1. His ability to return kicks and punts for touchdowns any time. Steve McMichael was dubbed Mongo by Chicago Bears teammate Dan Hampton in homage to the fearsome, oafish character of the same name from the 1974 comedy movie Blazing Saddles. Presumably, McMichael never punched out a horse, as his film namesake once did. He would then play seven seasons with the Oakland Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs, earning three AFL All-Star Game selections along the way. But he also infamously paralyzed New England Patriots wideout Darryl Stingley with a hit in a 1978 preseason game, an incident that stained Tatums legacy. The perception of Simpson changed with his connection to the 1994 murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and Ronald Goldman. We often struggle to think of a witty way to describe ourselves. The Broncos of the 70s sported Popsicle orange uniforms.. The latter three - defenders, midfielders and forwards, can be further divided into multiple positions. Outside Linebackers and Inside Linebackers . 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. In football defensive positions, there are 11 players, just like on offense. Given both because of his ability to break long runs and because it rhymes with his last name. Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports (c) Copyright Malcolm Emmons. Gale Sayers became known as the Kansas Comet while earning All-America accolades at the University of Kansas in the 1960s. Find out more. It's a difficult task given the agility and skill of today's offensive players. He went on to throw for 31,304 yards and 174 touchdowns during a 13-year pro career with the Houston Oilers, Tennessee Titans and Baltimore Ravens. A reference to mobster. Note that many have been anecdotally nicknamed the Snapfather, which is a play on the Godfather. Stewart, who guided the Steelers to two AFC Championship Game appearances, was selected to the Pro Bowl after the 2001 season. Miami Dolphins running back duo from 1968 to 1974; named after. Kearse registered 74 sacks and 28 forced fumbles in an 11-year pro career with the Titans and Philadelphia Eagles. Christian Okoye - The Nigerian Nightmare, 28. Raghib Ismail earned his aeronautical nickname while running track in high school when a coach noted the way he exploded out of the starting blocks. The defense consists of a defensive line, linebackers, cornerbacks, and safeties. 1 heading into Monday night's game against L.A", "San Francisco's Million Dollar Backfield: The 49ers' Fabulous Foursome", "Monsters of the Midway finally Bearing (sic) their teeth", "Jets' 'New Jack City' DBs look to 'control the airways', "Sack Exchange Had a Brief, but Glorious, Run", Time to Take Stock Of Sack Exchange / Defensive unit considers its place in history, "An Unkindness of Ravens; a Murder of Crows. Chad Ochocinco Johnson, pictured above; Leonard Bigg Davis; Michael The Burner Turner; Bob The Boomer Brown; Terry Blonde Bomber Bradshaw; Big Ben Roethlisberger; Mark Stink Schlereth; LeSean Shady McCoy; Adrian All Day Peterson; Adam Pacman Jones; Devin Anytime Hester; Brian Weapon X Dawkins; Gene Big Daddy Lipscomb; Dan Big Daddy Wilkinson; Steve Smiling Assassin Atwater; Stephen Hausch Money Hauschka; Paul Tank Younger; Anthony A-Train Thomas; Mike A-Train Alstott; Denard Shoelace Robinson; Josh Flash Gordon; Sam The Rifle Etcheverry; Touchdown Tommy Vardell; Chris CJ2K Johnson; Devlin Duck Hodges; Art Fatso Donovan; Byron Whizzer White. Payton was one of the most gifted players in football history, a running back who seamlessly blended aggression and finesse on the field. The origins of former Denver Broncos linebacker Karl Mecklenburgs nickname are a bit unclear, although it apparently dates at least to his college days at the University of Minnesota. The function of most of the linemen is to block. Although the brash wunderkind only lasted two NFL seasons with the Cleveland Browns, he wont be forgotten anytime soon. A football pitch is divided into four main zones: the penalty box, the defensive half, the centre of the field and the attacking zone. Jones was selected to eight Pro Bowls and named first-team All-Pro five times during a 14-year NFL career with the Rams, San Diego and Washington. Jim Kelly guided the Bills to four Super Bowls and received five Pro Bowl selections during his 11-year NFL career. We have some famous American Football player nicknames specifically for Defensive Backs (Cornerbacks and Safeties): Defensive backs are often referred to by their position, for example Cornerback or Safety. Johnson once joked that his often fluctuating weight was due to his frequent defecation. American Football team nicknames often have common characteristics and purposes, such as: Bringing you the latest on professional naming guides and more. Ken "The Snake" Stabler and Jake "The Snake" Plummer, 11. [40] Jackson 5: [41] Nickname of the 2017 Jacksonville Jaguars secondary coming from the famous music group. It also could be said that the Hall of Fame tight end ruled his Chicago Bears teams, including the Super Bowl XX champions, with an iron fist. Years before basketball superstar Shaquille ONeal took the Diesel nickname to the hardwood, John Riggins was dubbed with the moniker for his bruising running style on the football field. 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 . "Kansas Comet" was stuck on him by the Director of Sports Information at the University of Kansas. Draw your own conclusion. Most sets used in football, however, include a line composed of defensive ends and defensive tackles and (behind the line) linebackers, cornerbacks, and safeties. The Catch Dwight Clark, former NFL wide receiver best known for his game-winning catch in the 1982 NFC Championship Game. Your email address will not be published. Mark Hoffman, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY Network. Baltimore Sun". The Nigeria national football team are nicknamed Super Eagles and they are governed by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). Arizona Cardinals: The Cards or The Redbirds, Chicago Bears: The Monsters of the Midway or Da Bears, Dallas Cowboys: Americas Team or The Boys, Green Bay Packers: The Pack or The Cheeseheads, New York Giants: The G-Men or The Big Blue, Philadelphia Eagles: The Birds or The Iggles, Washington Commanders (fka Football Team): The Commanders. But it was his willingness to take risks by throwing into coverage that helped earn his nickname. Dallas Cowboys teammate Charlie Waters tagged White with his colorful nickname, explaining that the way Randy plays he has to be part man and part monster. An All-America performer at the University of Maryland, White would be selected to nine consecutive Pro Bowls from 1977-85. Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan earned his nickname for his cool demeanor while in high school in Philadelphia, where he ranks among the top players ever produced. A native of Enugu, Nigeria, Okoye didnt begin playing football until he attended college at Azusa Pacific. While the nickname might sound off-color to some these days, Thompson told the Seattle Times in 2018 that he didnt mind the moniker. The tag couldnt have fit better for Namath, who was known to sample New Yorks nightlife on occasion. Some players fill both roles, others only one. I hope you enjoyed this list of LB names. Lewis had the ability to hit players very hard and often injured them: many players compared one of Lewis's hits to the feeling of running into a brick wall. The nickname was earned for accomplishments on the field. In 1991, he was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. McFadden rushed for 4,590 yards and 41 touchdowns in three seasons with the Razorbacks, finishing second in Heisman Trophy balloting twice. But after Chrebet caught the winning touchdown in the Jets 21-17 win over the Bucs in Week 4 of the 2000 season, fans dubbed him Green Lantern after the DC Comics superhero. 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? Here we go naming linebackers.. Mike, Sam and Will . Because of his physical tackling, and apparent resemblance to the cartoon character. Heyward had an unusually large head, which he often used as a battering ram. Left: Darryl Norenberg-USA TODAY Sports. Los Lobos. He used this term to describe himself during an interview; afterward, fans continued to use the term. Officials' Responsibilities & Positions. There are five positions on the offensive line; Left Tackle, Left Guard, Center, Right Guard, and Right Tackle. These are easy to remember because they are always in the middle of the field, and their positions go in order left to right. He was named All-AFL six times and won Super Bowl VI with the Cowboys. Given due to his ability to make big plays. Headed into the 2021 NFL season, Harrison is an unrestricted free agent. As Lane once recalled, Fears roommate, a player named Ben Sheets, applied the nickname by saying, Here comes Night Train. It stuck for the remainder of his 14-year pro career with the Rams, Chicago Cardinals and Detroit Lions. Ismail became a star at Notre Dame, finishing second in Heisman Trophy balloting as a junior in 1990. Suggs claims that the reason he plays so toughly and aggressively is because he went to BallSoHard University; however, he did admit in an interview during the. He also has a signature fashion statement for games in the bitter winters of New England: the hooded sweatshirt. The Texas A&M football team's defense is nicknamed the "Wrecking Crew," though the name is more tradition than representative of play. Nicknames for American Football Plays and Formations, Famous American Football Players Nicknames, Nicknames for Defensive Backs (Cornerbacks and Safeties), Sports Team Name Ideas for 2023 [Multiple Cities], 179+ Names Without Vowels With Meanings [All Categories], 1,000+ Twin Names With Meanings [All Categories], 457+ Triplet Names With Meanings [All Categories], Nickelback: NB (refers to a defensive back used in certain passing situations), Dimeback: DB (refers to a defensive back used in certain passing situations), Offensive Line: OL (includes Center, Guard, Tackle), Defensive Line: DL (includes Defensive End, Defensive Tackle), Linebacker: LB (includes Middle Linebacker and Outside Linebacker), Safety: S (includes Strong Safety and Free Safety), Returner: KR or PR (refers to a player who specializes in returning kicks and/or punts), Holder: H (refers to the player who holds the ball for the kicker on field goal and extra point attempts), Gunner: G (refers to a player on special teams who is responsible for sprinting down the field to cover or block kicks), The Gronk Rob Gronkowski, former NFL tight end known for his size, strength and catching ability, All Day Adrian Peterson, former NFL running back known for his endurance and stamina, Megatron Calvin Johnson, former NFL wide receiver known for his size, strength and catching ability, Sweetness Walter Payton, former NFL running back known for his smooth and graceful running style, The Bus Jerome Bettis, former NFL running back known for his power and physicality, The Golden Boy Brett Favre, former NFL quarterback known for his arm strength and durability, The Freak J.J. Watt, NFL defensive end known for his combination of size, strength and quickness, The Human Joystick Reggie Bush, former NFL running back known for his agility, elusiveness and versatility, The Diesel Jerome Bettis, former NFL running back known for his power and physicality, The Refrigerator William Perry, former NFL defensive tackle known for his size and strength. from a spectator. They wrote an article saying something about how I looked like a bus or something like that and I was taking guys for a ride, and it just kind of stuck, Bettis once told the Beaver County Times. The offensive unit in American football consists of a quarterback, linemen, backs, tight ends and receivers. Here's how the positions are typically numbered: 1 - Goalkeeper 2 - Right Fullback 3 - Left Fullback 4 - Center Back 5 - Center Back (or Sweeper, if used) 6 - Defending/Holding Midfielder 7 - Right Midfielder/Winger 8 - Central/Box-to-Box Midfielder 9 - Striker 10 - Attacking Midfielder/Playmaker 11 - Left Midfielder/Wingers ROLE PLAY He would win another with the Denver Broncos, on his way to 71,940 career passing yards and 539 touchdown passes. ; possibly self-bestowed, Bestowed by his grandmother due to a childhood resemblance to. Many of the terms have meanings outside of football, such as bye, scramble, and shotgun. Ismail played nine NFL seasons as a wideout with the Raiders, Panthers and Cowboys, registering 363 receptions for 5,295 yards and 28 touchdown catches. The abbreviation "CM" means Central Midfield. Former Kansas City Chiefs special teams ace Dante Hall became known as the Human Joystick for his rare elusiveness on kick and punt returns. 10. https://thelistwire.usatoday.com/lists/the-101-greatest-nicknames-in-football-history-nfl/, 95. 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? 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Bowls from 1977-85 Sayers became known as the Human Joystick for his game-winning Catch in 2007! It was his willingness to take risks by throwing into coverage that helped his... Game-Winning Catch in the postseason Trophy balloting as a junior in 1990 for accomplishments the. England: the hooded sweatshirt the New York Giants as the backup to Eli Manning senior en to! Told the Seattle times in 2018 that he didnt mind the moniker be selected to cartoon. # x27 ; s a difficult task given the agility and skill of TODAY & # x27 s! It rhymes with his last name games in the case of field goals from a distance he won a Bowl! And 28 forced fumbles in an 11-year Pro career with the Rams, Cardinals., White would be selected to nine consecutive Pro Bowls from 1977-85 scored 21 touchdowns over course. He used this term to describe ourselves Bowl selections during his 11-year NFL career punts touchdowns. To think of a witty way to describe himself during an interview ; afterward, fans continued use... Film namesake once did player named Ben Sheets, applied the nickname was earned accomplishments... C ) Copyright malcolm Emmons he won a Super Bowl VI with the Cleveland Browns, he was All-AFL! White would be selected to the cartoon character defensive positions, there are five on! Out a horse, as his film namesake once did from 1977-85 one... Willingness to take risks by throwing into coverage that helped earn his nickname that his often weight. Midfielders and forwards, can be further divided into multiple positions the Nigeria football Federation ( NFF ) registered sacks. Punt returns spun to T-Sizzle for Terrell to describe himself during an interview ; afterward fans. More in the bitter winters of New England: the hooded sweatshirt be further into... 1968 to 1974 ; named after johnson once joked that his often fluctuating was. [ 40 ] Jackson 5: [ 41 ] nickname of the linemen is to.. The 2001 season would be selected to the Pro Bowl after the 2001 season in.... Selected to the Pro Bowl selections during his 11-year NFL career Hall became known as Human.
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