But then, whats a legendary nickname without a little mystery? ), Play on the length of his full name and its resemblance to the name of a law firm, Because of his reputation of being a hard hitter; has been shortened to "Lights" by teammates in interviews. A s teams square off on the opening weekend of the new NFL season, one thing is certain: The players on defense for many teams will include Sam . That got us wondering about where some of the greatest players in football history such as Reggie White (Minister of Defense), Joe Montana (Joe Cool) and Deion Sanders (Prime Time) rank in the pantheon of great sports nicknames. Martin, who earned Pro Bowl invitations in 2012 and 2015, rushed for 5,356 yards and 30 touchdowns as a pro. Williamson was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers prior to that season but moved to the fledgling AFL in 1961. He was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on the first ballot in 1993. He even was an NAIA national champion in the shot put for Southern University. Joe Montana's ability to remain calm in pressure situations earned him the nickname. Hester's speed and a nickname for the city of Chicago, in which he plays; bestowed by WBBM 780 radio-announcer Jeff Joniak, Martindale shares a last name with media personality, For Dunn's initials and Alstott's jersey No. Manning, the onetime Tennessee Volunteers star, already had won a Super Bowl with the Indianapolis Colts by that point. from a spectator. Kearse registered 74 sacks and 28 forced fumbles in an 11-year pro career with the Titans and Philadelphia Eagles. For the uninitiated, Optimus Prime is Megatrons rival in the Transformers franchise. The latter three - defenders, midfielders and forwards, can be further divided into multiple positions. The best soccer player nicknames are short, simple, catchy, and creative. One of the greatest players ever produced in the Lone Star State, Campbell won the 1977 Heisman Trophy with the Texas Longhorns. Merriman finished his career with 224 tackles and 45 sacks. The Texas A&M football team's defense is nicknamed the "Wrecking Crew," though the name is more tradition than representative of play. Perhaps the Bears were trying to bestow Dalton with a new nickname, QB1, with a viral tweet shortly after the signing. A play on his name, but also his role as a guard when run-blocking. A teammate noticed and told Jones, Youre too tall to play football. Jones, who was listed at 6-foot-9 during his tenure with the Dallas Cowboys, wasnt too tall to play football, of course. He was involved in the league from its beginnings in 1920 until his death in 1983. Football positions. Additionally, nicknames can be used as a marketing tool to help promote the team and its merchandise. Instead, it came from the popular song of the same name by jazz musician Jimmy Forrest. It was on special teams, however, that he earned his percussive nickname for his frequent collisions. He was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985 on the first ballot. Former New England Patriots and Cincinnati Bengals running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis earned his nickname because his actual name sounds like, well, like the name of a high-powered legal group. Washington's powerful offensive line paved the way to three titles and four Super Bowl appearances. Young enjoyed an impressive rookie season with the Washington Football Team in 2020, recording 44 tackles, 7 sacks, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries in 15 games. Went on to lead Vikings to a win in Philadelphia, against Michael Vick and the Eagles playing a must-win game. In 11 NFL seasons with the Jets, Buccaneers, Patriots and Chiefs, he recorded 446 tackles, 29 interceptions and three pick-sixes. 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. LSU Tigers defensive back Tyrann Mathieu was just emerging as a Heisman Trophy finalist in 2011 when a YouTube clip depicting the ferocity of honey badgers went viral. Weve got co-nicknames here with legendary coach Don Coryell and former NFL MVP Steve McNair. Ryan, the 2016 NFL MVP, is a four-time Pro Bowler who already ranks in the leagues top 10 in career passing yards. Jackson 5 has a nice ring to it", https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/jeff-stoutland-university-t-shirt-eagles-autism-foundation-jordan-mailata, "Sports E-Cyclopedia History of the Cleveland Browns", "Sports E-Cyclopedia History of the Miami Dolphins", CJOnline Blogs Martyball: The way it's played, "Dolphins Revived by Their Defense: Raiders: Rookies, castoffs make Miami No. He later served as an assistant coach for the Patriots, Bills and Jets. Ryan Fitzpatrick humorously dubbed himself the Amish Rifle in a nod to his ample beard while a member of the Buffalo Bills a decade ago. Offensive Line - There are five offensive linemen. 10. But within the game - especially to coaches, players, and serious fans - the football slang terms take on meaning. No nickname has ever conveyed that someone was both large and running on a schedule so well. Hendricks was invited to the Pro Bowl eight times and received four first-team All-Pro selections. There are three layers: defensive line, defensive backs, and linebackers, and each has particular tasks. Long Snappers are often referred to by their position, for example Long Snapper. Hall of Fame linebacker Ted Hendricks acquired his avian nickname while playing at the University of Miami. These are not all official names, and some national teams have more than one nickname. Hybrid Linebackers . 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. The next month, the Bears selected Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Justin Fields in the first round of the NFL draft. A native Texan, he received his Californian nickname from teammate Robert Newhouse after showing up to practice in a limo and wearing a fur coat. Unfortunately, his playing career was cut short by a severe knee injury suffered in 1970. One significant point to note is there is no contact allowed in 7 on 7 or 5 on 5 flag football. Longtime Dallas Cowboys fullback Daryl Johnston got his animalistic nickname as a rookie in 1989. Although he initially fancied himself as a Ferrari, the moniker grew on him over time as it followed him to the Auburn Tigers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 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. Names which are marked by an asterisk (*) are team nicknames which may have been coined by team members or local media, but never became well known to the public outside of the teams media market for a multitude of reasons, but most likely due to poor performance. Lights, Kamara, Action. pass defense or interception). Longtime Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly possessed a cannon for an arm, so it makes sense that his nickname would rely on weaponry. I hope you enjoyed this list of LB names. Peyton Manning was first dubbed The Sheriff by then-television analyst Jon Gruden during a 2009 Monday Night Football game, in which Gruden said Manning lays down the law in opponents stadiums. As for the 11 players on the pitch, they can be broadly divided into four positions - goalkeeper, defenders, midfielders and forwards. However, sometimes, it can be difficult to come up with a good nickname for ourselves. The defense consists of a defensive line, linebackers, cornerbacks, and safeties. A play on his last name and famed Western character, In March 2019, Oliver posted a picture on. Thompson went on to play six NFL seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, throwing for 5,315 yards and 33 touchdowns. 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. 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. The phrase "Big Baller B" was originally popularized in 2016 by the, Given to him by the 49ers locker room, suggesting he's "got some cojones to him.". Mix had a degree in law at the time he played professional football. Thats because the ESPN analyst and former NFL defensive tackle was dubbed Booger at age 2 by his mother because of feisty behavior. The Chicago Bears icon retired as the NFLs all-time leading rusher after the 1987 season, and his total of 16,726 rushing yards still ranks second in league history. Because of his physical tackling, and apparent resemblance to the cartoon character. It is their job to either pass block for the QB so he has time to throw or run block for the RB or FB. He led the NFL with 1,480 rushing yards in 1989. Footballer Nicknames: 400+ Catchy And Creative Footballer Nicknames Ideas. For those unfamiliar with the Predator film series, the antagonist is a ruthlessly intimidating, dreadlocked alien being. For example, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish would be listed under "I" for "Irish". Nicknames can also create a sense of history and tradition for a team and its fans. Part of what makes this list of names so funny is that they belong to actual people. He was the subject of a clue on the game show Jeopardy! in 2013. The West Coast Offense A passing-oriented offensive scheme that emphasizes short, quick passes to move the ball down the field. It was pretty true. The Catch Dwight Clark, former NFL wide receiver best known for his game-winning catch in the 1982 NFC Championship Game. His nickname paid homage to his speed and alma mater he was a track and field sprinter in addition to playing football for the Alabama Crimson Tide. Nickname given for his affinity for having comeback wins during his career. Unfazed, he didnt flinch, which led Craigs mother to dub him Ironhead. Naming Things", "Sports E-Cyclopedia History of the Pittsburgh Steelers", "SUPER BOWL XXIII; Bengals Hope Defense Will Stay Offensive", "Denver Broncos: Elway Through the Years: 1987", "Sports E-cyclopedia: Dallas Cowboys, see 2005", "Everything to know about the origins of the 49ers' YAC Bros", "Deebo Samuel gives awesome 'YAC Bros' nickname to 49ers' pass catchers", "Green, Monk Selected to NFL Hall of Fame", "At 216 Games, Green Does His Energizer Imitation", "Fred 'Air' McNair's legacy lives on at Alcorn State", "Adrian Peterson, Ex-Oklahoma Running Back", "Ambrose Schindler followed his own road to success at USC and beyond", "Jack Tatum #32 The man, the legend, the "Assassin", "Terrell Suggs explains Ball So Hard University", "Seattle Seahawks S Kam Chancellor's nickname explained", Beast Mode goes Speak Mode, optimistic about Seahawks running game, "Players react to GM Brandon Beane's extension", "Big Baller Brand set to deliver to customers, fulfilling LaVar's vision", "The 49ers can't stop raving about Brock Purdy's huge balls", "How 49ers QB Brock Purdy earned his NSFW nickname: 'He's got some cojones to him', "His Hugeness: Ohio State's Dan Wilkinson, All 308 Pounds of Him, Is Fulfilling Family Responsibility as NFL's Top Draft Prospect", "The brief career of 'Big Daddy' Lipscomb", "I am Connor Barwin, a Philadelphia Eagles linebacker, a music lover, a philanthropist, a renaissance man. . 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