McFadden rushed for 4,590 yards and 41 touchdowns in three seasons with the Razorbacks, finishing second in Heisman Trophy balloting twice. [40] Jackson 5: [41] Nickname of the 2017 Jacksonville Jaguars secondary coming from the famous music group. Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports (c) Copyright Malcolm Emmons. 's Ironhead, Is Dead at 39", "One of league's best cornerbacks only goes by 'Jackrabbit', "Joe Burrow's nicknames, explained: From 'Joey Franchise' to 'Joe Shiesty,' all of Bengals' QB's monikers", "5 Things to Know about 49ers FB Kyle Juszczyk", "Top 20 Bills All-Time Draft Picks: Joe DeLamielleure (#8)", A journeyman on the field but always a 'King' off of it, "BenJarvus Green-Ellis' agent in touch with teams", "On Brink of Retirement, Emotions Fly High for Malcom Floyd", "Where Are They Now / Daryle Lamonica / 'The Mad Bomber' / Quarterback guided Raiders' long-ball attack", "Ted Hendricks Pro Football Hall of Fame Official Site", "By any name, 'Marion the Barbarian' a vital part of Cowboys offense", CJohnson, Sproles, Hester among most explosive, "Julian Edelman has a new nickname: Minitron", "Former Chicago Bears Steve "Mongo" McMichael said he's running for mayor - ESPN Chicago", "Top 10 Best Draft Picks of the Jerry Jones Era - Dallas - Sports - Sportatorium", "Sean Payton: Taysom Hill runs like Fred Flintstone", "Seahawks/NFL: 'Mudbone' embodied Hawks' grit", "Friend who stuck Doug Martin with 'Muscle Hamster' label: Too late to change", "Chad Ochocinco changes his name back to Johnson", "Alexander The Face Of Roster Versatility", "No more Pacman? Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images, Hard-hitting defensive back Fred Williamson was dubbed The Hammer as a rookie at training camp with the San Francisco 49ers in 1960 when head coach Red Hickey asked him to stop hammering the receivers. Chicago sportswriter Francis Powers coined the moniker, writing of Hirsch: His crazy legs were gyrating in six different directions, all at the same time; he looked like a demented duck. After World War II, he turned pro with the Chicago Rockets of the All-America Football Conference. His fatal nickname apparently was coined at high school in New Orleans, where the football field bordered a cemetery. Specifically, the moniker was a throwback to George Machine Gun Kelly, an infamous gangster from the early 20th century. Well known for calling his own plays at the line of scrimmage and hurry-up offense. Nicknames are very common in real life, especially in sports. Outside Linebackers and Inside Linebackers . Groza played 21 seasons for the Browns, the last seven exclusively as a kicker. They both play linebacker and can tackle hella . Hirsch led the league with 66 receptions for 1,495 yards and 17 touchdowns in 1951, the first of three consecutive seasons in which he would be selected to the Pro Bowl. Your email address will not be published. Not only does it contain a rhyme and play off his last name, it perfectly described his physical running style. The defense consists of a defensive line, linebackers, cornerbacks, and safeties. Marks opposition wingers. Lane ranks fourth in NFL history with 68 interceptions. 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. Nicknames for individual players, coaches and personnel. Along with those brief spurts of success, Fitzpatrick is also notorious for going on cold streaks and drastrically underperfoming in games for multiple weeks. For his ability to use the "force" to visualize himself making any catch. These are not all official names, and some national teams have more than one nickname. Defensive ends and tackles are collectively called defensive linemen, while the cornerbacks and safeties are collectively called defensive backs, or the secondary . 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? Left Tackle: The left tackle is the most important person on the offensive line. Part of what makes this list of names so funny is that they belong to actual people. Flag football is a more condensed, smaller-sized version of the classic iteration of American Football.. With seven players on either side, an offense will attack a defenses' endzone over a 40-yard pitch. Unique Funny Dirty Names. An allusion to. Sayers was named first-team All-Pro in each of his first five NFL seasons, leading the league in rushing yards twice during that span. The moniker came from the student section when Greene was a collegiate standout at North Texas. This is a list of nicknames for United Kingdom football clubs. It was either that or Shrimp Alfredo. At 6-foot-3 and 355 pounds, theres nothing shrimpy about Knighton. Lance Alworth was an artist at the wide receiver position, one of the stars who helped legitimize the fledgling American Football League. Left: Darryl Norenberg-USA TODAY Sports. Which position is best for Foden after '10/10 performance'? The No. Unfazed, he didnt flinch, which led Craigs mother to dub him Ironhead. 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. Please check your email for a confirmation. Because of his physical tackling, and apparent resemblance to the cartoon character. A full lineup will include defenders (one will be the goalkeeper), several midfield players, and forwards (e.g. This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 21:15. 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. The logic of the game's strange new nicknames. Baltimore Sun". Kelly released a rap song about himself in 2012, and the nickname stuck afterwards. Bill Belichick boasts unquestioned credentials: six Super Bowl titles, nine AFC championships, 17 division titles and nearly 300 regular-season victories. While the nickname might sound off-color to some these days, Thompson told the Seattle Times in 2018 that he didnt mind the moniker. Return specialists: The players who return punts and kicks. The move even earned Sherman a phone call from actor Peter Cullen, the movie voice of Optimus Prime. Henderson played in three Super Bowls with the Cowboys, winning one. Some of the greatest footballers ever to grace a pitch have had their unique nicknames, such as El Ilusionista ( Andres Iniesta ), Zizou (Zinedine Zidane), Der Bomber (Gerd Muller) or O Fenomeno (Ronaldo Nazario) - so it is no surprise that even some of the lesser-known football players have well-known nicknames. Hayes also was adept at creating turnovers. Hammer Counter Run. . It has been used for Joe Flacco for his cool demeanor, especially during the postseason. At 6-foot-1 and 253 pounds, former Kansas City Chiefs running back Christian Okoye must have seemed like a runaway train to would-be tacklers. P: Punter; Punts the ball to the opposing team. leading the attack). Richard Sherman acquired his transformative nickname when he changed his Twitter handle to Optimus Prime in preparation for a matchup against Calvin Megatron Johnson in 2012. 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. K: Kicker; Kicks field goals (FG) and extra points (XP) KR: Kick Returner; Receives kicks from the opposing team's kicker. A lot of players are described as freakish these days based on their extraordinary skills, but Jevon Kearse was the first football player widely known by this nickname. Marion Barber IIIs nickname works two ways beautifully. 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 was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006. 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. Many of the terms have meanings outside of football, such as bye, scramble, and shotgun. He was the subject of a clue on the game show Jeopardy! in 2013. Longtime Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly possessed a cannon for an arm, so it makes sense that his nickname would rely on weaponry. As Greene once explained to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, That started my sophomore year when we had a student section that started the Mean Greene thing, he said. A journeyman quarterback whose NFL career was quite brief, Corcoran earned a reputation for pomposity in high school when, coming onto the field in a clean uniform after a rainstorm, he drew a cheer of "hail to the King!" It seems that Brown believed Thomas looked like the DC Comics character of the same name, according to former Raiders coach John Maddens 1985 book, Hey, Wait a Minute (I Wrote a Book! Apparently, those legs were no impediment to pro success, as he went on to enjoy a 15-year career with the Colts, Packers and Raiders. Some nicknames are related to the teams location, such as the New York Yankees or the Green Bay Packers, while others are related to the teams characteristics, such as the Steel Curtain for the Pittsburgh Steelers defensive line or the Killer Bs for the Baltimore Ravens linebackers. Position: Full-back. Dazzle. . Former Bengal Elbert Woods, better known as "Ickey," received that particular nickname because his younger brother couldn't say Elbert properly. 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. Got the name in college. This is a misdirection version of the football play above. Or write about sports? The linebacker became a key component of two Super Bowl championship teams with the New York Giants. So it happened that Jones dubbed himself Deacon. Billy White Shoes Johnson earned his nickname long before becoming a standout punt and kick returner with the Houston Oilers and Atlanta Falcons. ' Indeed, Bettis rumbled for 1,912 yards and 27 touchdowns in three collegiate seasons. Washington's powerful offensive line paved the way to three titles and four Super Bowl appearances. 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. ", "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 was acquitted in a controversial criminal verdict but was held liable for the deaths in a subsequent $33.5 million civil decision. Nicknames can also create a sense of history and tradition for a team and its fans. When the Dolphins enjoyed a perfect season in 1972, Morris rushed for 1,000 yards and led the NFL with 14 touchdown runs. For the uninitiated, Optimus Prime is Megatrons rival in the Transformers franchise. Hoosiers Spring Football Preview: The Battle for QB 1 Begins Now. 1 overall in the NFL draft. George Stanley Halas stands as one of the forefathers of the NFL and the godfather of the Chicago Bears franchise. The Chargers led the league in yards five times under Coryell. Tommy the Tuna? Presumably, Parcells was referring to Charlie the Tuna of StarKist fame. 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. Wrangler Stampede. The nickname in question refers to Zuerlein's ability of making field goals from a distance. His ability to throw the ball downfield and his red hair. Perry went on to play 10 NFL seasons with the Bears and Philadelphia Eagles. 19761980 New Orleans Saints dynamic running back duo known as "Thunder and Lightning". As for the 11 players on the pitch, they can be broadly divided into four positions - goalkeeper, defenders, midfielders and forwards. He registered 731 career receptions for 11,619 yards and 83 touchdowns in nine seasons with Detroit. 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. Lamonica guided the Raiders to Super Bowl II in his first season with the team and racked up more than 3,000 passing yards in three consecutive seasons gaudy numbers for that era. Additionally, nicknames can be used as a marketing tool to help promote the team and its merchandise. Whack-A-Balls. Bagwell, Biggio, Bell and Berry beget Bagwell, Biggio, Bell and Berkman, who. One of the great players to come out of talent-rich Miami, he is currently a free agent. 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. A play on his name, but also his role as a guard when run-blocking. This is a listing of sports nicknames beginning with the letter "F". It was during freshman year at Clemson University that defensive tackle William Perry first became known as the Refrigerator. But luckily for you, we've collected a massive list of catchy, funny, and original football nicknames ideas for you to choose from. Longtime Chicago Bears cornerback Charles Tillman was dubbed Peanut as a baby by an aunt who thought he resembled one. His blond hair, combined with his tendencies to throw the ball down the field, hence "bomber". The soccer, the player who plays central midfield (CM) is positioned at the center of the team between the defense and attack. For example, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish would be listed under "I" for "Irish". ", "No. Game of Jones. Coryell was a brilliant offensive innovator whose San Diego Chargers stretched opposing defenses with quarterback Dan Fouts, tight end Kellen Winslow and wideouts Charlie Joiner, John Jefferson and Wes Chandler. NFL finds Patriots deflated 11 balls in 'Deflategate' AFC title game: report", "Sports E-Cyclopedia History of the Atlanta Falcons", "Sports E-Cyclopedia History of the Dallas Cowboys", "Don Shula on Patriots: 'the Spygate Thing Has Diminished What They've Accomplished', "Sports E-Cyclopedia History of the LA Rams", "Sam Darnold said 'I'm seeing ghosts' during awful MNF performance and fans crushed him", "FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT: RAMS: Just Call Him 'Air Chuck', "Patriots 4-1 at bye; return to action Oct. 22", "Nickname for the Jaguars' secondary? He then registered 7,535 yards from scrimmage and 33 total touchdowns as a professional. He would win another with the Denver Broncos, on his way to 71,940 career passing yards and 539 touchdown passes. The Wing-T A formation that features a running back lined up behind the quarterback and two other running backs lined up behind him in a triangle formation. Offensive Positions. Draw your own conclusion. Although the brash wunderkind only lasted two NFL seasons with the Cleveland Browns, he wont be forgotten anytime soon. While Jack Thompson was becoming a star at Washington State, he was dubbed The Throwin Samoan by a columnist from the Spokane Spokesman-Review in a nod to the quarterbacks heritage. I am Samoan and I threw the ball. The Hoosiers are coming off two seasons where injuries . Bestowed in childhood by his grandmother, who surmised he changed directions more often than the. Johnny Manziel - Johnny Football Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports. Ain'ts Nickname given to the New Orleans Saints after their 1980 season of 14 consecutive losses. While playing for the University of Miami, the tall, thin Hendricks gained the nickname The Mad Stork., Combination of maple (due to his Canadian heritage) and Megatron (due to the similarities to, Because of his physical running style and reputation for repeatedly breaking tackles, Prolific Miami Dolphins wide receiver duo of the 1980s who shared the same first name (also a reference to the, In reference to Matt Ryan's ability to have long game-winning drives under pressure (and pejoratively for Ryan's tendency to go "ice cold" during playoff games); also a play on "Natty Ice", a low-end beer brewed by, A reference to his large frame, comparing him to a, A reference to his Christian ministry as an ordained, While not many would draw comparisons between the diminutive, Given to him in reference to his big-time corner play, Given to him by Cowboys backup quarterback. 5: [ 41 ] nickname of the Chicago Rockets of the 2017 Jacksonville Jaguars secondary coming the... 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This is a misdirection version of the terms have meanings outside of Football, such as bye, scramble and...