The perception of Simpson changed with his connection to the 1994 murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and Ronald Goldman. Slingin Sammy Baugh was the first prolific passer in NFL history, a forerunner of the future quarterback prototype at a time when the ground game was the preferred method of offense. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Steve threw for more than 5,000 yards as a college senior en route to being the No. Whack-A-Balls. I am Samoan and I threw the ball. I thought a name like that would be remembered. One of the greatest pass rushers in football history, he was an anchor of the Los Angeles Rams famed Fearsome Foursome defensive line alongside Merlin Olsen, Lamar Lundy and Rosey Grier. Bednarik is generally recognized as the last to have done so. 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. The offensive unit in American football consists of a quarterback, linemen, backs, tight ends and receivers. Staubach, who guided the Cowboys to their first two Super Bowl victories, passed for 22,700 yards and 153 touchdowns in 11 seasons with Dallas. Often referred to by fans and anchors as "a" or "the" kid because of his facial young look to him. Apparently, backup quarterback Babe Laufenberg noted that Johnston, at 6-foot-2 and 242 pounds, dwarfed the rest of the teams running backs. He has said he came up with the moniker while playing streetball as a child, and it found its way into the newspaper after he scored four touchdowns in a game in junior college. He was part of the inaugural class of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963. Football: Linebacker. The guy positioned immediately in front of the center in a 3-4 defense is a nose guard or nose tackle. He actually earned the nickname from a Texas sportswriter as a student-athlete at Texas Christian, where he was a two-time All-America quarterback. Other nicknames include: J-Load, Hefty Lefty, Abominable Throwman, Round Mound of Touchdown, Quarter(got)back, He Ate Me, and BBQ (Big Beautiful Quarterback). In an 11-year NFL career, he led the league in touchdown catches nine times, receptions eight times and receiving yards seven times. He also trademarked the phrase Im just here so I wont get fined, but we digress. Baker scored 21 touchdowns over the course of his six-year NFL career, plus two more in the postseason. 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. In order from left to right, they are: the Left Tackle (LT), Left Guard (LG), Center (C), Right Guard (RG) and Right Tackle (RT). Merriman finished his career with 224 tackles and 45 sacks. After terrorizing SEC quarterbacks for three seasons, he made an immediate impact with the Tennessee Titans as the No. Entering the 2021 season, Zuerlein has converted on 82.2% of his field-goal attempts. The section would say, Mean Green, you look so good to me, and it caught on. Greene, one of the greatest players ever developed in football-crazy Texas, went on to win four Super Bowls during a Hall of Fame career with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Footballer Nicknames: 400+ Catchy And Creative Footballer Nicknames Ideas. Left Tackle: The left tackle is the most important person on the offensive line. Teams with nicknames that include the word "Fighting" are listed under the letter of the second nickname. Some nicknames are descriptive, such as The Big Easy for Drew Brees, which references his birthplace of New Orleans, Louisiana. Left: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports. His high school teammates referred to him as "young buck" as he was a freshman on the varsity team. Groza earned nine Pro Bowl invitations and four first-team All-Pro selections for his work on the offensive line, but it was his kicking that summoned a nickname. Defenders The defenders are positioned in front of the goalkeeper and their aim is to stop the opposing team from entering into their goal area. On the football field, the defense of the Denver Broncos consumed quarterbacks and provided hope to a city long in the ranks of losing. 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. 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. Irvin embraced the moniker by signing his autograph as Michael Playmaker Irvin, 88, and he boasted a vanity license plate that read PLYMKR. One of the greatest players ever developed in talent-rich Miami, Irvin racked up 750 receptions for 11,904 yards and 65 touchdowns during his NFL career. Marlin Dyess, "Scooter". Its simply a classic. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1968. Ken "The Snake" Stabler and Jake "The Snake" Plummer, 11. The following are nicknames throughout the history of the NFL. He wisely trademarked the phrase and cashed in on apparel sales. Gang Green 2 of 50 The New York Jets defense's. He concluded his playing career with the Los Angeles Rams in 1977. The tag couldnt have fit better for Namath, who was known to sample New Yorks nightlife on occasion. Nickname given to him by coach Vermeil because of his big play ability in the return game. A play on his name, but also his role as a guard when run-blocking. Long snapper: Perhaps the most unappreciated position, this player snaps the ball to the punter. Gale Sayers became known as the Kansas Comet while earning All-America accolades at the University of Kansas in the 1960s. The last one we'll tell you about in this section is West Brom's nickname of 'The Baggies'. Supersized quarterback Jared Lorenzen was tagged with numerous clever nicknames during his impressive run at the University of Kentucky, including Hefty Lefty, J-Load and the Round Mound of Touchdowns. Easley rightfully earned his nickname as The Enforcer for this style of play on the field. A play on his last name and famed Western character, In March 2019, Oliver posted a picture on. Gold Member. Hybrid Linebackers . 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. For those unfamiliar with the Predator film series, the antagonist is a ruthlessly intimidating, dreadlocked alien being. ", His initials. Although the brash wunderkind only lasted two NFL seasons with the Cleveland Browns, he wont be forgotten anytime soon. A Academia (The Academy), Palmeiras's team in the seventiesAz Aranycsapat (The Golden Team), legendary Hungary national football team of the 1950s.Craiova Maxima, Universitatea Craiova of the late 1970s and early 1980s; Fergie's Fledglings, generation of home-grown Manchester United players led by Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, who won . New York Newsday, December 8, 2002, page 38, Jets Confidential Magazine, Vol 10, Num. Because of his short legs, he appeared to waddle like a duck. Catalina Wine Mixon. 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. Note that many have been anecdotally nicknamed the Snapfather, which is a play on the Godfather. Outside Linebackers and Inside Linebackers . The No. ; possibly self-bestowed, Bestowed by his grandmother due to a childhood resemblance to. Here we go naming linebackers.. Mike, Sam and Will . The moniker came from the student section when Greene was a collegiate standout at North Texas. 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. Lance Alworth was an artist at the wide receiver position, one of the stars who helped legitimize the fledgling American Football League. No play was more emblematic of Riggins career than his 43-yard touchdown romp in Super Bowl XVII, in which he dragged hapless defender Don McNeal for several yards before bursting into the open down the sideline for the go-ahead score. The QB might hand the ball off to a running back on a rushing play, or they might pass it to a running back, tight end or wide receiver on a passing play. 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. Nicknames are often given to players or teams to create a sense of identity and camaraderie. But it was his willingness to take risks by throwing into coverage that helped earn his nickname. I hope you enjoyed this list of LB names. Theres nothing fancy about Joe Greenes nickname. Best Fantasy Team Names Based on Running Backs. He will be eligible for membership in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2023. Here are some famous American Football player nicknames specifically for Long Snappers. I didnt think anything of it, Thompson told the Times. The West Coast Offense A passing-oriented offensive scheme that emphasizes short, quick passes to move the ball down the field. Johnson, one of the best high school football products from the state of Michigan, recently was named head coach of the powerhouse prep program at IMG Academy. Martin was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2012. Mathieu went on to become a versatile standout at the professional level after being drafted in the third round by the Arizona Cardinals in 2013. Before Greg the Leg, there was Lou The Toe Groza, a standout lineman for the Cleveland Browns who also served as the teams placekicker. A nickname coined by his teammates on the Washington Redskins after peeing himself constantly during his career. The quarterback position will be the most watched group of Indiana's spring football practices. Qadry Ismails weaponized nickname fits him nicely. However, sometimes, it can be difficult to come up with a good nickname for ourselves. Stabler was dubbed The Snake by his junior high football coach in reaction to his elusive, zig-zagging running style. Now the offensive coordinator of the Kansas City Chiefs, Eric Bieniemy was a standout running back at the University of Colorado who went on to a nine-year playing career with the Chargers, Bengals and Eagles. Former Dallas Cowboys linebacker Thomas Hollywood Henderson was known for his aggressive play on the field and flamboyance off the field. Easley was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017. Lights, Kamara, Action. McNair inherited the nickname from his older brother, Fred, who was the original Air McNair at quarterback at Alcorn State years before Steve emerged as a star for the Braves. Position: Full-back. 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. The seven NFL officials on the field have specific roles and responsibilities that make it possible to correctly and consistently call games at football's highest level. A native of Enugu, Nigeria, Okoye didnt begin playing football until he attended college at Azusa Pacific. Eugene Mercury Morris was nicknamed after the Roman god of travelers because of his fleetness of foot. Over the course of his eight-year prop career with the Oilers and New Orleans Saints, Campbell rushed for 9,407 yards and 74 touchdowns. The next month, the Bears selected Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Justin Fields in the first round of the NFL draft. 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. 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 Nebraska: Blackshirts. The Flexbone A option-based offense that uses misdirection and deception to confuse the defense. Or write about sports? The move even earned Sherman a phone call from actor Peter Cullen, the movie voice of Optimus Prime. June 16, 2021. For his ability to use the "force" to visualize himself making any catch. Stewart, who guided the Steelers to two AFC Championship Game appearances, was selected to the Pro Bowl after the 2001 season. Kenny Easley received his intimidating nickname while delivering crushing hits as a member of the Seattle Seahawks secondary in the 1980s. We list out some famous American Football player nicknames specifically for Defensive Lineman: Defensive Linemen are often referred to by their position, for example Defensive Tackle or Defensive End. He even was an NAIA national champion in the shot put for Southern University. Baltimore Sun". He went on to record 5,860 yards from scrimmage and 34 total touchdowns in 11 pro seasons with the Saints, Bears, Falcons, Rams and Colts. The best soccer player nicknames are short, simple, catchy, and creative. His affinity for passing the ball, particularly deep downfield, Based on his refusal to eat Rice Krispie Treats left for him by the coaching staff, Earned his nickname from his coach following a long, winding touchdown run, His ability of "snaking" around out of pressure in the pocket; also a play on the wrestler. Inspired from his mentor Deion "Prime Time" Sanders. 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. He was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on the first ballot in 1993. San Diego Chargers teammate Charlie Flowers applied the tag and told Alworth it was for your big brown eyes and the way you move, according to Sports Illustrated. Kelly released a rap song about himself in 2012, and the nickname stuck afterwards. American sports teams have nicknames because it serves as a way to identify and differentiate the team from others, and also creates a sense of identity and community for the teams fans. He later served as an assistant coach for the Patriots, Bills and Jets. It seems that a teammate who was nicknamed Mad Dog decided to give the other 10 defensive starters nicknames that began with the word mad as well. A college star at Arkansas who went on to enjoy a decade-long NFL career with the Oakland Raiders and Dallas Cowboys, Darren McFadden was dubbed Run DMC in homage to the legendary 1980s hip-hop trio.
