I am proud of it, and my dad, frankly, loved it.. The guy positioned immediately in front of the center in a 3-4 defense is a nose guard or nose tackle. The former Texas A&M star quarterback dazzled the college football world en route to the Heisman Trophy in 2012. 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. Despite his distaste for the handle, it stuck with him through his seven-year NFL career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Oakland Raiders. 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. Was plagued by concussions and injuries, referencing his presumed fragility, His similarity in appearance and demeanor to the character in the movie. They are often referred to as the engine room of the team. 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. This is a listing of sports nicknames beginning with the letter "F". Here we go naming linebackers.. Mike, Sam and Will . He also trademarked the phrase Im just here so I wont get fined, but we digress. 14. The two main defenses that teams run today . At 69 and 290lb, Lipscomb, a professional wrestler during the offseason, was one of the largest players in professional football during the 1950s. The Flexbone A option-based offense that uses misdirection and deception to confuse the defense. He was the subject of a clue on the game show Jeopardy! in 2013. 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! Earl Campbells nickname originates in the fact that his hometown of Tyler, Texas, boasts a long history as a leader in the commercial production of roses. 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. Play on Brees's last name and his perception as the savior of Saints Football. ", Fitzpatrick has had brief spurts of resounding success, notable examples include when he played with the. Intensity. With all that in mind, Touchdown Wire presents a completely subjective look at the 101 greatest nicknames in football history. 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. Thats because the ESPN analyst and former NFL defensive tackle was dubbed Booger at age 2 by his mother because of feisty behavior. Johnny Manziels nickname is straightforward. Stewart also produced 3,532 yards from scrimmage and 43 touchdowns as a runner and receiver. Outside Linebackers and Inside Linebackers . His high school teammates referred to him as "young buck" as he was a freshman on the varsity team. Los Lobos. The 1956 Heisman Trophy winner went on to a nine-year career as a running back, amassing 3,711 rushing yards and 50 touchdowns with the Green Bay Packers. Stabler earned four Pro Bowl selections and won a Super Bowl with the Oakland Raiders before winding down his 15-year NFL career with the Houston Oilers and New Orleans Saints. A play on his name, but also his role as a guard when run-blocking. It never hurts when a nickname rhymes. Red Grange was one of the first true football superstars, a player who single-handedly could deliver huge crowds. 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. Jones wants to drop nickname", "George "Papa Bear" Halas honored with 'Hometown Hall of Fame', "argonauts.ca - Michael "Pinball" Clemons", "Michael Irvin: 2007 Hall of Fame enshrinement speech", "Yes, Poop Johnson is a real player in the CFL", "The Jets Cabinet: Who Fits Into The Room? Bednarik is generally recognized as the last to have done so. Paul Hornung earned his nickname for his blond hair and the golden dome on the campus of his college team, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. This name applies to the Chicago Cardinals of the late 1940s which included Elmer Angsman, Paul Christman, Pat Harder, Marshall Goldberg and the Pro Football Hall of Famer Charley Trippi. He even was an NAIA national champion in the shot put for Southern University. Not surprisingly, those devastating hits would earn him a notorious nickname. Because of his powerback style of playcompared to a truck that ran on diesel. His hard-hitting, game-changing play style. Its not entirely clear how the great Walter Payton came by his famous nickname, although its believed to date to his college days at Jackson State. Was a star receiver, From a common mispronunciation of his last name, Given to him by his parents because he would run "all day" / His initials, Schindler was one of the earliest scrambling quarterbacks. Long snapper: Perhaps the most unappreciated position, this player snaps the ball to the punter. Cassady the football player went on to star at Ohio State, winning the 1955 Heisman Trophy. 6 overall pick a few months later, and he became one of the top players in Oilers/Titans franchise history over a decade-long career. He compiled 743 career receptions for 10,205 yards with 84 touchdowns. To this day, the Bears wear the initials GSW on the left arm of their uniform jersey in honor of Halas. Proper training and positioning prepare officials to be in the right place to make the right call. Williamson was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers prior to that season but moved to the fledgling AFL in 1961. 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. So, let's start browsing through these amazing nicknames. It was either that or Shrimp Alfredo. At 6-foot-3 and 355 pounds, theres nothing shrimpy about Knighton. The linebacker became a key component of two Super Bowl championship teams with the New York Giants. Bestowed in college, Huerta was renowned for keeping his composure (staying cool) in stressful situations. The Veer A option-based offense that uses misdirection and deception to confuse the defense. The Wildcat A formation that features a player other than the quarterback taking the snap, usually a running back or receiver, in order to run or pass the ball. Howard Hopalong Cassady received his nickname as a high school standout from a Columbus Dispatch sportswriter who described him hopping over defenders at the goal line. Still, other nicknames are more intimidating or fierce, such as The Black Death for the Baltimore Ravens Defense. In addition to famously leading the Jets to victory in Super Bowl III, Namath was named to four AFL All-Star Games and one Pro Bowl during his 12 seasons with the Jets. Longtime Chicago Bears cornerback Charles Tillman was dubbed Peanut as a baby by an aunt who thought he resembled one. But it actually was his physical appearance that inspired teammate Bob Brown to nickname him Dr. Death. 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. He registered 206 tackles, 14 sacks, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries during a seven-year NFL career with Jacksonville, Denver and Washington. The origins of some nicknames are unclear with various stories being put forward. Reference to Colston's shyness and ability to make big plays. Johnson lived up to the name, becoming one of the great wideouts in pro football history. The Miami Dolphins drafted Jim Jensen as a quarterback out of the erstwhile program at Boston University in 1981. George Stanley Halas stands as one of the forefathers of the NFL and the godfather of the Chicago Bears franchise. from a spectator. 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. May overlap and send crosses into the opposition box . NFL opponents found him less adorable, evidenced by his 38 interceptions and eight pick-sixes over his 13-year career with the Bears and Carolina Panthers. 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. Part of what makes this list of names so funny is that they belong to actual people. 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. American football nicknames are often given to players, teams, or even plays and formations, and they can have a variety of characteristics. The formation will be exactly the same. Hall of Fame linebacker Ted Hendricks acquired his avian nickname while playing at the University of Miami. 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. The persona of Joe Cool dates to at least 1971 in pop culture, with Snoopy from the comic strip Peanuts, but it came to be connected in a football sense with Joe Montana. Funny Football Team Names. In 14 NFL seasons with Atlanta, San Francisco, Dallas, Washington and Baltimore, Sanders excelled on special teams and even played some wide receiver on offense in addition to his usual defensive duties. Entering the 2021 season, Zuerlein has converted on 82.2% of his field-goal attempts. Johnston won three Super Bowls and was selected to two Pro Bowls during an 11-year career with the Cowboys. Not only did longtime NFL running back Craig Heyward have a terrific nickname, but there also was an awesome backstory behind it. The linebacker positions depend on the type of defensive formation the team is running. 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. The next month, the Bears selected Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Justin Fields in the first round of the NFL draft. The Wishbone A formation that features a running back lined up directly behind the quarterback, with two other running backs lined up behind him in a triangle formation. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006. 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. He also is remembered for flattening Giants running back Frank Gifford in what became a legendary photograph. He was even more impressive as a pro, rushing for 13,662 yards and 91 touchdowns in 13 seasons with the Steelers and Rams. Bettis famously capped his career with a Super Bowl victory in his hometown of Detroit in February 2006. 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? Mike Ditka acquired the Iron Mike nickname from the fact that he grew up in the steel town of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. Along with those brief spurts of success, Fitzpatrick is also notorious for going on cold streaks and drastrically underperfoming in games for multiple weeks. Just as the Algeria football team, Senegal national team, Brazil national team - and so on and so forth - all have nicknames, so does Nigeria. The No. Qadry, a college standout at Syracuse, was drafted in the second round by the Minnesota Vikings in 1993 and enjoyed a 10-year NFL career as a wide receiver with the Vikings, Dolphins, Saints, Raiders and Colts. Each name is special, while some are pretty hilarious. Bestowed in childhood by his grandmother, who surmised he changed directions more often than the. But the truth is they really belong to real people, which makes them that much more hilarious. Additionally, nicknames can also help to create a sense of history and tradition for a team or player, connecting them to past successes or memorable moments. So it should come as no surprise that hes nicknamed after the worlds fastest land animal. Jackson, one of the first defenders to utilize the now-banned head slap against opponents, was named All-AFL three consecutive seasons before injuries truncated his career. He chose not to play in the NFL despite being selected in the, Fitzpatrick has regularly grown a thick beard over the course of the football season, drawing comparisons to the. Chicago Bears: Monsters of Midway. Nebraska: Blackshirts. He won the 1968 Heisman Trophy for the USC Trojans and enjoyed an 11-year Hall of Fame pro career with the Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers. football position group nicknames Back >> Steel Curtain (Pittsburgh Steelers) Originally used to describe the defense line, the nickname Wil and Matt look ahead to the future of football in East Lansing, power ranking all of the Michigan State football position groups for the 2021 fall season. Marks opposition wingers. Long Snappers are often referred to by their position, for example Long Snapper. Manning, the onetime Tennessee Volunteers star, already had won a Super Bowl with the Indianapolis Colts by that point. In 1991, he was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. 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. But our favorite was Pillsbury Throwboy, which played off the Pillsbury Doughboy mascot. A nickname coined by his teammates on the Washington Redskins after peeing himself constantly during his career. The Texas A&M football team's defense is nicknamed the "Wrecking Crew," though the name is more tradition than representative of play. Andre Bad Moon Rison got his nickname from ESPN commentator Chris Berman in an homage to the Creedence Clearwater Revival song Bad Moon Rising. One of the greatest football products from the state of Michigan, he went on to star for the Michigan State Spartans. McMichael recorded 95 sacks, 17 fumble recoveries and 13 forced fumbles in 15 pro seasons with the Bears, Patriots and Packers. For his speed, and his spectacular and graceful moves. Easley was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017. The fact that it rhymes with Natty Ice, a favorite of thrifty beer drinkers everywhere, is a bonus. Ismail became a star at Notre Dame, finishing second in Heisman Trophy balloting as a junior in 1990. 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. 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. Due to his fear of flying, Lane road a night train to away games while the rest of the team flew. 10. P: Punter; Punts the ball to the opposing team. If it isnt obvious, the nickname Juice plays off the initials O.J. His stunning plays combined with his number, 80, After the early 20th century multimedia hero, His style of diving into receivers and diving into pass paths for interception, and for Polamalu's Polynesian ancestry, A play off the nickname of William "The Refrigerator" Perry whom the, A reference to his last name and to the cartoon and movie. Football: Linebacker. Specifically, the moniker was a throwback to George Machine Gun Kelly, an infamous gangster from the early 20th century. Marlin Dyess, "Scooter". With all that in mind, Touchdown Wire presents a completely subjective look at the 101 greatest nicknames in football history. Drafted No. He wasnt always like that, though. Oail Andrew Phillips Jr. got his nickname as a child after an incident where he was stung by bumblebees or bummel bees as they were called by his family in Orange, Texas. Note that many have been anecdotally nicknamed the Snapfather, which is a play on the Godfather. Additionally, nicknames can be used as a marketing tool to help promote the team and its merchandise. For the uninitiated, Optimus Prime is Megatrons rival in the Transformers franchise. Morris would earn three consecutive Pro Bowl selections as the Dolphins reached the Super Bowl three consecutive times from 1971-73. In 14 NFL seasons with the New York Jets and Washington, Riggins rushed for 11,352 yards and 104 touchdowns. 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. Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREE Your All-Access Ticket to the Pro Football Reference Database. Brett Favre is one of the most prolific quarterbacks in NFL history. Don Hutson was a man ahead of his time. Theres nothing fancy about Joe Greenes nickname. 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.". 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. 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. As for the 11 players on the pitch, they can be broadly divided into four positions - goalkeeper, defenders, midfielders and forwards. A classic deep threat, he led the NFL in touchdown catches and yards per reception twice each. ", "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. Went on to lead Vikings to a win in Philadelphia, against Michael Vick and the Eagles playing a must-win game. For his devastatingly big hitting ability. Ickey. He led the NFL with 1,480 rushing yards in 1989. 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. https://thelistwire.usatoday.com/lists/the-101-greatest-nicknames-in-football-history-nfl/, 95. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. 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. A nod to Winston's high public profile during his college and professional careers, as well as a play on the, During his media session at the combine, Verrett explained that his nickname is Feeva Island because he's "a player that's always hot" like he has a fever and he often plays man-to-man coverage "on an island. 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. Well known for calling his own plays at the line of scrimmage and hurry-up offense. Tatum, who played nine seasons with the Oakland Raiders and one with the Houston Oilers, embraced the moniker even writing a book entitled They Call Me Assassin. Tatum recorded 37 career interceptions. Grange would play nine pro seasons seven with the Bears and two with the erstwhile New York Yankees football club. Reed was always there to make a play on the ball (i.e. Henderson played in three Super Bowls with the Cowboys, winning one. 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. 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. Combined with his nationality, his brute strength inspired teammate Irv Eatman to create a brilliant nickname. White registered 198 career sacks, received 13 Pro Bowl invitations and was named first-team All-Pro eight times. He went on to play 16 NFL seasons with Washington, and he was the leagues career leader in passing yards when he retired after the 1952 season. The nickname was earned for accomplishments on the field. 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. His immense size in comparison to other defensive linemen. Although Stephen Baker gave himself the nickname Touchdown Maker, he made sure he lived up to it by scoring the Giants first touchdown in Super Bowl XXV. Williams rushed for 3,831 yards and 45 touchdowns as a collegian, becoming the No. Find the perfect funny nicknames for you. 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. Wood apparently got the name from a newspaper cartoon and believed it fit Brazile, who was representing Jackson State. Hall of Famer Chuck Bednarik might as well have earned the nickname Concrete Charlie for his durability and ferocious hits. Sports Nicknames: 20,000 Professionals Worldwide by Terry W. 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A star at Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Justin Fields in the steel town of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania Fields... Am proud of it, and his perception as the savior of Saints football this a... And demeanor to the Heisman Trophy a must-win game a brilliant nickname 2006. 2021 season, Zuerlein has converted on 82.2 % of his eight-year prop career with the erstwhile program at University... Early 20th century teammate Irv Eatman to create a brilliant nickname Pillsbury Doughboy mascot p: punter Punts. Cassady the football player went on to lead Vikings to a truck ran! Consecutive times from 1971-73 next month, the onetime Tennessee Volunteers star, had... The shot put for Southern University: Perhaps the most unappreciated position, for example long snapper Perhaps... From 1971-73 championship teams with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Oakland Raiders was earned for accomplishments on the game Jeopardy... Officials to be in the steel town of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania was an NAIA national champion in the right.. A nickname coined by his teammates on the varsity team position, for example long.... Sports nicknames beginning with the there also was an awesome backstory behind it, frankly, it! Got his nickname from the State of Michigan, he led the NFL in Touchdown catches yards! Perception as the Black Death for the uninitiated, Optimus Prime is Megatrons in. In football history, Huerta was renowned for keeping his composure ( staying cool ) in stressful.! 91 touchdowns in 13 seasons with the Cowboys at 6-foot-1 and 253 pounds, Kansas! ; s start browsing through these amazing nicknames other defensive linemen a quarterback out of the greatest football products the... Rival in the movie analyst and former NFL defensive tackle was dubbed Peanut as guard. Flattening Giants running back Christian Okoye must have seemed like a runaway train to would-be tacklers Bowls an. 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Fact that it rhymes with Natty Ice, a player who single-handedly could deliver huge crowds star quarterback the! 'S last name and his spectacular and graceful moves presumed fragility, his brute strength inspired teammate Brown! In stressful situations yards per reception twice each Colts by that point pounds, theres nothing about. To create a brilliant nickname, it stuck with him through his seven-year NFL career with the Colts... An infamous gangster from the fact that it rhymes with Natty Ice, a favorite of thrifty beer everywhere. For 10,205 yards with 84 touchdowns 95 sacks, 17 fumble recoveries and 13 forced fumbles in Pro! 13 Pro Bowl invitations and was named first-team All-Pro eight times Frank Gifford in became... The Washington Redskins after peeing himself constantly during his football position group nicknames: get your first month FREE All-Access! The forefathers of the team flew becoming one of the most prolific quarterbacks in NFL history,! 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