List of North American football nicknames

This is a list of nicknames in the sports of American football and Canadian football.

Players

• "A-Train" – Mike Alstott, running back^[1]
• "All Day" – Adrian Peterson, running back^[2]
• "The Assassin" - Jack Tatum, Oakland Raiders, safety
• "Avatar" – Jimmy Graham, tight end^[3]
• "Bad Moon" - Andre Rison, many teams, wide receiver
• "Baggadonuts" - Frank Winters, Green Bay Packers, center
• "The Bearded Pony" - Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts, named for his amazing beard and the fact that he plays for the Colts.
• "Beast Mode" – Marshawn Lynch, Seattle Seahawks, named for his violent running style and unusual ability to break tackles ^[4]
• "Big Phil" - Phil Loadholt, Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle^[5][6]
• "Blood" - John McNally, Green Bay Packers, running back
• "Boob" - Bernard Darling, Green Bay Packers, center
• "Broadway Joe" - Joe Namath, New York Jets, quarterback
• "Buckets" - Charles Goldenberg, Green Bay Packers, guard/running back
• "The Bus" - Jerome Bettis, Pittsburgh Steelers, running back
• "Captain Comeback" - Roger Staubach, Dallas Cowboys, quarterback
• "The Claymaker" – Clay Matthews III^[7]
• "Cool Brees" – Drew Brees^[8]
• "The Cowboy" – Justin Smith^[9]
• "Curly" - Earl Louis Lambeau, Green Bay Packers, founder, halfback and coach
• "Danimal" – Dan Hampton^[10]
• "Deacon" - David Jones, Los Angeles Rams, defensive end
• "The Diesel" - John Riggins, Washington Redskins, running back
• "Dirty Dozen" = 1975 Dallas Cowboys team
• * "The Dodger" – Roger Staubach, quarterback
• "The Dome Patrol" – the New Orleans Saints football team's linebacker corps of the late 1980s and the early 1990s. The Dome Patrol was rated by NFL Network as the #1 linebacker corps of all-time.^[11]
• "Easy E" – Eli Manning, quarterback, named for his relaxed demeanor even in pressure situations^[12]
• "Famous Jameis" - Jameis Winston, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, quarterback
• "The Freak" - Jevon Kearse, Tennessee Titans, defensive end
• * "The Fridge" – William Perry (American football), defensive tackle
• "The Gunslinger" – Brett Favre, quarterback^[13]
• * "Crazy Legs" – Elroy Hirsch, running back/wide receiver
• "Golden Boy" - Paul Hornung, Green Bay Packers, half back/kicker^[14]
• "The Hogs" – 1980's/1990's Washington Redskins offensive line
• "The Kraken" - Greg Hardy Defensive End
• "Johnny Football" - Johnny Manziel, quarterback
• "The Juice" – O. J. Simpson, running back
• JJ "Swatt" – JJ Watt, Houston Texans, named for his ability to bat down passes at the line of scrimmage
• "Jug" - Francs Louis Earp, Green Bay Packers, center
• "Legatron" – Greg Zuerlein, St. Louis Rams
• "Legion of Boom™" – defensive backfield of the Seattle Seahawks (Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor, Earl Thomas), named for their hard-hitting and physical style of play^[15]
• * "The Manster" – Randy White, defensive tackle
• "Mean Joe" - Joe Greene, Pittsburgh Steelers, defensive end
• "Megatron" – Calvin Johnson, wide receiver^[16][17]
• "The Minister of Defense" - Reggie White, Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers, defensive end
• "Minitron" - Julian Edelman, wide receiver
• "MJD" - Maurice Jones-Drew, running back
• "The Muscle Hamster" – Doug Martin, running back^[18]
• "Night Train" – Dick Lane,^[19] a reference to his fear of flying and resultant travel to road games on night trains.
• "The No Fly Zone" – defensive backfield of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Arizona Cardinals
• "Orange Crush" – the 3–4 defense of the Denver Broncos during the late 1970s and early 1980s^[20]

+ "Optimus Grimes" - Brent Grimes Cornerback

• "The Pocket Hercules" – Maurice Jones-Drew, running back
• "Primetime" – Deion Sanders, cornerback^[21][22]
• "Purple Jesus" - Adrian Petersen, Minnesota Vikings, running back^[23]
• "The Refrigerator" - William Perry, Chicago Bears, nose tackle
• "Shady" – LeSean McCoy, running back
• "The Sheriff" – Peyton Manning, quarterback^[24] a reference to Manning's pre-snap routine, which is one of the most recognizable in the NFL.
• "Smoking" – Jay Cutler, quarterback^[25]
• "Steel Curtain" – Pittsburgh Steelers defensive line during the 1970s
• "Swede" - Chester Johnston, Green Bay Packers, running back
• "Sweetness" – Walter Payton, running back^[26]
• "Tiny" - Paul Engebretsen, Green Bay Packers, guard
• The Toolbox" - Ed West, Green Bay Packers, tight end
• "The Tyler Rose" – Earl Campbell, an allusion to his hometown Tyler, Texas
• * "White Shoes" – Billy Johnson, wide receiver
• "World" - Jerry Rice, San Francisco 49ers, wide receiver

Teams

This is a list of nicknames of professional and college football teams. Many are merely abbreviations or diminutives of the team's name; otherwise, the origin of the nickname (if known) is noted. An asterisk (*) after a nickname indicates that the name is pejorative, insulting, or has at least a negative intent, and is often used by opponents or detractors (including fans when the team is performing poorly). Note on abbreviations: CFL – Canadian Football League; NFL – National Football League; NCAA – National Collegiate Athletic Association

American football

By nickname

• "Ain'ts*" – New Orleans Saints, NFL; rhyming play on the non-standard English negative ain't^[27]
• "America's Team" – Dallas Cowboys, by sports media^[28]
• "B.I.L.L.S.*" – Buffalo Bills, by detractors, acronyms for "Boy I Love Losing Super Bowls", in reference to the team's failure to win the Super Bowl in four straight tries during the early 1990s^[29]
• "Big Blue (Wrecking Crew)" – New York Giants, NFL; from the color of their jerseys, influenced by the nickname of IBM^[30]
• "The Black and Gold" – Pittsburgh Steelers, NFL; from their uniform colors^[31]
• "Black and Blue Division" – NFC North, NFL; from the division's rugged style of play in the 20th century (also "Frostbite Division")
• "The Blue Giants" – Used for New York Giants because of the team color
• "Bolts" – San Diego Chargers, NFL; from the lightning bolt design on their helmets^[32]
• "Bucs/Buckies" – Tampa Bay Buccaneers, NFL; abbreviation of team name
• "The Bungles" – Cincinnati Bengals, NFL; formerly used by detractors^[33]
• The Cardiac Cats – Carolina Panthers, coined in 2003 due to their frequent 4th-quarter comebacks and/or losses
• "Cheeseheads" – Nickname used for residents of Wisconsin in reference to the state's large dairy industry. Sometimes employed derogatorily by neighboring states, the moniker was embraced by residents, particularly Green Bay Packers fans, and has become synonymous with Wisconsin's football culture. (While the state is presently known for cheese production, the Packers team itself was originally named for the Indian meat packing company in Green Bay, WI.)^[34]
• "Cheatriots" -New England Patriots,NFL; Used by Detracters as a reference to the patriots cheating during Bill Belichick and Tom Brady era
• "The Chefs" – Kansas City Chiefs, NFL; origin Snickers candy bar commercial; however, the NFL has licensed official "Kansas City Chief Head Chef Cookie Jars"^[35]
• "The Chesapeake Watershed Region Indigenous Persons" – Washington Redskins, NFL; translation of team name into politically correct terms^[36] It was later changed to "Potomac Drainage Basin Indigenous Persons" (see below) since the Baltimore Ravens also share the Chesapeake Bay region.
• "Clowns" - Cleveland Browns, NFL; used by detractors.
• The Cowgirls - Dallas Cowboys, by detractors.
• "Da Raidahs" – Oakland Raiders, NFL; The way Chris Berman of ESPN says, "The Raiders",^[37] a spoof of Raiders team owner Al Davis' accent.
• "Dawgs" – Cleveland Browns, NFL; according to Hanford Dixon, then a cornerback with the original Art Modell-owned Browns, he gave his defensive teammates this nickname to inspire them before the 1985 season^[38]
• "DeadSkins" – Washington Redskins, NFL; rhyming play on team name; used by detractors or disgruntled fans.^[39]
• "Detroit Lie-downs" – Detroit Lions, NFL; so called because they just lie down and let other teams run over them.
• "The Dirty Birds" – Atlanta Falcons, NFL; team dubbed themselves by this name during their race to Super Bowl XXXIII^[40]
• "The Dolts" – Indianapolis Colts, NFL; rhyming play on name with a term for "idiot"; by detractors^[41]
• "The Empire" - Used by detractors to refer to either the Dallas Cowboys, due to their reputation of having a large fanbase, lots of money, and several Super Bowl rings, and the New England Patriots, due to their own reputation of also being one of the most hated teams in the NFL and being the de facto villain for the league, and because of their recent Super Bowl dynasty. The "role" of the Emperor is usually filled by Jerry Jones or Bill Belichick.
• "The Flaming Thumbtacks" – Tennessee Titans, NFL; a humorous interpretation of their team logo, actually a flaming stylized letter "T"^[42]
• "The Fins" – Miami Dolphins, NFL; play on abbreviation of name with the appendages of a dolphin^[43]
• "The Fish" – Miami Dolphins, NFL; while the mascot and team logo of bottlenose dolphins are not fish, but mammals. The rhyme detractors used when they played in the Orange Bowl was, "squish the fish in the Orange Dish." Now rarely used due to the Florida Marlins, who are also called "The Fish".
• "The Forty-Whiners/The Whiners" - San Francisco 49ers, used by detractors.
• "G-Men" – New York Giants, NFL; initial of team name, possibly a play on the term for a government (e.g., FBI) agent^[44]
• "Goats" – Los Angeles Rams, NFL; when playing poorly^[45]
• "Iggles" – Philadelphia Eagles, NFL; reference to how some Philadelphians pronounce "Eagles"^[46]
• "Jags" – Jacksonville Jaguars, NFL; abbreviation of team name
• "Gang Green" – New York Jets, NFL; used by supporters (reference to medical condition that is difficult to overcome)(Green Bay Packers), NFL; used by supporters since the mid-1970s; also the name of the unofficial team mascot who is given home field credentials.
• "Jest" – New York Jets, NFL; humorous misspelling of team name; used when team is performing poorly^[47]
• "Jints" – New York Giants, NFL; used occasionally by local media, as eye dialect for the team's name. Also used for the baseball team while it was in New York.
• "Jokeland (Faders/Traitors)"* – Oakland Raiders, by detractors^[45]
• "Lambs" – Los Angeles Rams, NFL; a lamb being a soft, cuddly, meek baby sheep (as opposed to a ram, being an aggressive full-grown male sheep); rhyming nickname used by detractors when team performs poorly^[48]
• "Monsters of the Midway" – Chicago Bears, NFL; originally applied to the University of Chicago "Maroons", a strong (former) college football team; "Midway" refers to the Midway Plaisance, a long, green swath of boulevard space bordering the southern end of the campus. The University discontinued its football program in 1939, and the Bears adopted the nickname.^[49]
• "'Niners" – San Francisco 49ers, NFL; abbreviation of team name
• "The Oilers" – Tennessee Titans, NFL; a reference of the team's name before it moved to Tennessee, the Houston Oilers
• "The Tennessee Titanics"* – NFL, reference given to the team after their 0–6 start in 2009 including a 59–0 loss to the Patriots, this after going 13–3 in 2008
• "The Pack" – Green Bay Packers, NFL; abbreviation of name, and a play on the collective term for a group of animals such as dogs or wolves^[50]
• "Pats" – New England Patriots, NFL; abbreviation of team name
• "The Patsies" – New England Patriots, NFL; play on nickname "Pats" (above) and the term patsy, "a person who is easily manipulated or victimized"^[51]
• "The Potomac Drainage Basin Indigenous Persons" – Washington Redskins, NFL; translation of team name into politically correct terms,^[36] popularized by NFL columnist and Washington, D.C. resident Gregg Easterbrook in his weekly column Tuesday Morning Quarterback.
• "Seagulls" – Seattle Seahawks, term often said by detractors when Seahawks are playing poorly.^[52]
• "The Silver and Black" – Oakland Raiders, NFL; from the colors of the uniforms^[53]
• "Silver Rush" – Detroit Lions
• "Sinners" – New Orleans Saints, NFL; "sinner" is often a paired opposite of "saint"; used by detractors,^[54] but also as a result of New Orleans Saints Bounty Scandal
• "'Skins" – Washington Redskins, NFL; abbreviation of team name
• "'Stillers" – Pittsburgh Steelers, NFL; how native Pittsburghers (Picksbergers) pronounce the name of their team^[55]
• "Tennessee Traitors " * – Tennessee Titans, NFL; derisive nickname of the former Houston Oilers, usually aimed at owner Bud Adams by former Oilers fans
• "Vikes" – Minnesota Vikings, NFL; abbreviation of team name^[56]

Canadian football

• "Als" – Montreal Alouettes, CFL; abbreviation of name
• "Argos" – Toronto Argonauts, CFL; abbreviation of name
• "The Blue and Gold" – Winnipeg Blue Bombers, CFL; after the team colours
• "The Boatmen" – Toronto Argonauts, CFL; in reference to the team's foundation by the Argonaut Rowing Club of Toronto, which in turn was derived from Jason and the Argonauts, mythical heroes and boatmen who are the namesake of both the rowing club and the CFL team
• "Bombers" – Winnipeg Blue Bombers, CFL; abbreviation of team name
• "The Double Blue" – Toronto Argonauts, CFL; in reference to the team colours, Oxford blue and Cambridge blue
• "Esks" or "Eskies" – Edmonton Eskimos, CFL; abbreviation of team name
• "'Gades" – Ottawa Renegades, CFL; abbreviation of team name
• "Jolly Green Giants" – Saskatchewan Roughriders for the colour of the team's uniforms and size of the players
• "Leos" – BC Lions, CFL; "Leo" is a common nickname for "lion" (from Latin, leo)
• "Roughies or Green Riders" – Saskatchewan Roughriders, CFL; Green Riders to differentiate team from the now defunct Ottawa team of the same name. Roughies - abbreviation of team name
• "Stamps" – Calgary Stampeders, CFL; abbreviation of team name
• "Tabbies" - Hamilton Tiger-Cats Tabby is a type of domestic cat with stripes
• "Ti-cats" – Hamilton Tiger-Cats, CFL; telescoping of team name

See also

• Nickname
• List of NFL nicknames
• List of baseball nicknames
• List of basketball nicknames
• List of hockey nicknames
• List of athletes by nickname
• Lists of nicknames – nickname list articles on Wikipedia
• American football
• Canadian football

References