Before Greg the Leg, there was Lou The Toe Groza, a standout lineman for the Cleveland Browns who also served as the teams placekicker. Prior to his coaching career, Rivera played linebacker for the Chicago Bears for nine seasons, including the 1985 Super Bowl season. 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. He also was known to make a commercial or two over the course of his 17-year NFL career. Washington Football Team head coach Ron Rivera became known as Riverboat Ron as a nod to riverboat gamblers because of his willingness to take risks. Most of the other position group names are just as misleading. Nicknames for individual players, coaches and personnel. 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. 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. 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. 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. Nicknames are very common in real life, especially in sports. 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. 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. He used this term to describe himself during an interview; afterward, fans continued to use the term. The A-11 a formation that features all eleven players on the offensive side of the ball eligible to receive passes, making it difficult for the defense to determine who is eligible and who is not. The Run and Shoot A offense that emphasizes quick passes and wide receiver movement to create mismatches in the defense. Honorable mention goes to Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Marquise Brown, who earned the nickname for a more straightforward reason hes a native of Hollywood, Florida. 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. If you want to assign creative football nicknames to your friends, now's the time. The Spread Offense A formation that utilizes multiple receivers and creates space on the field to open up passing and running lanes. Legend has it that Ed Jones couldnt find football pants long enough to fit correctly on his first day of college practice at Tennessee State. Hornung was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986. Darrelle Revis earned his geographic nickname for his ability to lock down opposing receivers when left on an island in one-on-one coverage. Plummer received the nickname as a nod to professional wrestler Jake The Snake Roberts, who had adopted the nickname as a tribute to Stabler. Dick Night Train Lane set an NFL record with 14 interceptions for the Los Angeles Rams in 1952, a mark that still stands today. 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. Joe Montana's ability to remain calm in pressure situations earned him the nickname. Gale Sayers became known as the Kansas Comet while earning All-America accolades at the University of Kansas in the 1960s. Kelly released a rap song about himself in 2012, and the nickname stuck afterwards. Popularized by ESPN broadcasters Chris Berman and Trey Wingo, the moniker stuck. Originally the nickname of his college girlfriend who was a short but powerful gymnast and later became Martin's nickname as well due to his short stature. Its said that Grange acquired his nickname because of his ghostlike speed and elusiveness. He scored 33 touchdowns in three college seasons for the Fighting Illini. Each position fulfils different duties in the game and, consequently, requires players of particular characteristics. Nicknames can also create a sense of history and tradition for a team and its fans. Following his playing days, Williamson embarked on a long, successful acting career, including a starring role in the 1972 film Hammer.. Wrangler Stampede. from a spectator. McFadden rushed for 4,590 yards and 41 touchdowns in three seasons with the Razorbacks, finishing second in Heisman Trophy balloting twice. Snap-stepping, a skill confined to the center, is football's version of rub-your-stomach-pat-your-head. Merriman finished his career with 224 tackles and 45 sacks. Perhaps no nickname embodied the freewheeling aerial display of the old American Football League than The Mad Bomber. Daryle Lamonica began his career with the Buffalo Bills, but he became a star with the Oakland Raiders. A classic deep threat, he led the NFL in touchdown catches and yards per reception twice each. Here are some famous American Football player nicknames specifically for Punters: Punters are often referred to by their position, for example Punter. 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The stalwart Wright earned six consecutive Pro Bowl selections from 1971-76 with the Dallas Cowboys. They are often referred to as the engine room of the team. Both Raji and Perry were listed at 6-foot-2 and around 335 pounds, although both likely tipped the scales at a much heftier number. The moniker came from a teammate at North Fort Myers High in southwest Florida after Sanders had scored 30 points in a game. The best soccer player nicknames are short, simple, catchy, and creative. Its not terribly exotic for a redheaded quarterback to be dubbed the Red Rifle. 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. Long snapper: Perhaps the most unappreciated position, this player snaps the ball to the punter. Gold Member. Specifically, the moniker was a throwback to George Machine Gun Kelly, an infamous gangster from the early 20th century. 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. "Kansas Comet" was stuck on him by the Director of Sports Information at the University of Kansas. The tackles are positioned on each side of the offensive center in the 3-4 defensive formation. 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. Here are some famous American Football player nicknames specifically for Long Snappers. Bettis famously capped his career with a Super Bowl victory in his hometown of Detroit in February 2006. Including the postseason, the legendary Dallas Cowboys quarterback led 23 game-winning drives and 15 fourth-quarter comebacks. 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. Casper recorded 378 receptions for 5,216 yards and 52 touchdowns in an 11-year pro career with the Raiders, Houston Oilers and Minnesota Vikings. He also is remembered for flattening Giants running back Frank Gifford in what became a legendary photograph. Most sets used in football, however, include a line composed of defensive ends and defensive tackles and (behind the line) linebackers, cornerbacks, and safeties. Johnny Manziel - Johnny Football Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports. 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From the section Football. Qadry Ismails weaponized nickname fits him nicely. Mark Hoffman, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY Network. The logic of the game's strange new nicknames. Not only does the word missile sound similar to the name Ismail, but the moniker complements older brother Raghib Rocket Ismail. 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. A part-time job he once held delivering ice in his hometown of, His choice of footwear at a time when most players wore black cleats. Because of his powerback style of playcompared to a truck that ran on diesel. We all know that a nickname is a substitute for the proper name of a familiar person, place, or thing, for affection or fun. Ickey. So the student body would chant, Nobody stops the bus. Groza played 21 seasons for the Browns, the last seven exclusively as a kicker. The name persisted somewhat as, although they would later qualify for the playoffs several times since then, they did not win a playoff game until their defeat of . Easley rightfully earned his nickname as The Enforcer for this style of play on the field. Green-Ellis rushed for 3,914 yards and 42 touchdowns during his pro career. He also trademarked the phrase Im just here so I wont get fined, but we digress. Note that many have been anecdotally nicknamed the Snapfather, which is a play on the Godfather. Dallas Cowboys: Doomsday Defense. 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. The former Texas A&M star quarterback dazzled the college football world en route to the Heisman Trophy in 2012. Unfazed, he didnt flinch, which led Craigs mother to dub him Ironhead. Who is the best wide receiver in the NFL? The guy positioned immediately in front of the center in a 3-4 defense is a nose guard or nose tackle. 49ers' best position group surprising choice by Football Outsiders originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea. Kearse totaled 36 sacks in his first three NFL seasons, earning a Pro Bowl selection each year. ) Thomas recorded 17 interceptions during his six-year NFL career and was a member of the 1976 Raiders team that won Super Bowl XI. One of the greatest players ever produced in the Lone Star State, Campbell won the 1977 Heisman Trophy with the Texas Longhorns. The most iconic version of the Hogs was the unit that was first given the nickname. Anthony McFarland hasnt answered to his birth name in a long time. 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. On the football field, the defense of the Denver Broncos consumed quarterbacks and provided hope to a city long in the ranks of losing. Henderson played in three Super Bowls with the Cowboys, winning one. Stewart also produced 3,532 yards from scrimmage and 43 touchdowns as a runner and receiver. For example, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish would be listed under "I" for "Irish". The origins of former Denver Broncos linebacker Karl Mecklenburgs nickname are a bit unclear, although it apparently dates at least to his college days at the University of Minnesota. 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 . Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREE Your All-Access Ticket to the Pro Football Reference Database. The No. This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 21:15. I thought a name like that would be remembered. 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Johnny Football Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports Bowl selections from 1971-76 with the Raiders, Houston Oilers and Vikings... Quick passes and wide receiver movement to create mismatches in the defense specifically Punters... The pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986 I thought a name like that would be remembered and a... Used this term to describe himself during an interview ; afterward, fans continued to the... 36 sacks in his hometown of Detroit in February 2006, and nickname! Use the term most iconic version of the center in a long time gangster from the early century! Played 21 seasons for the Chicago Rockets of the other position group names are just as..
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