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List of NFL nicknames

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 67.58.232.19 (talk) at 15:04, 12 October 2009 (Players: add reference to Gayle Sayers (HOF Bears RB)). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

The following are nicknames throughout the history of the NFL.

Teams

Nicknames for entire teams, or whole offensive or defensive units.

Players

Nicknames for individual players, or small groups of individual players.

Places

Fans

  • 49ers Faithful[84] — Nickname given to the fans of the San Francisco 49ers.
  • Bills Backers[85]Buffalo Bills fans. Due to the massive population displacement of Western New Yorkers, "Bills Backers Bars" can be found in almost every major city throughout the United States.
  • Cheeseheads[86] — A name given to people of Wisconsin (mainly Packer fans) by Chicago Bears fans after the Bears won the Super Bowl. The name mocks Wisconsin's love of cheese. The name eventually gained acceptance. "Cheeseheads" can refer to the "Packer Nation", being synonymous to Green Bay's massive diaspora of fans nationwide.
  • Chief Zee[87] - Fan at nearly all Washington Redskins games since 1978 and considered the unofficial mascot of the team. He wears an Indian headdress, large rimmed glasses, with a red jacket and carries a tomahawk.
  • Fireman Ed[88] — Fan at NY Jets home games who wears a green fireman helmet with a Jets logo on the front. Known for leading the "J-E-T-S" chants.
  • Franco's Italian Army[89][90] — Fans of Pittsburgh Steelers running back Franco Harris.
  • Gerela's Gorillas[90] — Fans of Pittsburgh Steelers placekicker Roy Gerela.
  • Hogettes[91] — A group of about twelve Washington Redskins fans who dress in drag and wear pig-noses.
  • Packer Backer - Fan of the Green Bay Packers. Sometimes used derisively by Bears fans.
  • Raider Nation[92]Oakland Raiders fans.
  • Steeler Nation[93]Pittsburgh Steelers fans.
  • SuperSkin[94] — Die-hard fan of the Washington Redskins, who attends each home game dressed in a burgundy and gold superhero costume and motivates other fans to cheer loudly.
  • The Sea of Red — Nickname given to the loudest NFL fans of the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
  • The 12th Man[95] — Nickname given to the fans of the Seattle Seahawks due to the impact of their loud cheering on the opposing team's offensive linemen, leading to false start penalties.
  • Who Dat Nation[96] - New Orleans Saints fans.

Other

  • Baltimore Triangle - The mid-field logo at M&T Bank Stadium of the Baltimore Ravens. It is named so because the mid-field shield logo of the Ravens is shaped like a triangle and their defense "makes offenses disappear" when opposing teams take snaps from that area.
  • Ickey Shuffle[97] — Dance done by Cincinnati Bengals running back Ickey Woods whenever he scored a touchdown. Woods was forced to move the dance to the sidelines behind the Bengals' bench after officials starting penalizing him for unsportsmanlike conduct.
  • K-Gun[98] — Nickname referring to the no-huddle offense used by the Buffalo Bills with quarterback Jim Kelly during the late 1980s and early-to-mid 1990s.
  • Lambeau Leap[99] — During home games at Lambeau Field, some players from the Green Bay Packers would leap into the stands after scoring a touchdown. Originally created by LeRoy Butler, it was made popular by Robert Brooks. Players in other stadiums imitate the leap.
  • Lights out - Dance by Chargers Linebacker Shawne Merriman after he gets a sack
  • Mile High Salute[100] — Mid-to-late 1990s Denver Broncos running back Terrell Davis would salute his soldier father after scoring touchdowns.
  • Sack Dance[101] - New York Jets defensive end Mark Gastineau was nationally famous for doing his signature "Sack Dance" after sacking an opposing quarterback. However, he had to stop when the NFL declared it "unsportsman like taunting" in March 1984 and began fining players for it. The ban on the Sack Dance stemmed from a 1983 game against the Los Angeles Rams, when Gastineau and Rams Pro Football Hall of Fame offensive tackle Jackie Slater got into a fight following a Gastineau sack of Rams quarterback Vince Ferragamo.
  • Terrible Towel[102] — a banner conceived by the late Myron Cope (long time Steeler commentator) used by fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers to cheer for their team, consisting of a yellow towel with the words "Terrible Towel" in black, to be waved in the air. The Miami Dolphins began a spin-off of the terrible towels, known as "Horrible Hankies". The Carolina Panthers also began a spin-off known as the "Growl Towel".[103] Also spoofed by the Packers following their third Super Bowl victory as the "Title Towel". The "Terrible Towel" has jumped to at least one other sport, as the Homer Hanky used by Major League Baseball's Minnesota Twins.

References

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  4. ^ "Sports E-Cyclopedia". Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  5. ^ "Redskins Ryp the Bickering Bills". Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  6. ^ "Sports E-Cyclopedia History of the NY Giants". Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  7. ^ Roth, Leo. Bills East vs. Bills West. Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. 23 October 2001.
  8. ^ Banks, Don. AFC is where all the action is lately. SI.com. 19 October 2001.
  9. ^ "Even online, you can hear Eagles fans boo". Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  10. ^ "Steelers' D making a name for itself". Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  11. ^ Goldstein, Richard (2001-09-19). "Tank Younger, 73, First Star From Black College to Play in N.F.L., Dies". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-07-25. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  12. ^ "Cincinnati Bungles". Jason La Canfora. Washington Post. Retrieved 2007-11-01.
  13. ^ "Cardinal Chronicle XX". Retrieved 2007-01-18.
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  19. ^ The Dome Patrol
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  29. ^ "Pyros cannot escape Lyons den". Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  30. ^ "Sports E-Cyclopedia History of the Atlanta Falcons". Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  31. ^ "Patriots 4-1 at bye; return to action Oct. 22". Retrieved 2008-01-30.
  32. ^ "Sports E-Cyclopedia History of the Cleveland Browns". Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  33. ^ "Sports E-Cyclopedia History of the Miami Dolphins". Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  34. ^ "Monsters of the Midway finally Bearing (sic) their teeth". Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  35. ^ "Sack Exchange Had a Brief, but Glorious, Run". Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  36. ^ "Flashback: Playing to perfection". Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  37. ^ "Gehrke helped build "Orange Crush"". Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  38. ^ "'72 Redskins haven't lost their spirit". Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  39. ^ "New England: Patsies No More". Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  40. ^ "Buccaneers Cheerleading". Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  41. ^ "Purple People Eaters". Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  42. ^ "Upon further review: Week 13". Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  43. ^ "San Diego Super Chargers Song". Retrieved 2007-11-01.
  44. ^ "San Diego Super Chargers". Retrieved 2007-11-01.
  45. ^ "Sports E-Cyclopedia History of the Pittsburgh Steelers". Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  46. ^ "JT-SW NFL Scores and Records". Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  47. ^ "The Daily News Online". Retrieved 01-09-08. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  48. ^ "squawk".
  49. ^ "SUPER BOWL XXIII; Bengals Hope Defense Will Stay Offensive". Retrieved 01-17-1989. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  50. ^ "Cardinal Chronicle XI". Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  51. ^ "Tampa Bay 25 San Diego 17". Retrieved 2007-10-23.
  52. ^ "Green, Monk Selected to NFL Hall of Fame". Washington Redskins. Retrieved 2008-07-04.
  53. ^ "At 216 Games, Green Does His Energizer Imitation". Washington Post. Retrieved 2007-12-06.
  54. ^ "Adrian Peterson, Ex-Oklahoma Running Back".
  55. ^ "Official Site of Ben Roethlisberger". Retrieved 2008-08-04.
  56. ^ "Official Site of Jerome Bettis". Retrieved 2007-12-09.
  57. ^ "Talking Peace and Pork Chops". Retrieved 2008-01-30.
  58. ^ "Sooooey". Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  59. ^ "Joe Bugel". Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  60. ^ "Favre is the ultimate iron man". Mark Kriegel. FOX Sports. 2007-11-28. Retrieved 2008-01-29.
  61. ^ "Miami Dolphins to Honor Marks Brothers". Retrieved 2007-06-04.
  62. ^ "Michael Irvin: 2007 Hall of Fame enshrinement speech". Retrieved 2008-06-18.
  63. ^ "Washington Redskins: Skill Positions". Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  64. ^ "No. 16: Deion played his way into 'Prime Time'". Brent Jones. USA Today. 2007-06-30. Retrieved 2008-01-29.
  65. ^ "Then & Now: William "The Refrigerator" Perry". CNN. 2005-06-19. Retrieved 2008-01-29.
  66. ^ "Sixty minute man". Ron Flatter. ESPN. Retrieved 2007-12-17.
  67. ^ "Has 'Smash and Dash' become 'Smash and Grab'?".
  68. ^ "NFL Season Preview: Redskins". Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  69. ^ ESPN Classic - Sweetness ran and ran and ran
  70. ^ "Denver Broncos: Elway Through the Years: 1987". Retrieved 2007-01-12.
  71. ^ "Sports E-cyclopedia: Dallas Cowboys, see 2005". Retrieved 2007-03-15.
  72. ^ "Bears broadcasters avoid excuses". Fred Mitchell. Chicago Tribune. 2007-11-15. Retrieved 2008-02-11.
  73. ^ "Adios, Sombrero". Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  74. ^ "Raymond James Stadium". Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  75. ^ "Black Hole: Just Scare 'Em, Baby". Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  76. ^ "Dawg Pound". Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  77. ^ "Sports E-Cyclopedia History of the Green Bay Packers". Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  78. ^ "Chapter 12: The House of Pain". Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  79. ^ "Bills Fan Tribute". Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  80. ^ "Patriots Season Predictions". Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  81. ^ "Buffalo Bills Ticket Seating Chart". Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  82. ^ "Memories not all bad for this vet of the Vet". Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  83. ^ "The Glory of Titletown". Retrieved 2007-01-12.
  84. ^ "Letter to the 49ers Faithful". Retrieved 2007-03-16.
  85. ^ "Bills Backers United – Fan Site". Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  86. ^ "Official Cheesehead Site". Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  87. ^ "Washington Post Article". Retrieved 2008-11-05.
  88. ^ "Official Here's to you, New York". Retrieved 2008-11-05.
  89. ^ "Franco's Italian Army Fan Site". Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  90. ^ a b Michael Bradley (2006-01-27). "Legendary Steelers owner forged a blue-collar legacy". SeattlePI.com. Retrieved 2008-12-12.
  91. ^ "Official Hogettes Site". Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  92. ^ "Official Raider Nation Site". Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  93. ^ "Pittsburgh Steelers Nation Site". Retrieved 2007-11-25.
  94. ^ "Video of SuperSkin dancing". Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  95. ^ "Spirit of 12".
  96. ^ "About.com Article about the Who Dat's". Retrieved 2007-10-25.
  97. ^ "Will the Ickey Shuffle Rise Again?". Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  98. ^ "Colts Attack Draws References to K-Gun". Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  99. ^ "Greatest Moments in Lambeau Field History". Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  100. ^ "San Francisco at Denver Game Recap". Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  101. ^ "Gastineau, King of Sack".
  102. ^ "Terrible Towel Official Site". Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  103. ^ "Official Growl Towel". Retrieved 2008-12-24.