Football nicknames for running backs

Chuck "Concrete Charlie" Bednarik · Jerome "The Bus" Bettis · "Iron" Mike Ditka · Red "The Galloping Ghost" Grange · "Mean" Joe Greene · Thomas ". What are your favorite player names that just perfectly match their position? Kenny Gainwell or Mercury Morris are great for running backs. bravadoaustralia.com.au › wiki › List_of_NFL_nicknames. The following nicknames are given football nicknames for running backs a unit or a secondary nickname given to some teams used to describe a style of play or attitude of teams at times in.

These NFL players have the best nicknames

Who has the best nickname in NFL? Nineteen greatest individual NFL nicknames ever

• 1 / 19. The Playmaker. Michael Irvin was the playmaker for the Cowboys. ...
• 2 / 19. Mean Joe Greene. Simple nicknames often work the best. ...
• 3 / 19. Too Tall Jones. ...
• 4 / 19. Broadway Joe. ...
• 5 / 19. Ironhead. ...
• 6 / 19. Touchdown Maker. ...
• 7 / 19. Prime Time. ...
• 8 / 19. Concrete Charlie.

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• justanaverageguy.
• stealydan.
• isthisthingon.
• hairypotter.
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What are nicknames for Cordarrelle Patterson? “Flash.” “The Experiment.” “The Joker.” These are some of the nicknames used to describe Atlanta Falcons running back Cordarrelle Patterson over the years.

What is McCaffrey nickname? Christian McCaffrey's fav nickname? CMC ✅ No surprises there 😎 #footb... | Christian McCaffrey | TikTok.

The Refrigerator. Broadway Joe. Over the years, the NFL has seen some great players step onto the field, and some of them have garnered nicknames that fit them to a tee. Something about their personality, ability on the field, or an attribute that stands out. Sometimes they start as one thing and then take on another meaning as the player progresses through their career.

The name fits Gardner, and he backed that up during his rookie campaign. Throw some extra sauce on that taco. Fast like a cheetah, quick as a hiccup. While most players are on vacation getting in some much-needed rest and recovery, Hill is training for and competing in track meets with some of the fastest people in the world. Many of you think Russell Wilson is corny, and you might have an argument.

Ok, you probably do. Initials and numbers combined usually make pretty good nicknames. This one is no different. Shannon Sharpe presented us with this gem a few years back when he hopped on the Mahomes bandwagon. The Tennessee Titans have played an old-school brand of football where King Henry is the focal point.

They were given that name because they "turned on the 'Juice'" by paving the way for star halfback O. Simpson , who was nicknamed "Juice", because a common nickname for orange juice is also O. Coach Bill Belichick was deemed "evil" after the Spygate scandal [30] and the term is a play on Belichick's frequent use of hooded sweatshirts on the sideline, making him resemble the Emperor Palpatine character from the Star Wars motion picture series.

The Gravediggers : The Tampa Bay Buccaneers front seven, which led the league in rushing defense and were 6th in the league in sacks. Football nicknames for running backs They were recognized as one of the greatest offenses to play in NFL history. The Oilers employed the wide-open run-and-shoot offense.

Ground Chuck : [38] Nickname for the conservative, ball-control offense favored by coach Chuck Knox. The Hogs : The Washington Redskins ' offensive line in the s. They were considered one of the largest and strongest offensive lines in football history, originally consisting of Joe Jacoby , Russ Grimm , Mark May , George Starke , and Jeff Bostic.

Coined by Jordan Mailata. They allowed only points in the strike-shortened, nine-game regular season. Name was first used during the NFL season. The term has come to encompass the entire defense. Miami Pound Machine The nickname of the late s and early '90s Dolphins defense coming from the band that Gloria Estefan started the Miami Sound Machine [48] [49] Million Dollar Backfield was given to two historical backfields.

It was first used to refer to the backfield of the then— Chicago Cardinals in after owner Charles Bidwill spent an unprecedented amount of money to lure several of the era's top players to the team. Originally used for the University of Chicago Maroons college football team. Fans began showing up at Shea Stadium with "NY Sack Exchange" signs, then the team itself began to promote that moniker.

No-Name Defense : [57] The s Miami Dolphins defensive team, especially that of its undefeated season , which performed excellently despite a lack of recognizable stars. They earned their nickname the previous year when Dallas coach Tom Landry said in an interview prior to Super Bowl VI that he could not remember the names of the Miami defensive players. Over-the-Hill Gang : [59] The George Allen —coached Washington Redskins of the early s, so named because of the large number of veteran players on the team.

Many of those players also played for Allen when he coached the Los Angeles Rams from — The name is a reference to both the purple uniforms of the Vikings and the Sheb Wooley song "Purple People Eater. A group of crows is called a "murder of crows", and Ravens are similar to crows. Technically, a group of Ravens is referred to as an "unkindness of ravens".

Purple Unkindness is a less catchy nickname. In addition, Ray Lewis , a longtime member of the Ravens, was implicated in a murder case during his playing career, possibly popularizing the phrase. In , the Sack Pack established itself with 59 sacks. It had 56 the following year and 47 in before slowing down due to injuries.

Sacksonville : A portmanteau of the word sack and the city of Jacksonville. The nickname was a play on the phrase Iron Curtain during the height of the Cold War. Alludes to the FX television series of the same name which was highly popular at the time. The nickname came from the movie, " The Three Amigos ". Action Jackson [76] [77] [78] Lamar Jackson Given to him by teammates during high school because of his dynamic play style that produced highlight-reel worthy clips Ageless Wonder [79] [80] Darrell Green His remarkable ability to maintain a high level of play during the latter years of his year career.

He chose not to play in the NFL despite being selected in the NFL Draft , but would later return to professional football as an official in the s. Amish Rifle [84] Ryan Fitzpatrick Fitzpatrick has regularly grown a thick beard over the course of the football season, drawing comparisons to the Amish , who have a large community south of Buffalo , where he was playing at the time the name was bestowed in Anytime [85] Devin Hester His ability to return kicks and punts for touchdowns any time.

Inspired from his mentor Deion "Prime Time" Sanders. The Assassin [86] Jack Tatum Given for his pure brutality. Kanye West. Ball Hawk [89] Ed Reed Reed was always there to make a play on the ball i. Bam Bam [90] Kam Chancellor For his devastatingly big hitting ability.

Bambi [91] Lance Alworth For his speed, and his spectacular and graceful moves. Beanie [93] [94] Chris Wells and Veryl Ebert Beast Mode [95] Marshawn Lynch He used this term to describe himself during an interview; afterward, fans continued to use the term. Lynch later named his Fan Controlled Football franchise the Beasts in homage to the nickname. Big Snack [] Casey Hampton Apparent reference to his large size and penchant for eating Black Unicorn [] Martellus Bennett Blitz Boy [] Jamal Adams His tendency to blitz despite being a safety Blonde Bomber [] Terry Bradshaw His blond hair, combined with his tendencies to throw the ball down the field, hence "bomber".

Blood [] John McNally Inspired by the film Blood and Sand , McNally took the first name to hide his identity while he first went professional, hoping someday to return to college football he never did. Brass [] Erik Kramer In his first play from scrimmage for the Detroit Lions , Kramer, the Lions' backup quarterback at the time, audibled out of the originally called play, prompting a teammate to remark about his audacity that he must have "brass balls.

An allusion to Broadway theater , Namath was known for his showmanship. Bullet Bob [] Bob Hayes Reference to his incredible speed-won two gold medals and set world record in the m at Summer Olympics. Bum [] Oial "Bum" Phillips A contraction of "bumblebee," based on his aunt's thick southern accent common to many others in the Phillips family including his son Wade Phillips and grandson Wes Phillips Burner [] Michael Turner Given both because of his ability to break long runs and because it rhymes with his last name.

Got the name in college. The Bus [] Jerome Bettis Because of his ability to carry tacklers on his back like a "bus". Captain Checkdown [] Trent Edwards Name given to quarterback Trent Edwards for his refusal to throw the deep ball, preferring instead to dump off to running backs or tight ends. Captain Comeback [] Roger Staubach Name given to quarterback Roger Staubach during his career with the Dallas Cowboys during the s for his ability to bring back his team from being down during important games.

Also referred to as Captain America for his strong old fashioned beliefs, likening him to the comic book hero. Cheetah [] Tyreek Hill Given due to his incredible top speed and acceleration, widely being regarded as one of the fastest NFL players of all time. Concrete Charlie [] Chuck Bednarik Bednarik worked as a concrete salesman during the NFL's offseason and was known for his hard hits and persistent endurance.

Crazy Legs [] Elroy Hirsch Named for his unusual running style. Lock in valorant schedule Crystal Chandelier [] Chris Chandler Was plagued by concussions and injuries, referencing his presumed fragility Danny Dimes [] Daniel Jones Coined by his team's the New York Giants social media department, allegedly for his ability to throw a football with precision as narrow as a dime.

David W. Gibson [] Joe Montana A contestant in a San Francisco Chronicle contest to give Montana a nickname noted that Montana's real name sounded too much like a nickname and suggested the realistic-sounding "David W. Gibson" as an alternative. Montana was so amused by the suggestion that he had a placard of the name placed on his locker.

Tyshun "Deebo" Samuel [] Diesel [] John Riggins Because of his powerback style of play—compared to a truck that ran on diesel. Death [] Skip Thomas Because of his physical tackling, and apparent resemblance to the cartoon character. Doom [] Robert Brazile Taken from the cartoon character Doctor Doom because he was "death on offensive men".

Don't Cross The [] Arthur Moats Name bestowed after Moats laid a clean, but particularly devastating hit on Brett Favre , ending Favre's streak of consecutive starts as well as leading to Favre's retirement at the end of the season. Moats are large trenches surrounding castles that served as a line of defense.

Given to Pederson by Jalen Mills. Duck [] Devlin Hodges Hodges, in addition to his football playing, is a world-class champion duck caller. Used by New York Giants fans in reference to quarterback Eli Manning claiming that he considers himself in the same elite class of quarterbacks as Tom Brady during a preseason interview. Winston has filed for a trademark on the nickname.

Fast Freddie [] Jonathan Smith After Fred Flintstone —specifically, how Smith's choice of quick, short strides when running resembled Flintstone's when operating the Flintmobile. Feeva Island [] Jason Verrett 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.

Fitztragic [] Ryan Fitzpatrick Along with those brief spurts of success, Fitzpatrick is also notorious for going on cold streaks and drastrically underperfoming in games for multiple weeks. The Freezer [] B. Raji A play off the nickname of William "The Refrigerator" Perry whom the Bears utilized in a similar manner during the s.

Carter says that Lee is always in charge and is a great leader. When he talks, everyone listens — "General Lee. Lee, a former General during the Civil War. But in no ways is the middle linebacker specifically named after the war general. Golden Wheels [] Elbert Dubenion Johnny Green , a backup quarterback on Dubenion's Buffalo Bills , gave Dubenion a backhanded compliment admiring his exceptional speed while claiming he couldn't catch a football: "he's sure got those golden wheels.

Also a play off of the Incredible Hulk due to Rob's size, power, and dominance. Groper Cleveland Deshaun Watson A pun on Grover Cleveland , referring to Watson's sexual assault allegations Hausch Money [] [] Steven Hauschka Pete Carroll , head coach of the Seattle Seahawks , coined the nickname in response to Hauschka's ability to kick field goals in clutch situations.

The name was revived, possibly independently, when Hauschka joined the Buffalo Bills and continued to make key field goals, often from long range. Headhunter [] Jackie Wallace 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.

Honey Buns [] Ben Cavil Nickname given to him for his sweet tooth. Horse Whisperer [] Ed Oliver In March , Oliver posted a picture on Twitter of him standing on the back of a horse as a demonstration of his confidence. Football nicknames for running backs The Human Joystick [] Dante Hall Nickname given to him by coach Vermeil because of his big play ability in the return game.

Iceman [] Carlos Huerta Bestowed in college, Huerta was renowned for keeping his composure staying cool in stressful situations. Intellectual Assassin [] Ron Mix Mix had a degree in law at the time he played professional football. Iron Head [] [] Craig Heyward Heyward had an unusually large head, which he often used as a battering ram. Reasons for the nickname are unknown.

Juice Kyle Juszczyk Based on his last name. Simpson A play on the initials he had used as his de facto first name since infancy, [] a common abbreviation for orange juice. The King [] Jim Corcoran A journeyman quarterback whose NFL career was quite brief, Corcoran earned a reputation for pomposity in high school when, coming onto the field in a clean uniform after a rainstorm, he drew a cheer of "hail to the King!

Machine Gun Kelly [] Jim Kelly Jim Kelly was perhaps best known for running the Bills' "No-Huddle Offense", which was fast-paced and denied opposing defenses the opportunity to make timely substitutions, establishing the Buffalo Bills as one of the NFL's most successful and dangerous offenses. A reference to mobster Machine Gun Kelly. The Mad Bomber [] Daryle Lamonica Lamonica tended to throw, or "bomb", the ball deep during unnecessary situations.

Mad Duck [] Alex Karras Because of his short legs, he appeared to waddle like a duck. They were also christened " Mark Twain. Mooney Ward [] Charvarius Ward Given to him in reference to his big-time corner play Moose [] Daryl Johnston Given to him by Cowboys backup quarterback Babe Laufenberg for his blocking ability and opening holes for runningback Emmitt Smith.

Krieg became a permanent consistent fixture at QB for the Seattle Seahawks , like a bone in the mud. Muscle Hamster [] Doug Martin 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. Night Train [] Dick "Night Train" Lane Due to his fear of flying, Lane road a night train to away games while the rest of the team flew.

Ocho Cinco [] Chad Johnson Self-bestowed pidgin Spanish reference to his uniform number 85 ; originally named Chad Johnson, legally changed name to "Chad Ochocinco" in changed back to Johnson in Also self-refers as "Esteban Ochocinco". One Man Gang [] Lorenzo Alexander During his early career, Alexander played multiple offensive and defensive positions.

Pacman [] Adam Jones Bestowed in childhood by his grandmother, who surmised he changed directions more often than the popular arcade game character. The Playmaker [] Michael Irvin For his ability to defeat tight coverage, even double coverage, and make big plays. Poop [] Cory Johnson Johnson once joked that his often fluctuating weight was due to his frequent defecation.

Shady [] LeSean McCoy His mother gave him the nickname as he had many mood changes when he was young. The Sheriff [] Peyton Manning Well known for calling his own plays at the line of scrimmage and hurry-up offense. Silverback [] [] James Harrison Their strength, which is likened to that of a silverback gorilla Trent Williams Sixty Minute Man [] Chuck Bednarik Playing on both offense and defense and thus playing all sixty minutes of the game ; is sometimes applied generally to any player that does this.

Bednarik is generally recognized as the last to have done so. Went on to lead Vikings to a win in Philadelphia, against Michael Vick and the Eagles playing a must-win game. Lovingly called Spiderman, due to his last name. Stink [] Mark Schlereth A nickname coined by his teammates on the Washington Redskins after peeing himself constantly during his career. Superman Cam [] Cam Newton Due to both his unusually athletic physique and habit of pretending to rip open his jersey to reveal a "S" underneath when scoring a rushing touchdown.

Swag Kelly Chad Kelly Kelly released a rap song about himself in , and the nickname stuck afterwards. Sweetness [] Walter Payton Earned in college at Jackson State University for his slick moves on the field, his amazing dancing skills, and his friendly personality.

The Kid [] Jared Goff Often referred to by fans and anchors as "a" or "the" kid because of his facial young look to him. Tommy [] E. Hughitt The origin of this early NFL star's nickname remains unknown. It was popular enough that he legally changed his name to Tommy after his playing career ended. Tommy Cutlets [] Tommy DeVito His parents, with whom DeVito still resides as of his rookie professional season, regularly serve chicken cutlets for dinner.

Two Point Tupa [] Tom Tupa Tupa took advantage of the legalization of the two-point conversion in the NFL season ; as holder on extra points, he picked the ball up and ran for the conversion three times that season, the first NFL player to score that way.

Uncle Rico [] Kyle Orton Orton bore a resemblance to Uncle Rico, a washed-up former high school backup quarterback in the movie Napoleon Dynamite , especially during his time with the Buffalo Bills. Prior to his signing with the Bills, he earned the nickname Neckbeard for his facial hair.

Weapon X Brian Dawkins Over the span of his career, Dawkins developed a reputation as a ball-hawking safety and became the unquestioned leader of the Philadelphia Eagles' defense. He earned the nickname "Weapon X," a codename of Marvel character Wolverine, the comic book superhero known for relentless aggression.

The Wheaton Iceman [] Harold "Red" Grange A part-time job he once held delivering ice in his hometown of Wheaton, Illinois Whizzer [] Byron White An alliterative play on his last name and his speed; White, who led the league in rushing in his short three-year NFL career, was dismayed to find the nickname stuck with him well into his legal career eventually ending up a Supreme Court Justice.

X Factor [] Dante Hall Hall's prolific special teams success during his prime was an "X factor," a facet of his team's attack plan that most other teams did not have. In acknowledgement of his nickname, he would make an X gesture with his arms during his touchdown celebrations. Yoda [] Steve Largent For his ability to use the "force" to visualize himself making any catch.

No equivalent exists in Las Vegas's Allegiant Stadium since it eventually opened to the public. The name was originally applied to the same section of Cleveland Municipal Stadium , which formerly stood on the site. Without a heating system, the severe winter climate of Green Bay, Wisconsin would frequently cause the field to freeze. This was during the days that Warren Moon was the quarterback, and the Oilers defense was a force to be reckoned with, particularly during the Jerry Glanville years.

The nickname was given to the stadium because of its cavernous nature. Levi's South : [] Nickname for SoFi Stadium , due to the fact that the stadium is frequently invaded by 49ers fans, which forces the Rams to rely on a silent count at home. This nickname carried over from their previous home, Riverfront Stadium. Rockpile : [] The seating section underneath the scoreboard at Highmark Stadium.

Considered one of the most raucous environments in the NFL, this section was named after War Memorial Stadium the home of the Bills prior to Highmark Stadium which was referred to locally as "The Rockpile" for its decrepitude by the time the Bills began playing there and led to it being replaced with what is now Highmark Stadium.

The Roomba : Allegiant Stadium , so nicknamed because of its resemblance to a Roomba automated vacuum cleaner. This section was infamous for brawls between Philadelphia Eagles fans and those of visiting teams, especially Dallas Cowboys fans. Bills Mafia : A term for the broad community of Buffalo Bills fans, players, coaches and alumni. Prior to the s, Bills fans were officially known as Bills Backers.

Lang, who appears with a large white guitar that he uses as a billboard. He is one of the Bills' most recognizable individual fans and appears regularly in NFL Films productions. Black Hole : [] Las Vegas Raiders fans who formerly sat in a section of the Oakland Coliseum known as the 'black hole' sections , , , and which is mostly occupied by rowdy fans when the team played in Oakland.

Boo Birds : [] Philadelphia Eagles Though used by other teams as well, largely refers to Philadelphia Eagles fans who are known for their tendency to boo for almost any reason and especially at their own team when the Eagles are performing poorly. The name mocks Wisconsin's love of cheese.

The name eventually gained acceptance. Chief Zee : [] Fan who attended nearly all Washington Redskins games from to and was considered the unofficial mascot of the team. He wore an Indian headdress, large rimmed glasses, with a red jacket and carried a tomahawk. Known for leading the "J-E-T-S" chants. He retired the "Fireman Ed" character immediately after the infamous Butt Fumble game, although he still attends games.

Flameheads : [] Fans of the Tennessee Titans wear hats made to look like flames. In Greek Mythology , fire was invented by Prometheus , who was a Titan. Hogettes : [] A group of about twelve Washington Redskins fans who dress in drag and wear pig-noses.

The name is a takeoff of the Redskins' "Hogs" offensive line. He is famous for having attended all games regular season and 11 playoff played in the history of Giants Stadium. Louis until ; following their return to Los Angeles. Though officially discontinued by the team after the season, the name currently refers to a majority of the Rams fans in Los Angeles.

Pancho Billa : Ezra Castro — , a Texas-based Buffalo Bills superfan with a trademark lucha mask whose unsuccessful fight against cancer earned him fame and an appearance at the NFL Draft. Raider Nation : [] Las Vegas Raiders fans. The first team in the NFL to be characterized as a "nation".

The rest of the teams quickly adopted the title and therefore coined a variety of various team "nations". SuperSkin : [] Die-hard Superfan of the Washington Redskins, who has attended each home game at FedEx Field since dressed in a burgundy and gold superhero costume while motivating other fans to cheer loudly. Rules named after NFL figures [ edit ] Throughout the league's history, a number of rules have been enacted largely because of exploits on the field by a single coach, owner, player, or referee.

The following is a partial list of such rule changes: Bert Emanuel rule : [] The ball may touch the ground during a completed pass as long as the receiver maintains control of the ball. Enacted in due to a play in the NFC championship game , where Emanuel, playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers , had a catch ruled incomplete since the ball touched the ground.

Bill Belichick rule : [] Two defensive players, one primary and one backup, will have a radio device in their helmets allowing the head coach to communicate with them through the radio headset, identical to the radio device inside the helmet of the quarterback. This proposal was defeated in previous years, but was finally enacted in as a result of Spygate.

Brian Bosworth rule : [] Linebackers are allowed to wear jersey numbers between 40 and Named for Bosworth, who unsuccessfully sued the NFL, and had himself listed as a safety, to be allowed to wear the number 44 as a linebacker, the rule was passed long after Bosworth's retirement.

Bronko Nagurski rule : [] Enacted in , forward passing became legal from anywhere behind the line of scrimmage. The rule at the time mandated that a forward pass had to be thrown from at least five yards behind the line of scrimmage. Nagurski appeared to have not dropped back five yards before passing to Grange, but the touchdown stood.

Calvin Johnson rule : [] A receiver must maintain possession of the football throughout the completion of the play. This was more precisely a clarification of the existing rules regarding catches, made in in response to a play by Calvin Johnson, who made a falling catch in the end zone, and placed the ball on the ground soon after he hit the ground and before standing up.

This was ruled incomplete upon review, and upheld, though it generated discussion about what constituted a catch. Deacon Jones rule : [] No head-slapping. Enacted in in response to the defensive end's frequently used technique against opponents. Deion Sanders rule : [] Player salary rule which correlates a contract's signing bonus with its yearly salary. There is also a college football rule with this nickname.

Ed Hochuli rule : [] Instant replay can be used to determine whether a loose ball from a passer is definitely a fumble or an incomplete pass. This was enacted in in response to a play in the San Diego Chargers — Denver Broncos Week 2 regular season game where, in the final minutes, referee Ed Hochuli ruled that Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler threw an incomplete pass.

Replays clearly showed it was a fumble, but the play was previously not reviewable. Emmitt Smith rule : [] A player cannot remove his helmet while on the field of play, except in the case of obvious medical difficulty. A violation is treated as unsportsmanlike conduct. Enacted in The Dallas Cowboys running back was the most high-profile player who celebrated in this manner immediately after scoring a touchdown.

Fran Tarkenton rule : [] A line judge was added as the sixth official to ensure that a back was indeed behind the line of scrimmage before throwing a forward pass. Enacted in in response to Tarkenton, who frequently scrambled around in the backfield from one side to the other. Greg Pruitt rule : [] Tear-away jerseys became illegal starting in Pruitt purposely wore flimsy jerseys that ripped apart in the hands of would-be tacklers.

Such a jersey was most infamously seen in a game between the Rams and Oilers in which Earl Campbell 's jersey ripped apart after several missed tackles. Hines Ward rule : [] The blocking rule makes illegal a blindside block if it comes from the blocker's helmet, forearm or shoulder and lands to the head or neck area of the defender. Enacted in after the Pittsburgh Steelers receiver broke Cincinnati linebacker Keith Rivers 's jaw while making such a block during the previous season.

Jerome Bettis rule : [] Enacted in , the rule states all calls for coin flips will occur before the referee tosses the coin into the air, and at least two officials will be present during the coin toss. This is in response to a call considered one of the "worst in history. Bettis appeared to call "tails" while the coin was in the air, but referee Phil Luckett declared Bettis called "heads" and awarded possession to Detroit, which went on to win the game before Pittsburgh had a chance to have possession.

Jim Schwartz rule : [] Modifying the "no-challenge" rule adopted prior to the season to eliminate the automatic "no-review" penalty when a coach challenges a play that is subject to automatic review by the replay booth turnovers, scoring plays, and any play inside of the two-minute warning. This change was prompted after the Thanksgiving Day game when Detroit Lions ' head coach Jim Schwartz threw a challenge flag on a play where replay clearly showed Houston Texans ' running back Justin Forsett 's knee touched the ground, but was able to get up and score a touchdown.

Due to the way the rule was written at the time the penalty for the errant challenge prevented the play from being reviewed. If that player's teammate recovers the ball, it is placed back at the spot of the fumble unless it is recovered for a loss, which places the ball at the spot of the recovery.

However, a defensive player can recover and advance at any time of play. Enacted in in response to the " Holy Roller " play that resulted in a last-minute game-winning touchdown over San Diego , in which Oakland Raiders quarterback Stabler fumbled the ball forward, and tight end Dave Casper eventually performed a soccer-like dribble before falling on it in the end zone.

Lester Hayes rule : [] No Stickum allowed. Enacted in in response to the Oakland Raiders defensive back, who used the sticky substance to improve his grip. Lou Groza rule : [] No artificial medium to assist in the execution of a kick. Enacted in in response to Groza, who used tape and later a special tee with a long tail to help him guide his foot to the center spot of the football.

Mel Blount rule : [] Officially known as illegal contact downfield , defensive backs can only make contact with receivers within five yards of the line of scrimmage. Enacted in its current form in While playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers , defensive back Blount frequently used physical play against receivers he was covering. Mel Renfro rule : [] Allows a second player on the offense to catch a tipped ball, without a defender subsequently touching it.

One of the first high-profile "victims" of the old rule was Dallas Cowboys defensive back Renfro in Super Bowl V ; his tip of a pass allowed the Baltimore Colts ' John Mackey to legally catch the ball and run in for a yard touchdown. NaVorro Bowman rule : [] Enacted in , this rule subjects plays in which a loose ball has been recovered to instant replay.

Named for Bowman, who during an incident in the previous season's NFC Championship Game recovered a fumble after the officials had blown the play dead. Neil Smith rule : [] [] Prevents a defensive lineman from flinching to induce a false start penalty on the offense. Smith had frequently used that technique while playing for both the Kansas City Chiefs and the Denver Broncos.

Odell Beckham Jr. The original draft of the proposed rule would have counted any two personal fouls toward ejection and drew its name from Beckham, who committed three personal fouls during a game in the season. The rule, as enacted for , would not have applied to Beckham. Under the previous system, no field goals could be replayed.

Enacted in in response to an unusual field goal by the Cleveland Browns kicker in a game against Baltimore : the ball hit the left upright, then hit the rear curved post stanchion , then carried again over the crossbar, and landed in the end zone in front of the goalpost. It was initially ruled by the officials as "no good", but was reversed "upon discussion".

Red Grange rule : [] [] Prohibits college football players from signing with NFL teams until after their college class had graduated and from playing both college football and in the NFL in the same season. The rule was enacted after Red Grange and Ernie Nevers joined the Chicago Bears and Duluth Eskimos , respectively, immediately after their final college football games in Ricky Williams rule : [] Rule declared that hair could not be used to block part of the uniform from a tackler and, therefore, an opposing player could be tackled by his hair.

Rule was so-named after running back Williams' long dread-locks. Dan Rooney Rule : [] Requires teams to interview minority candidates for a head coaching opportunity. Pittsburgh Steelers owner Rooney was a major proponent of such a change. Roy Williams rule : [] No horse-collar tackles. Enacted in after the Dallas Cowboys safety broke Terrell Owens 's ankle and Musa Smith 's leg on horse-collar tackles during the previous season.

Paul Salata rule : [] A team is not allowed to pass on a draft pick at the end of the draft in an effort to secure the last pick. Named after Paul Salata, who many years after his playing career established the Mr. Irrelevant ceremony; it became so popular that in the NFL Draft , the two teams with the last selections repeatedly passed to each other hoping the other would pick and they would get the Mr.

Irrelevant publicity, necessitating the rule change. Shawne Merriman rule : [] Bans any player from playing in the Pro Bowl if he tests positive for using a performance-enhancing drug during that season. Enacted in after the San Diego Chargers linebacker played at the Pro Bowl after testing positive and serving a four-game suspension during the preceding season.

Steelers rule : [] The details have yet to be finalized, but the NFL has announced that in coming seasons, not just players, but teams could face fines if a series of illegal hits is seen from any particular organization. The rule has been met with significant criticisms, understandably from the Steelers organization, [] and from others [] that fear the new rules will dampen the spirit of the game and make professional football "too soft".

Steve Tasker rule : [] On punt returns, gunners receive a yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for deliberately running out of bounds to avoid blocks, a tactic frequently used by Tasker before the rule was implemented. Tom Brady rule : [] A clarification to the Carson Palmer rule; prohibits a defender on the ground from lunging or diving at a quarterback's legs unless that defender has been blocked or fouled into the signal-caller.

Sometimes referred to as the Bernard Pollard rule. Tom Dempsey rule : [] [] Any shoe that is worn by a player with an artificial limb on his kicking leg must have a kicking surface that conforms to that of a normal kicking shoe. Dempsey, who was born without toes on his right foot and no fingers on his right hand, wore a modified shoe with a flattened and enlarged toe surface, generating controversy about whether such a shoe gave him an unfair advantage kicking field goals.

Dempsey's game-winning yard field goal in set the record for longest field goal, a record that held until Ty Law rule also known as the Rodney Harrison rule : [] Enacted in , placed more emphasis on the Mel Blount rule. Enacted after Law, Harrison, and the rest of the New England Patriots defense utilized an aggressive coverage scheme, involving excessive jamming of wide receivers at the line of scrimmage, in the AFC championship game against the Indianapolis Colts.

The series originally came into existence in after the Raiders had relocated from Oakland to Southern California, though the rivalry ended when both teams would relocate following the season. The series was revived following the Rams and Chargers both relocating back to the city in and respectively. In order to run the bird gauntlet , a team must be scheduled to face all five teams which, given that four of the five teams are in the NFC , effectively requires a team be in that conference and defeat them all, which has never occurred.

Since the Ravens joined the gauntlet in , no team has successfully run the bird gauntlet; the most recent to fail was the New Orleans Saints. The rule was viewed as a reaction to potential sponsor influence, as no NFL team had considered adopting a non-green surface. The nickname stems from the Duke of Wellington , an actual English hereditary title.

In Denver, the same nickname was given to quarterback John Elway , after a teammate noticed that his walk to the huddle before The Drive in looked like John Wayne's. The games have also been given nicknames like the "HarBowl". Woods was forced to move the dance to the sidelines behind the Bengals' bench after officials starting penalizing him for unsportsmanlike conduct.

K-Gun : [] Nickname referring to the no-huddle offense used by the Buffalo Bills with quarterback Jim Kelly during the late s and early to mids. Lambeau Leap : [] During home games at Lambeau Field, some players from the Green Bay Packers would leap into the stands after scoring a touchdown. Players in other stadiums imitate the leap.

Mile High Salute : [] A touchdown celebration used by Denver Broncos running back Terrell Davis during his playing career, in which he would salute his fellow teammates and sometimes the fans. A simplified variant including only the salute portion has been used by Broncos players ever since.

No Fun League : [] [] Used by various reports criticizing the league for its sanctions imposed on teams. Popularized by the XFL. Most residents of the province of Quebec catch the U. A team can run the Quebec Gauntlet in two different ways: - Be an NFC East division team other than the Giants Philadelphia Eagles , Dallas Cowboys or Washington Commanders , defeat the Giants in both scheduled division rivalry matchups, and defeat the Patriots as well, all in one season.

However, he had to stop when the NFL declared it "unsportsmanlike taunting" in March and began fining players for it. The name was coined in when New Meadowlands Stadium was renamed to MetLife Stadium at the time Snoopy was the mascot for the company. Tebowing : [] A pose imitating Tim Tebow 's stance when praying.

The Carolina Panthers also began a spin-off known as the "Growl Towel". Also known as the Brotherly Shove or Rugby Sneak. The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 31, Retrieved May 25, Retrieved January 18, Archived from the original on April 2, Retrieved March 17, Archived from the original on July 9, Bleacher Report. August 7, Archived from the original on August 21, Retrieved October 4, Bills East vs.

Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. Archived from the original on November 1, Seattle Post-Intelligencer. September 23, Archived from the original on January 25, Retrieved January 24, October 26, Archived from the original on August 27, Retrieved July 19, October 29, Archived from the original on August 13, January 19, Archived from the original on August 26, January 25, March 28, Archived from the original on January 14, Retrieved March 7, The class was good, but the class ranks the best.

San Diego had four of the first 33 picks in the draft, and the Chargers selected three defensive linemen that would form the nucleus of "The Bruise Brothers" and once formed three-fourths of the AFC Pro Bowl defensive line. New York Times. Archived from the original on April 24, Retrieved July 25, Archived from the original on December 8, Retrieved December 4, Washington Post. Archived from the original on May 23, Retrieved November 1, Archived from the original on March 2, Archived from the original on December 24, Archived from the original on October 15, Retrieved October 14, Archived from the original on December 6, Archived from the original on September 8, Retrieved December 17, Archived from the original on July 17, Archived from the original on January 9, Retrieved January 9, Archived from the original on October 20, Archived from the original on February 6, Mike Celizic.

September 17, Archived from the original on September 6, Retrieved January 20, Michael David Smith. AOL Sports. Originally drafted as a backup to fellow rookie Robert Griffin III, he would occasionally appear in games, along with a few starts, during his first three seasons with the team. In the preseason, Cousins replaced an injured Griffin and remained the team's starter from then until he left in free agency following the season.

During his time with the Redskins, he set numerous franchise records and appeared in the Pro Bowl. At the time, this deal made him the highest paid player on a per-year basis in NFL history. More Kirk Cousins. Bobby "Swagner" Wagner. He played college football at Utah State, and was drafted in the second round of the NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks, who he played for until the end of the season.

More Bobby Wagner. Javon "Gravedigger" Hargrave. He played college football at South Carolina State. He won several awards and honors for his performance, including the Heisman Trophy and Maxwell Award. Many journalists and sportswriters deemed the season to be one of the greatest ever by a college quarterback.

Despite a promising start, his rookie season ended halfway through after he sustained a severe knee injury during a game. More Joe Burrow. Josh "Winter Soldier" Allen. He played college football at Wyoming. Despite receiving few offers out of high school and having to play one year at a junior college, Allen was eventually recruited to Wyoming, where he led the Cowboys to a Mountain West Conference division title and two bowl games.

He was drafted by the Bills in the first round 7th overall of the NFL Draft, becoming the highest drafted quarterback in franchise history. More Josh Allen. Jamie "The Scottish Hammer" Gillan. He played college football at Arkansas—Pine Bluff. Andy "Red Rifle" Dalton. He is the all-time leader in wins at Texas Christian University.

He has been nicknamed the "Red Rifle", a reference to his arm strength and hair color. More Andy Dalton. Born and raised in Alabama, he was a highly regarded quarterback in high school, and led his team to the state championship as a junior. Winston also played on Florida State's baseball team. More Jameis Winston.

More Randy Bullock. Darrell Demont "D. He played college football at LSU. More D. Julio "Waffle House" Jones. Because he's always open. With the Atlanta Falcons, Jones has been invited to six Pro Bowls, was a first-team All-Pro selection in after leading the league in receiving yards and receptions, and in when he helped lead the Atlanta Falcons to Super Bowl LI.

Jones was also named second-team All-Pro twice, in and in after leading the league in receiving yards. More Julio Jones. Cooper "Two Girls, One Kupp". He played college football at Eastern Washington and received All-America honors. Kupp was born in Yakima, Washington. Kupp attended and graduated from Davis High School in Yakima in where he was a two-sport athlete in football and basketball for the Pirates athletic teams.

A two-way All-State selection, he earned first team 4A All-State honors as a defensive back and honorable mention accolades as a wide receiver from the Associated Press, as selected by sportswriters and broadcasters. Kupp was also named by the Seattle Times as a "White Chip" selection, as one of the top prospects in the state of Washington. More Cooper Kupp. Joe "Mixon It Up". He was AFCs top rusher in the season with yards of rushing and 4.

Mixon attended Freedom High School, where he played football and basketball for the Falcons. He was a three-year starter at running back for the Freedom High School Falcons football team. He rushed for 1, yards and 13 touchdowns as a sophomore on carries. In his junior year, he rushed for 1, yards and 21 touchdowns on carries.

In his final year, he rushed for 1, yards and 23 touchdowns on carries. More Joe Mixon. Alvin "Lights, Kamara, Action!