Running behind Reggie McKenzie, Joe DeLamielleure, Mike Montler, Dave Foley and Donnie Green, Simpson led the league in rushing four times. From his mother. Before the Cowboys were branded as "America's Team," their defense was given one of the greatest nicknames ever. Slot-backs are usually only found in certain offensive alignments, such as the flexbone formation. They were known as the Purple People Eaters because of the Vikings trademark purple uniforms and team's dominating front line. Parcells retired that offseason and Bill Belichick left to coach the Cleveland Browns. The Hogs were the nickname given to Washington's outstanding offensive line from the early 1980s until its final Super Bowl. Although it later was used in reference to the 1986 Super Bowl champion Bears, the nickname first applied to the Chicago dynasty in the 1940s. A few of them were just fun and creative while being more of a reflection of the fan base than of the actual unit. Baltimore Sun". station 19 fanfiction maya injured; morgan bay boats for sale; camden football fight; razer kraken v2 randomly disconnects; ark magmasaur fertilized egg spawn command; Regarding their nickname, it is difficult to determine if it came from art imitating life ,or life imitating art. But they also played good baseball. From his peculiar childhood habit of seasoning corn flakes with black pepper. Businessman. What Daniel Jones and Giants teammates think of QB's new nickname", "South Carolina WR Deebo Samuel explains origin of his nickname", "Former Raiders cornerback 'Skip' Thomas dies", "2018 Hall of Fame: Robert Brazile got 'Dr. This year, they're returning four of five starters. They were part of a unit that allowed this to. 19761980 New Orleans Saints dynamic running back duo known as "Thunder and Lightning". Their awe-inspiring jams earned the squad a nickname that combined college Greek life with the slam dunk. Five members of the Steel Curtain defense eventually made their way to Canton. Back when he was famous only for his football skills, O.J. March 2, 2023 9:59 pm ET. The story of the 1981 New York #Jets, the "Talk of the Town." Head coach Red Miller preached a run-stopping, line-stacking attack that led the league in rush defense. Send suggestions to siwriters@simail.com, 2023 ABG-SI LLC. Sports Nicknames: 20,000 Professionals Worldwide by Terry W. Pruyne, National Football League Players Association, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_NFL_nicknames&oldid=1142337263, Pages containing links to subscription-only content, Articles with dead YouTube links from February 2022, CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown, Articles with dead external links from September 2017, Articles with permanently dead external links, Articles with dead external links from January 2018, Articles with dead external links from May 2017, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from December 2017, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2009, Articles with unsourced statements from May 2013, Pages using navbox columns without the first column, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, How he was as difficult to tackle as a freight train; "A" is a reference to his surname initial. 26, seventh-worst in the league. Through the NFL's first 102 seasons, several units were so memorable that a nickname was bestowed upon them. His passion, intelligence, and vocal leadership: self-bestowed, His ability to step up at critical moments and make big plays; possibly self-bestowed. declared Doomsday the greatest defensive unit of all time, Jerry Jones believes Cowboys can keep Zeke and Pollard, NFL combine measurements for DBs: Full list of results, Jerry Jones believes Prescott can progress like Brady, NFL combine 2023 results tracker: Top performances, NFL combine 2023: Winners and losers from DB workouts, Report: Pollard to get franchise tag if deal isn't done, Washington offensive line, 1980s/early '90s. New York Jetsfront four, early 1980s; Not many nicknames capture the essence of an era and a city much like this one. section: | slug: ranking-the-greatest-unit-nicknames-in-nfl-history-steel-curtain-doomsday-orange-crush-among-all-time-best | sport: football | route: article_single.us | An all-around great athlete, he earned recognition for his abilities including 5 Pro Bowl selections, 5 total All-Pro selections, AFC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 1981, AFC Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1983, NFL 1980s All-Decade Team honors, is in the Seattle Seahawks Ring of Honor and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, despite only playing for seven seasons. Simpson bestowed this nickname on his offensive line because they "turned on the Juice." Running behind Reggie McKenzie, Joe. This nickname for the 1919 White Sox came from an incident that led to life-time bans for eight players and left a black mark on baseball. Chipmunk. The Bears defense was led by head coach Mike Ditka and defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan. The Giants triumphed 20-19 in what many consider the greatest Super Bowl ever played. That changed for awhile in the early 80s with the arrival of the New York Sack Exchange. Originally given to his older brother, McNair earned it due to his impressive throwing talent, Went to college at Alabama. 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. All Rights Reserved. He started for an offensive unit that rushed for 200-plus yards . But the team outfielder Johnny Damon called the Idiots came back from a 3-0 deficit to stun the Yankees in the American League Championship Series. The Rams also showed a growing football audience that hard-hitting, physical football can be as enjoyable to watch as high-scoring affairs. Some said the Detroit Pistons of the late 1980s played dirty. 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. With the perfect season of 17-0, the Dolphin defense never failed in this task. 1 heading into Monday night's game against L.A", "San Francisco's Million Dollar Backfield: The 49ers' Fabulous Foursome", "Monsters of the Midway finally Bearing (sic) their teeth", "Jets' 'New Jack City' DBs look to 'control the airways', "Sack Exchange Had a Brief, but Glorious, Run", Time to Take Stock Of Sack Exchange / Defensive unit considers its place in history, "An Unkindness of Ravens; a Murder of Crows. The following are nicknames throughout the history of the NFL. Harvey Martin dominated offensive linemen and was named to the NFL 1970s. The Steel Curtain obliged, sort of, yielding 17 rushing yards on21 carries. This is a tribute to those aptly named units and the legacy their names provide to this day. Some consider that lineup to be the best lineup ever. The front five of Al Cowlings, Bubba Scott, Charlie Weaver, Jimmy Gunn and Tody Smith attacked the pocket with regularity, pounding quarterbacks along the way. By that time, Doomsday added several new stars that included Randy White and Harvey Martin, who shared MVP honors in Dallas' Super Bowl win over Denver. His affinity for passing the ball, particularly deep downfield, Based on his refusal to eat Rice Krispie Treats left for him by the coaching staff, Earned his nickname from his coach following a long, winding touchdown run, His ability of "snaking" around out of pressure in the pocket; also a play on the wrestler. The Los Angeles Rams had the first and the best. "C'mon, you mothers," Foreman told the group, "give us a yard.". The name is an allusion to a, A play on the initials he had used as his. Not many nicknames capture the essence of an era and a city much like this one. The Broncos of the 70s sported Popsicle orange uniforms. But the brightly colored Orange Crush is still fondly remembered in the mountain state. ", "Brady rule: Steps taken to protect QBs' knees", "Rules of the Name, or How the Emmitt Rule Became the Emmitt Rule", "NFL.com Laying down the Law in New England", "New Orleans Saints have a chance at the "Bird Gauntlet", "Go Deep! Please read his brilliant analysis. One of the many nicknames the left-handed quarterback acquired during his playing career; he was obese his entire adult life and weighed an average of 300 pounds during his playing career (he was approximately 400 pounds at the time of his premature death). They are not the official franchise nicknames of the National Football League (NFL). Page, Eller and Marshall played in four Super Bowls together, but the trio came up short in each game. It held O.J. Watching offensive linemen at the NFL combine might not be the most enjoyable thing to do on a Sunday afternoon but this is still an opportunity for the Indianapolis Colts to find some draft prospects to help bolster their unit. Their strength, which is likened to that of a. NFL coaches, scouts, execs pick most memorable pre-draft workouts pennsylvania supreme court judges; 4618 forthbridge drive houston, tx; lincoln memorial events; chemerinsky, constitutional law syllabus 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? Famed sportswriter Grantland Rice coined the term in 1924 to describe the hard-running Notre Dame backfield of quarterback Harry Stuhldreher, fullback Elmer Layden and halfbacks Jim Crowley and Don Miller. Players: Ali Marpet, Tristan Wirfs, Donovan Smith, Alex Cappa, Ryan Jensen, Robert Hainsey, Aaron Stinnie, Josh Wells, Nick Leverett, John Molchon, Brandon Walton, Sadarius Hutcherson 2021. The following nicknames are given to a unit (defensive, offensive and special teams) or a secondary nickname given to some teams used to describe a style of play or attitude of teams at times in accordance with phrases in popular culture of the time. It symbolizes the first great era of Broncos football, an era that included the franchise's first trip to the Super Bowl. Red Sox president Larry Lucchino reacted to the Yankees' 2002 acquisition of Cuban free agent Jose Contreras by saying "The evil empire extends its tentacles even into Latin America." Players banned included first baseman Arnold "Chick" Gandil, pitcher Eddie Cicotte and outfielder Shoeless Joe Jackson (whose involvement has been disputed). The win capped an 18-1 season that remains the tale of legends. The Boston TE Party: Gronk and Hernandez Area 51: Redskins safeties Sean Taylor and Laron Landry had jersey numbers that added up to 51 The Law Firm: Lawyer Milloy and Ty Law of the late 90s/early 00s Patriots This thread is archived Coached by the stoic Bud Grant, the defenses of the Minnesota Vikings dominated football in the late 1960s and 1970s. The '77 Cowboys defense also included the 6-foot-9 Ed "Too Tall" Jones and Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson, who in 2019 declared Doomsday the greatest defensive unit of all time. Often referred to by fans and anchors as "a" or "the" kid because of his facial young look to him. They will probably know Dan Marino was a number #13 for the Dolphins and be forced to guess such, even if they think Marino never won a Super Bowl. Additions will denote either the most recent team that player played for, or the round of the draft they were selected. With the the second ranked defense in the NFL, the Broncos reached their first Super Bowl. 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. Whether the name came from that or was in the minds of others before, we shall never know. The undefeated 1972 Dolphins had Bob Griese at quarterback, Larry Csonka and Mercury Morris at running back and Paul Warfield at receiver. Alabama: Yellowhammer State, Heart of Dixie, Camellia State. The punt returner had a scattershot running style akin to a, For his ability to defeat tight coverage, even double coverage, and make big plays. ", Fitzpatrick has had brief spurts of resounding success, notable examples include when he played with the. Name bestowed after Moats laid a clean, but particularly devastating hit on, Carolina Panthers running back duo from 2008 to 2014, previously known as Smash and Dash, Hodges, in addition to his football playing, is a world-class champion, Allusion to an incident which allegedly occurred when he was in college as well as a take on one-time teammate Jerome Bettis' nickname, "The Bus", Play on his first name, Eli, and the word. In acknowledgement of his nickname, he would make an X gesture with his arms during his. He's your shortest friend. Fittingly, Jones is created with coining the term "sack.". Reference to the hip-hop group Run-D.M.C. The nickname was given by a Denver-area distributor of Orange Crush soda, and it helped propel the Broncos to national recognition. Royal Horse Guards. In the 1970s, a popular soda drink known as Orange Crush was consumed across the county. Given to him after rushing for over 2,000 yards during the 2009 season. Miami's bland, yet iconic nickname was born from the Dolphins' perception that they were underrated and under-appreciated. The Purple People Eaters coined the phrase, "Meet at the Quarterback," and many a QB feared their hunger. His immense size in comparison to other defensive linemen. I bet you're kind of surprised that I didn't make. Warner's 414 passing yards spearheaded the Rams' thrilling 23-16 win over the Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV. 16: Deion played his way into 'Prime Time', "Heartwarming Children's Book Based on Saints' Marques Colston", "Then & Now: William "The Refrigerator" Perry", "NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg changes Manhattan to Revis Island", "Upon Further Review: Coach Reid's Monday Recap", "The Sheriff: Record-setting Peyton Manning breeds hope, faith, and confidence", Shipwreck Kelly Dies; Football Star in 30's, "Trent Williams' Silverback nickname makes John Thompson uncomfortable", "Has 'Smash and Dash' become 'Smash and Grab'? 24 car, Jeff Gordon's pit crew got a nickname of its own. Unlike many other defenses on this list, the Doomsday Defense featured many different players over a 20 year span, from approximately 1965-1983. Because of his short legs, he appeared to waddle like a duck. Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The Cowboys' original "Doomsday" defense led the franchise to its first Super Bowl win. The Gritz Blitz nickname (or Grits Blitz as some recall it) came into effect sometime around the Falcons ninth game that season. Coolness of the nickname; How memorable was the unit; How well the nickname/unit fit together; Without further ado, let's get started. Maybe I'll take from my "what should we name our secondary thread" to call our Offensive Line "The Electric Fence." EDIT: Didn't realize this was a previous response for the idea. The nickname for the offensive line was a reference to O.J. Neither the free agents nor the many draft picks helped the Vikings form a good offensive line. The Broncos' 1977 AFC Championship run was fueled by an aggressive defense that boasted five Pro Bowlers: defensive end Lyle Alzado, linebackers Randy Gradishar and Tom Jackson, cornerback Louis Wright and safety Bill Thompson. The team got its nickname for its reliance on veteran players, but the old-timers had success. at Behind eight Hall of Famers, including Sid Luckman and Bronko Nagurski, the Bears powered their way to four NFL titles in seven years. The great Doomsday Defense of the Dallas Cowboys likely possess the most menacing name on this list. 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. "Heyward remembered fondly at memorial service", "Craig Heyward, Who Was N.F.L. In 1969 all four members started for the NFL in the Pro Bowl, but the Purple People Eaters were more than their front four. A "wing-back" or a "slot-back" is a term for a running back who lines up behind the line of scrimmage outside the tackle or tight end on either side of the offensive line. In 1940, Chicago beat Washington 73-0 in the championship game, the biggest margin of victory in league history. 11:06 am ET. On the football field, the defense of the Denver Broncos consumed quarterbacks and provided hope to a city long in the ranks of losing. They were known for their ability to "turn on the juice," which was a metaphor for unleashing . Some nicknames captured their effectiveness as a unit, while others perfectly depicted their utter dominance. The Electric Company was the nickname of the offensive line of the Buffalo Bills during the mid-1970s that helped running back O.J. Outside of the team's home market LDT was, and is, sometimes used to differentiate the player from Lawrence Taylor (L.T. The Lakers also solidified their connection to Hollywood during this time, as home games became must-see events. Simpson bestowed this nickname on his offensive line because they "turned on the Juice." The nickname came from the Saints home field, the Louisiana Super Dome. They were led by Hall of Famers Alan Page and Carl Eller, defensive end Jim Marshall, and defensive tackle Gary Larson. Unfortunately, the somewhat confusing origins of the nickname dropped it a few pegs on this list. The New York Stock Exchange had plenty of style, they also had substance. 7", "Hair length proposal delayed until May; defensive helmet radios approved", NFL passes "Brian Bosworth rule," linebackers can now wear jerseys numbered 40-49, "Rules of the Name, or How The Emmitt Rule Became the Emmitt Rule", "Calvin Johnson catch: Another silly NFL rule", ESPN.com: NFL votes to rein in TD celebrations, "CBA inertia? That much most people know. His high school teammates referred to him as "young buck" as he was a freshman on the varsity team. In 1981 the foursome lead the NFL in sacks. The Vikings' defensive line from the late-1960s to the late-1970s had an unofficial motto: "Meet at the quarterback." The offensive unit of a football team consists of the offensive line, the offensive backfield (including the quarterback and running backs), the tight ends, and wide receivers. Miami allowed just one touchdown in Super Bowl VIII, as Miami's defense played a massive role in the Dolphins going a combined 32-2 during the '72-73 seasons. One of the most dominant doubles teams ever, the Australian duo of Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde won 61 tournaments in their careers (a record since broken by the Bryan brothers), including 11 Grand Slam titles and a gold medal at the 1996 Olympics. Ryan benefited from the presence of standout defense players such as Wilbur Marshall, William 'The Fridge" Perry, Steve McMichael, Dan Hampton, Leslie Frazier, Otis Wilson, team captain Mike Singletary, and Super Bowl MVP Richard Dent. As for Red Hogs, I guess this gets a mention because some believe. For his ability to use the "force" to visualize himself making any catch. From 1969-1976 the Purple People Eaters finished in the top three for total defense seven times and were first in the league three times. Half way through the next season, head coach Don Shula would insert Dan Marino into the starting quarterback role and for the next two decades the Dolphins would become one of the most highly powered offenses in NFL history. Chuck Howley and Lee Roy Jordan were staples at linebacker for the Doomsday during their early heyday. Ainge first acquired Seattle SuperSonics sharpshooter Ray Allen with a draft night deal, and then procured 2004 MVP Kevin Garnett from the Minnesota Timberwolves. Left tackle Anthony Munoz is regarded by many as the best offensive lineman in the history of the sport, and right guard Max Montoya was a 4x Pro Bowler in the late 80's and was established as. It's the offseason, and while you're probably itching to read yet another Aaron Rodgers story, we invite you to check out our ranking our the top unit nicknames in NFL history. Johnson once joked that his often fluctuating weight was due to his frequent defecation. If nothing, the Big Blue Wrecking Crew should be remembered for this innovation. 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. The most iconic version of the Hogs was the unit that was first given the nickname. The Bench Mob, which included Tony Delk, Tyrone Corbin, Bobby Jackson (Sixth Man of the Year in 2003), Scot Pollard and Jon Barry, among others, helped Sacramento to a league-best record and the Western Conference Finals in 2001-02. Bob Lilly continued to dominate for the Cowboys, eventually earning the title "Mr. When it comes to defenses, The Steel Curtain is the most successful on this list. Before you do, here's the criteria we used when putting our list together. Philadelphia won the Stanley Cup in each of those seasons behind intimidating defense and the superb goaltending of Bernie Parent. The unit has been mostly bad in pass protection, allowing a league-high 20 sacks, which is five fewer than the team gave up in all of 2020. Sometimes tight ends will be referred to as offensive linemen, if they line up tight to the line of scrimmage. Play on Brees's last name and his perception as the savior of Saints Football. Accompanied by Lamar Lundy and Rosey Grier the Rams defense line became known as the Fearsome Foursome. The. Harris, Cole, Renfro and safety Charlie Waters were also part of the team's second Super Bowl win. Because of his ability to carry tacklers on his back like a "bus". 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In 1973, he broke the single-game rushing record and became the first player to total 2,000 yards in a season. Nicknamed after Sheb Wooley's 1958 hit song, the line primarily featured Alan Page, Carl Eller (both Hall of Famers), Jim Marshall and Gary Larsen. A nickname that really hasn't faded over time. As well as his flying tackles. The defense lead the league in fewest first downs allowed, fewest passing yards, fewest rushing TD allowed, most turnovers forced, best turnover ratio, and legend has it, the most blitzes ever called in an NFL season. Nickname given due to his long hair and thick beard resembling a common depiction of, Bestowed in 1980, well after his (very brief) NFL playing career ended, when Parcells was an assistant with the, Tupa took advantage of the legalization of the, Orton bore a resemblance to Uncle Rico, a washed-up former high school backup quarterback in the movie.