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A game of football without nicknames would not be the same.
The intricate plans, huge plays, and creative touchdown celebrations that already make the game amazing are enhanced by them. They also give the athletes, whose abilities never cease to astound us, a little bit more mythology.
That made us wonder where some of the greatest football players in history, like Deion Sanders (Prime Time), Joe Montana (Joe Cool), and Reggie White (Minister of Defense), stood in the hierarchy of iconic sports nicknames.
In light of all of that, Touchdown Wire offers an entirely subjective examination of the top 101 football nicknames in history.
Simple is the nickname given to Johnny Manziel. En route to winning the Heisman Trophy in 2012, the former Texas A&M standout quarterback wowed the college football community. The brash wunderkind won’t soon be forgotten, despite playing for the Cleveland Browns for just two NFL seasons.
99. Bob Hayes: Bullet Bob Hayes (USA TODAY Sports/Dick Raphael)
Bob Hayes, a phenomenal player from the talented Jacksonville region, gained his nickname due to his lightning-fast speed. Before starting a ten-year career with the Dallas Cowboys, Hayes won gold medals at the 1964 Olympics in both the 400-meter relay and the 100-meter event. He was a traditional deep threat who twice led the NFL in yards per reception and touchdown catches.
Thanks to his dreadlocks and his unwavering pursuit of opposing quarterbacks, Chase Young earned his nickname while playing for the Ohio State Buckeyes in college.
For those who are not familiar with the “Predator” film series, the antagonist is an alien creature that is dreadlocked and ruthlessly intimidating. Young had a stellar rookie campaign in 2020 with the Washington Football Team, logging in 15 games with 44 tackles, 7½ sacks, four forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries.
One of the most successful quarterbacks in NFL history is Brett Favre. During a stellar 20-year career with the Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers, New York Jets, and Minnesota Vikings, he amassed 71,838 yards and 508 touchdown passes.
However, his willingness to take chances and dive into coverage contributed to his moniker. In other words, his legendary mark of 297 consecutive starts is probably not as safe as his NFL record of 336 interceptions.
97. Hoodie by Bill Belichick
Bill Belichick (AP Images for Panini via Windslow Townson)
With six Super Bowl victories, nine AFC titles, seventeen division titles, and almost 300 regular-season victories under his belt, Bill Belichick has an unmatched resume.
In addition, he has a signature look for games during New England’s icy winters: the hooded sweatshirt. It’s hard to argue with the outcome, even though Belichick’s hoodie may not have the same gravitas as Tom Landry’s renowned fedora.
96. “Ickey” Woods From an AP photo
Elbert “Ickey” Woods, best known for his Ickey Shuffle touchdown celebration, won over fans’ hearts and, as a rookie in 1988, helped lead the Cincinnati Bengals to Super Bowl XXIII.
Because his brother couldn’t pronounce his real name, he picked up the nickname during his early years. In his rookie season, Woods ran for 1,066 yards and 15 touchdowns, but the next season, an anterior cruciate ligament tear ended his career. In the NFL, he would only amass 459 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns.
