The 25 best NFL nicknames of all-time

The origins of Perry’s fabled moniker go back to an offhand comment made by a college buddy of his at Clemson, who noted while in an elevator that Perry was as big as a refrigerator. Perry was a behemoth on the gridiron at 6-foot-2, 335 pounds, so imagine being on the other side of that man when he would be an occasional goal-line fullback for the Bears.  

Ironically, this iconic nickname has nothing to do with his personality - Greene isn’t mean at all, though his opponents who took a beating from him may say otherwise. This goes back to his time at North Texas University, whose mascot is the Mean Green. Naturally, as a standout there, the two names merged into what we know it as today: Mean Joe Greene. 

Sometimes a nickname can be ironic in nature; for Smith, it’s actually the opposite. The Heisman winner out of Alabama, who went on to star in the NFL, was knocked early on for his slight frame. After all, he was just around 170 pounds entering the league, which is why he was given the Slim Reaper nickname as a member of the Crimson Tide. 

On the field and off the field, the legendary Bears running back was as cool as they come. Fittingly, he earned the title “Sweetness,” and it was a perfect match. The way he ran, his personality, and the ease with which he glided around the field are fitting for someone with the moniker. 

When the lights were at their brightest, Sanders showed up. It’s no wonder then that he earned the Prime Time mantle, which dates back to his high school days. Not only did he step up in the biggest moments, but he is also someone who knows how to work the room and the media, adding even more credence to the title. 

This is one of the more aptly-named ones on the list. Not only was Bettis a massive yet compact being at 255 pounds, he was also adorned in the Steelers' yellow and previously the gold of Notre Dame. What better way to represent someone looking like that than by calling them “The Bus?” 

Some of the best nicknames are those used to describe someone who stands out from the rest. That was the case for Johnson, who completely stood out when he was on the field at 6-foot-5. A teammate referred to him as the Transformer, Megatron, and it instantly stuck throughout his time with the Detroit Lions. 

In the early 2010s, an absurd honey badger video went viral on YouTube while Mathieu was rising to fame at LSU for not only being a fierce player, but also a bad boy on the gridiron. This all tied together when some, including coaches, used the animal to describe his playing style (and even the dyed blonde hairstyle he had at the time). 

DeVito’s minute of fame resulted in one great nickname. In an interview, DeVito explained his adoration for his mom’s home-cooked chicken cutlets. Later, then-teammate Saquon Barkley first came up with the term, and befitting of a true Italian, the “Tommy Cutlets” legend was embraced. 

It’s pretty awesome when a nickname can double as a formidable superhero. That’s the case for Okoye, who moved to the U.S. from Nigeria at 23, and quickly proved to be a problem for opposing defenses. We can only assume that he kept opposing defensive coordinators up at night due to his vicious running style and the speed he possessed with his 260-pound frame. 

Sayers was a campus legend at the University of Kansas, which is where this label traces back its roots. He also hailed from Wichita, lending further credibility to the name. The Hall of Famer had a shortened career due to injury, but blazed his way to 4,956 rushing yards in just 68 games. 

The alter ego of Kearse was bred from his freakish combination of size, speed, and strength. The defensive end had rare sideline-to-sideline speed while also having the ability to bullrush an opposing offensive tackle on any given play. It's how he picked up the name at the University of Florida.  

This is a more recent nickname for McLaurin, who picked up the alias via then-teammate Case Keenum as a rookie in Washington. His quarterback used the rhyming label as he saw firsthand how McClaurin was imposing his will on the defense. 

We can thank McCoy's mother for this one. Like most mothers, she watched her son go through a wide range of emotions in a short period, and she soon broke out the moniker. It stuck with him throughout childhood and all the way through his illustrious playing career, more times than not replacing his first name when people would refer to him. 

The origin of this influential nickname goes back to his childhood days playing the sport in Oakland, but it wasn't until his renowned 67-yard, powerful touchdown run in the 2011 playoffs that it became legendary. That earthquake-inducing play solidified Lynch in the national spotlight, and with it, created the Beast Mode brand that remains unmatched. 

Johnston was taking some practice reps with his fellow running backs when a teammate of his, Babe Laufenberg, referred to him as looking like a moose among deer. This was due to Johnston's stature as he was taller and bulkier than his peers. It quickly caught on with fans, who grew fond of chanting the name with an elongated "O' sound whenever Johnston made a play. 

When opponents were in the way of No. 40, it's not unreasonable to think they heard a "choo-choo" noise echoing that of a train. This mammoth of a man remains one of the most unlikely runners ever to play the game, and to this day, has some of the best highlight videos you'll ever come across. Calling him "A-Train" is only appropriate as defenders best describe that tackling him was like getting hit by a train. 

A Kansas City radio announcer did his best to explain through words what it was like watching Hall take a kick return back, which is how he first referenced him as a human joystick. The nickname aptly describes his innate ability to blow past defenders in the return game as he led the league multiple times in both punt and kick return touchdowns. 

Ochocinco holds a place on the Mt. Rushmore of nicknames. Have you ever seen someone take on a name with such enthusiasm as the man previously known as Chad Johnson? The Spanish pronunciation of his jersey number eventually became his legal name, using it on his jersey between 2009 and 2011 before eventually returning to his surname. 

After entering the league out of Boise State, Martin burst onto the NFL scene with a 1,400-yard rookie season. He was shorter than most at the position, yet he was incredibly compact, bursting with some yoked-up arms that made him a menace to tackle. You could earn a nickname for worse things than being jacked. 

Kickers oftentimes are the butt end of jokes when it comes to football, but not Zuerlein. In fact, he's one of the few in the position who has ever earned a creative handle. The name even references another iconic one on this list in Calvin Johnson's "Megatron." His powerful leg warranted the recognition. 

If you ever watched Trotter play, you likely saw him celebrate at one point by swinging a fake axe following a sack. He grew up on a Texas farm where chopping wood was routine. With that background and his ensuing celebration, the moniker just made perfect sense. 

Slash isn't just the guitarist in Guns N' Roses; it's also the clever label given to Stewart as a rookie with the Steelers. He came into the league as a multi-position prospect, playing quarterback, receiver, and running back. On the depth chart, he was listed as "QB/RB/WR," which led a radio commentator to call him "Slash," a nickname that stuck. 

Sometimes a nickname makes too much sense. Being the star quarterback in the Big Apple, it's only fitting that his pseudonym would reference the town that he owned. Namath remains an all-time great in the city's sports scene and one that never shied from the bright lights. That's actually where the term first came from as a teammate of his first coined "Broadway Joe" following his appearance on the Sports Illustrated cover. 

With a nickname like Rocket, you'd better be fast. Ismail was certainly that as he actually earned the persona not on the gridiron, but on the track. His high school track coach is credited with the name, which eventually usurped his first name with NFL fans.