Best Player Nicknames

1. Kyle Shanahan, Super Bowl LI

1. "Nigerian Nightmare"

Christian Okoye

Our top choice goes to an unlikely player of Nigerian decent. The 6' 1", 253 pound Chiefs running back terrorized defenses with his unusual speed and jolting power. In his injury shortened six year career Okoye amassed 40 touchdowns.

2. Bill Callahan, Super Bowl XXXVII

2. "Hacksaw"

Jack Reynolds

This two-time Pro-Bowler played 15 seasons at middle linebacker for the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers. He has three Super Bowl rings in three appearances.

3. Asante Samuel, Super Bowl XLII

3. "Pot Roast"

Terrance Knighton

The Jaguars and Broncos defensive tackle gained his nickname from his teammates for obvious reasons.

4. Wes Welker, Super Bowl XLVI

4. "Pork Chop"

Floyd Womack

OWomack, dubbed "Pork Chop", played for 11 seasons with the Browns, Cardinals and Seahawks. The nickname requires no particular explanation.

5. John Kasay, Super Bowl XXXVIII

5. "Toast"

Elvis Patterson

WThis 10 year cornerback earned his unflattering nickname from Giants coach Bill Parcells who thought "Toast" was "burned" by receivers too many times. Despite the nickname he earned a Super Bowl ring with the Giants in Super Bowl XXI and another with the Cowboys in Super Bowl XXVIII.

6. Jackie Smith, Super Bowl XIII

6. "Booger"

Anthony McFarland

McFarland gained, and fully accepted his nickname "Booger" while playing football as a youth. This effective defensive tackle played nine seasons for the Buccaneers and Colts.

7. Donovan McNabb, Super Bowl XXXIX

7. "Refridgerator"

William Perry

This brawling 6' 2", 350 pound mammoth Chicago defensive tackle clogged the middle in the Bears famed '85 defense collecting 506 tackles in 10 seasons. He rushed for three touchdowns while playing fullback in goal line situations.

8. Hank Baskett, Super Bowl XLIV

8. "Night Train"

Dick Lane

Lane was a walk-on to the Los Angeles Rams camp in 1952. This cornerback held the record for interceptions in a season (14) for 60 years and was one of the hardest hitting defenders of all-time.

9. E. Robinson, Falcons

9. "Ironhead"

Craig Heyward

Saints running back Heyward earned his nickname from his brash, powerful running style and wide body. He averaged 4.2 yards per carry in his 11 year NFL career.

9. E. Robinson, Falcons

10. "Ickey"

Elbert Woods

This Running Back acquired his nickname while leading the Bengals to the Super Bowl in his rookie season in 1988 when he scored 15 Touchdowns and averaged 5.3 yards per carry. His is known for his trademark touchdown dance "The Ickey Shuffle".

9. E. Robinson, Falcons

11. "Concrete Charlie"

Chuck Bednarik

This Hall of Fame linebacker/center was one of the last NFL players to play the whole game on offense and defense. His famous, and then legal, clothesline tackle of Frank Gifford knocked Gifford out cold and kept him out of football for a year and a half.

9. E. Robinson, Falcons

12. "Snacks"

Damon Harrison

pro football sidekick

Since 2011

Best player nicknames

1. Kyle Shanahan, Super Bowl LI

1. "Nigerian Nightmare"

Our top choice goes to an unlikely player of Nigerian decent. The 6' 1", 253 pound Chiefs running back terrorized defenses with his unusual speed and jolting power. In his injury shortened six year career Okoye amassed 40 touchdowns.

2. Bill Callahan, Super Bowl XXXVII

2. "Hacksaw"

This two-time Pro-Bowler played 15 seasons at middle linebacker for the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers. He has three Super Bowl rings in three appearances.

3. Asante Samuel, Super Bowl XLII

3. "Pot Roast"

The Jaguars and Broncos defensive tackle gained his nickname from his teammates for obvious reasons.

4. Wes Welker, Super Bowl XLVI

4. "Pork Chop"

OWomack, dubbed "Pork Chop", played for 11 seasons with the Browns, Cardinals and Seahawks. The nickname requires no particular explanation.

5. John Kasay, Super Bowl XXXVIII

5. "Toast"

WThis 10 year cornerback earned his unflattering nickname from Giants coach Bill Parcells who thought "Toast" was "burned" by receivers too many times. Despite the nickname he earned a Super Bowl ring with the Giants in Super Bowl XXI and another with the Cowboys in Super Bowl XXVIII.

6. Jackie Smith, Super Bowl XIII

6. "Booger"

McFarland gained, and fully accepted his nickname "Booger" while playing football as a youth. This effective defensive tackle played nine seasons for the Buccaneers and Colts.

7. Donovan McNabb, Super Bowl XXXIX

7. "Refridgerator"

This brawling 6' 2", 350 pound mammoth Chicago defensive tackle clogged the middle in the Bears famed '85 defense collecting 506 tackles in 10 seasons. He rushed for three touchdowns while playing fullback in goal line situations.

8. Hank Baskett, Super Bowl XLIV

8. "Night Train"

Lane was a walk-on to the Los Angeles Rams camp in 1952. This cornerback held the record for interceptions in a season (14) for 60 years and was one of the hardest hitting defenders of all-time.

9. E. Robinson, Falcons

9. "Ironhead"

Saints running back Heyward earned his nickname from his brash, powerful running style and wide body. He averaged 4.2 yards per carry in his 11 year NFL career.

9. E. Robinson, Falcons

10. "Ickey"

This Running Back acquired his nickname while leading the Bengals to the Super Bowl in his rookie season in 1988 when he scored 15 Touchdowns and averaged 5.3 yards per carry. His is known for his trademark touchdown dance "The Ickey Shuffle".

9. E. Robinson, Falcons

11. "Concrete Charlie"

This Hall of Fame linebacker/center was one of the last NFL players to play the whole game on offense and defense. His famous, and then legal, clothesline tackle of Frank Gifford knocked Gifford out cold and kept him out of football for a year and a half.

9. E. Robinson, Falcons

12. "Snacks"

"Snacks" made his NFL debut with the Jets in 2012. At 339 pounds, the defensive tackle's name speaks for itself.