The following are nicknames throughout the history of the National Football League (NFL).
Nicknames for entire teams, or whole offensive or defensive units.
Ain'ts: Nickname given to the New Orleans Saints after their 1980 season of 14 consecutive losses. The name persisted somewhat as, although they would later qualify for the playoffs several times since then, they did not win a playoff game until their defeat of the defending Super Bowl champion Rams in the Wild Card round of the 2000–01 playoffs. The franchise subsequently won four additional playoff games, defeating the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2007 Divisional Round, the Arizona Cardinals and the Minnesota Vikings in the 2009 Divisional Round and NFC Championship, and the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV. The recent run of success has changed the meaning of the "Ain'ts" (or "Aints") term from a negative to a positive, connotating the image of an unbreakable barrier to opponents of the Saints (i.e., "You Ain't Beating New Orleans"). The negative use of the term is still used by fans of NFL teams that typically play against New Orleans, usually by their division rivals' Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers fans.
Air Coryell: Nickname given to the high powered passing offenses of the mid-1970s St. Louis Cardinals coached by Don Coryell, though more often used to refer to the late-1970s/early-1980s San Diego Chargers offense.
America's Team: Nickname given to the Dallas Cowboys for having a large number of fans outside its immediate local area. (The term itself is likely derived from the title of the team's 1978 highlight film.)
Bay of Pigs: Nickname given to matchups of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Green Bay Packers by ESPN anchor Chris Berman from the mid-1980s through the early 1990s, when both teams hovered at the bottom of the NFC Central division. (The term is derived from the disastrous Bay of Pigs invasion of 1961.)
Big Blue: An abridged version of the New York Giants nickname Big Blue Wrecking Crew
Big Blue Wrecking Crew: Name of the New York Giants defensive team during the 1980s and into the early 1990s. This defense is considered one of the greatest of all time, and is perhaps the greatest 3–4 defense in NFL history.
Bills West: The 2001 San Diego Chargers, so named because of the signing of the Buffalo Bills' former general manager, John Butler, along with several Buffalo Bills players, including quarterback Doug Flutie.
Bird Gang: Name of the Arizona Cardinals, coined by Darnell Dockett.
Blitz, Inc.: Name of the Philadelphia Eagles defensive team in the 1999–2004 seasons.
Blitzburgh: Name of the Pittsburgh Steelers defensive unit since the mid-1990s and their tendency to relentlessly attack opposing quarterbacks.
Bolts: Nickname for the San Diego Chargers
Bull Elephant backfield: running backs of the 1950s Rams: Dick Hoerner, Paul "Tank" Younger, and "Deacon" Dan Towler.
Bulls on Parade: Refers to the Houston Texans defense, starting in the 2011 season. After the hiring of Wade Phillips, the defense went from almost last ranked in the NFL to ranked second at the end of the 2011 season, winning the AFC South for the first time and reaching the post-season for the first time in franchise history. The name is taken from the Rage Against The Machine song of the same name.
Bungles: Name referring to the Cincinnati Bengals teams of the 1990s and 2000s, whose string of losing seasons with records 8–8 or worse spanned 14 consecutive years in addition to numerous draft busts. Name also used for any failing Cincinnati Bengals team thereafter.
Capital Punishment nickname of the Washington Redskins' defensive line.
Cardiac Cardinals (Cards): the St. Louis Cardinals NFC East championship teams of 1974 (10–4) and '75 (11–3). Noted for their come-from-behind wins under their head coach, Don Coryell. The name was resurrected for the 1998 team that upset Dallas in the wild card game.
Cardiac Cats: The Carolina Panthers of the late 1990s and early 2000s, derived from the St. Louis Cardinals' 1970s "Cardiac Cards" nickname. Known for close games often decided in the final minutes or the final play, thus giving their fans heart attacks; the term was used particularly during the team's 2003 Super Bowl season when they led the league in comeback wins. The Jacksonville Jaguars also earned this nickname in the late 1990s after pulling off last minute wins, especially during the 1996 season. Most recently dubbed for the 2009–2010 Cincinnati Bengals for their astounding eight regular season games that were decided in the final minute of play. Carson Palmer led seven game tying/winning drives in the final 5:00 of those games (one in overtime against the Cleveland Browns), losing only two of those eventually to the Denver Broncos on the "Immaculate Deflection" and the San Diego Chargers.
Cardiac Jags: the Jacksonville Jaguars earned this nickname because of making several comeback wins and/or winning nail-biters.
Cowgirls: Dallas Cowboys, by detractors, referring to the team's cheerleaders
Cowpies: Dallas Cowboys, by detractors, refers to cow excrement
Crunch Bunch: The 1981–83 New York Giants linebacking corps noted for their hard-hitting play and for generating many quarterback sacks, Lawrence Taylor in particular. Mario Sestito of Troy, New York is credited with coining the name after a NY Giants newsletter at the time called 'Inside Football' held a contest to name this defensive unit, consisting of Taylor, Harry Carson, Brian Kelley, and Brad Van Pelt.
Da Bears: Slang nickname given to the Chicago Bears made popular by the Bill Swerski's Superfans sketches of the early 1990s on Saturday Night Live. Sometimes used to retroactively refer to the 1985 Bears.
The Deadskins: Given to the Washington Redskins squads under Daniel Snyder ownership for the team's poor performances, particularly during the 2000s.
Death on Wings: The Baltimore Ravens defeat teams as if their opponents' deaths were on the wings of a bird that was attacking them.
Dirty Birds: The 1998 Atlanta Falcons (but is still a nickname for the Falcons). The name originates from an end zone dance started by Jamal Anderson that was adopted by all the players upon scoring.
Dome Patrol: The 1980s Saints linebacking corps, rated as #1 by NFL Network. This all star group included Rickey Jackson, Sam Mills, Pat Swilling, and Vaughan Johnson. The linebacker corps made NFL history as having all four elected to the same Pro Bowl.
Dolts: Derisive name given whenever the Indianapolis Colts or San Diego Chargers (whose nickname is the "Bolts") had a bad team.
Donkeys: Derisive name for the Denver Broncos.
Doomsday Defense: The 1970s Dallas Cowboys defensive team. Doomsday I, the unit that led the Cowboys to victory in Super Bowl VI, was anchored by future Pro Football Hall of Fame members Herb Adderley, Bob Lilly, and Mel Renfro, while Doomsday II, which spearheaded the drive to the title in Super Bowl XII, featured Hall of Famer Randy White and fellow defensive linemen Harvey Martin and Ed "Too Tall" Jones.
Earth, Wind, and Fire: 2008 New York Giants running back trio of Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward, and Ahmad Bradshaw
Electric Company: The 1970s Buffalo Bills offensive line. They were given that name because they "turned on the 'Juice'" by paving the way for star halfback O.J. Simpson, who was nicknamed "Juice", because a common nickname for orange juice is also O.J.
Evil Empire: Name associating the New England Patriots dynasty of the 2000s. Coach Bill Bellichick was deemed "evil" after the Spygate scandal 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.
Fearsome Foursome: The 1960s Los Angeles Rams defensive line.
Fort Knox: name given to the pass pocket created by the 1981 Buffalo Bills offensive line that allowed quarterback Joe Ferguson to throw deep (it allowed him to set a career record in passing yardage that season); the name was a play on the name of Bills head coach Chuck Knox.
Forty Whiners: Referencing the fans of the San Francisco 49ers who often complain, as well as coach Jim Harbaugh who has a reputation of whining on the sidelines during games or during post game press conferences.
Fourth Down Army: The Indianapolis Colts special teams unit since 2013
G Men: Nickname of the New York Giants.
Gang Green: Nickname of the New York Jets, or the Philadelphia Eagles defensive team from 1987 to 1990, when the team was coached by Buddy Ryan.
Greatest Show on Turf: The 1999–2001 St. Louis Rams offensive team. (Note: The first team referred to as "The Greatest Show on Turf" was the 1992 Houston Oilers, the title of their 1993 NFL Films highlight film. The Oilers employed the wide-open run-and-shoot offense.)
Gridbirds: Nickname for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1960 until their move to Arizona in 1988. A play on "gridiron" and "Redbirds", a common nickname for the baseball team of the same name with which they shared the city. The names were coincidental; the football Cardinals had the nickname in Chicago before moving to St. Louis, where the baseball team already existed.
Gritz Blitz: Nickname for the 1977 Atlanta Falcons defense that allowed the fewest points per game (9.2) in NFL history. The Gritz Blitz defense consisted of defensive tackles Jim Bailey and Mike Lewis, defensive ends Claude Humphrey and Jeff Merrow, cornerbacks Rick Byas, and Rolland Lawrence, safeties Ray Brown and Ray Easterling, and linebackers Greg Brezina, Fulton Kuykendall, Ralph Ortega, and Robert Pennywell.
Ground Chuck: Nickname for the Los Angeles Rams, Buffalo Bills and Seattle Seahawks teams coached by Chuck Knox (playing off his first name and his team's conservative, ball-control offense).
Homeland Defense: Nickname for the New England Patriots defense during their runs to Super Bowl XXXVIII and XXXIX.
Hogs: The Washington Redskins' offensive line, considered one of the largest and strongest in football history, originally consisting of Joe Jacoby, Russ Grimm, Mark May, George Starke, and Jeff Bostic.
Jet Blue: New York Giants wide receivers corp in the early 2010s comprising Steve Smith, Hakeem Nicks, and Mario Manningham.
Jokeland: Derisive name applied to the Oakland Raiders whenever they had a poor performance.
Kardiac Kids: The 1980 Cleveland Browns, who had a penchant for having games decided in the final moments.
Kelly Gun/K-Gun: Buffalo Bills' no-huddle offense when Jim Kelly was their quarterback. Named after Kelly and TE Keith McKeller. It was a success (four consecutive Super Bowl appearances) due to teams not being able to sub in their players in a timely fashion due to the quickness of the offense. They had their own version of the Run & Shoot Offense with Thurman Thomas in the backfield as their tailback along with Don Beebe and Andre Reed as their receivers.
The Killer Bees: The 1982 Miami Dolphins defensive team; six of their 11 starters had last names that began with the letter "B" (Bob Baumhower, Bill Barnett, Lyle Blackwood, Kim Bokamper, Glenn Blackwood, Charles Bowser, Doug Betters, and Bob Brudzinski). They allowed only 131 points in the strike-shortened, nine-game regular season.
The Killer B's: Three members of the Pittsburgh Steelers, consisting of Ben Roethlisberger, Le'Veon Bell, Antonio Brown, and sometimes Chris Boswell. Name was first used during the 2016 NFL season.
Legion of Boom: The dominant secondary of the Seattle Seahawks, consisting of 2013 All-Pro safety tandem Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor as well as the league's largest set of corners in 6'1" Byron Maxwell and 6'3" All-Pro Richard Sherman. The nickname refers to the physical play of a unit typified by "booming" hits. Their name can be attributed to the group of DC comic villains [Legion of Doom] who battled the Superfriends.
Marty Ball: Coach Marty Schottenheimer's football strategy.
Mile High No Fly Zone: Self-named defense for the 2015 Denver Broncos. It refers to the team's All-Pro Secondary that included Chris Harris Jr. and Aqib Talib, combined with a top of the league pass rush led by Super Bowl 50 MVP Von Miller. Wade Phillips 3-4 defense led the league in most defensive categories and was wisely considered the best of the NFL.
Million Dollar Backfield was given to two historical backfields. It was first used to refer to the backfield of the then–Chicago Cardinals in 1947 after owner Charles Bidwill spent an unprecedented amount of money to lure several of the era's top players to the team. The term was resurrected again in 1954 for the backfield of the San Francisco 49ers, which would go on to produce four Hall of Famers.
Monsters of the Midway: Originally applied to the Chicago Bears of the early 1940s, but revived for the 1980s Bears and subsequent successful Bears defensive teams. Originally used for the University of Chicago Maroons college football team. "Midway" was the name of the park on campus.
Mob Squad: Nickname for the Los Angeles Rams defense, originally a t-shirt worn by defensive tackle Aaron Donald the term has since caught on for the Rams defense.
New York Sack Exchange: The New York Jets defense of the early 1980s, led by defensive end Mark Gastineau along with Joe Klecko, and interior linemen Marty Lyons and Abdul Salaam. Fans began showing up at Shea Stadium with "NY Sack Exchange" signs, then the team itself began to promote that moniker. Name references the New York Stock Exchange on New York's Wall Street.
No-Name Defense: The 1970s Miami Dolphins defensive team, especially that of its undefeated 1972 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.
Orange Crush: The 1970s Denver Broncos defensive team, led by defensive end Lyle Alzado and linebacker Randy Gradishar.
Over-the-Hill Gang: The George Allen–coached Washington Redskins of the early 1970s, 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 1966–1970.
Patsies: Poorly performing New England Patriots squads, a play on the nickname "The Pats".
Pewter Pirates: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, after changing team logo and colors in 1997.
Purple Pain: This Baltimore Ravens nickname stems from the team's color, purple, and implies that their defense is so powerful that it is painful. It is also an allusion to the movie and song "Purple Rain".
Purple People Eaters: The 1970s Minnesota Vikings defensive line, specifically the combination of Alan Page, Jim Marshall, Carl Eller, and Gary Larsen. The name is a reference to both the purple uniforms of the Vikings and the 1958 Sheb Wooley song "Purple People Eater."
Purple Murder: The Baltimore Ravens' color is purple. 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.
Riptide Rush: The Baltimore Ravens have a fast and strong pass rush that can sack and hurry quarterbacks very well. Riptide Rush is a flavor of purple Gatorade. Purple is the Ravens' main color.
Sack City: The Kansas City Chiefs 2013 defense led by Justin Houston and company.
Sack Pack: The defensive line of the Baltimore Colts in the mid-to-late 1970s. The Sack Pack were defensive tackles Joe Ehrmann (#76) and Mike Barnes (#63) and defensive ends Fred Cook (#72) and John Dutton (#78). In 1975, the Sack Pack established itself with 59 sacks. It had 56 the following year and 47 in 1977 before slowing down due to injuries.
San Diego Super Chargers: Nickname given to the San Diego Chargers from its fight song. The song is often cited by Chris Berman and Tom Jackson.
Steel Curtain: Nickname given to the defensive line of the 1970s Pittsburgh Steelers, the backbone of a dominant defense. The nickname was a play on the phrase Iron Curtain during the height of the Cold War.
Seagulls, Sea Slugs or Sea Chickens: Name that is often uttered by various articles when referring to the Seahawks in a derogatory way. Also, fans sometimes might call the team this nickname when they do poorly during games.
Sons of Anarchy: The New York Jets defensive line of the early 2010s consisting of Muhammad Wilkerson, Damon Harrison, and Sheldon Richardson
Soul Patrol: used for the Oakland Raiders defensive backfield of the 1970s
SWAT team: Name of the Cincinnati Bengals' secondary of David Fulcher, Solomon Wilcots, Eric Thomas, and Lewis Billups coached by Defensive Coordinator Dick LeBeau during the 1988 season.
Three Amigos: Denver Broncos wide receivers Mark Jackson, Vance Johnson, and Ricky Nattiel
The Triplets: Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin and Emmitt Smith, the offensive stars of the 1990s Dallas Cowboys three-time Super Bowl winning teams
Vagiants: Pejorative portmanteau referring to the New York Giants as vaginas
Yucks (or "Yuccaneers"): The Tampa Bay Buccaneers from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s when the team commonly posted double-digit losses during the regular season. On November 17, 1996, the "Yuccaneers" term was used during the ESPN pregame show prior to a game at the Chargers. Tampa Bay erased a 14-0 deficit to win 25–17.
Nicknames for individual players, or small groups of individual players.
Janoris Jenkins Jackrabbit
The Big Crabcake given to M&T Bank Stadium by announcers for the Baltimore, Maryland area being known for its love of seafood, particularly Maryland crabs and crab cakes
Big Sombrero: Nickname given to Tampa Stadium, first home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, so named because of its curved outline that resembled the brim of a sombrero. Raymond James Stadium, the Buccaneers' home since 1998, was christened The New Sombrero by ESPN anchor Chris Berman.
Black Hole: Name of the section behind the south end zone at Oakland Coliseum, home of the Oakland Raiders, known for having some of the most rabid fans in the NFL.
City of Brotherly Hate: Nickname given by NFL.com to fans of the Philadelphia Eagles, particularly after the team's underperformance during the 2011 season, for the fanbase's notorious discontent. The name is a play on the "city of brotherly love", the English translation of the city of Philadelphia's (Greek) name.
The Clink: A play on the name of CenturyLink Field, home of the Seattle Seahawks.
Dawg Pound: Name of the bleacher section behind the east end zone in Cleveland Browns Stadium, also known for having one of the most loyal fans in the NFL. The name was originally applied to the same section of Cleveland Municipal Stadium, which formerly stood on the site.
The Factory of Sadness: FirstEnergy Stadium, home of the Cleveland Browns. Coined in a YouTube video by comedian Mike Polk Jr. after a 30-12 loss to the Houston Texans on Nov. 7, 2011. The nickname is additionally used as the name of a Browns fan site
FedEx name based on FedExField where the Washington Redskins play
Frozen Tundra (of Lambeau Field): Nickname given to the home field of the Green Bay Packers. The phrase was allegedly first uttered by NFL Films narrator John Facenda as he described the 1967 NFL Championship Game, or "Ice Bowl", during which Lambeau's undersoil heating system failed and the field froze. However, Steve Sabol of NFL Films denies that Facenda used the phrase; it is thought that an impersonation of Facenda by Chris Berman popularized the phrase. Without a heating system, the severe winter climate of Green Bay, Wisconsin would frequently cause the field to freeze. (The name itself is redundant, since, by definition, all tundra is frozen.)
House of Pain: House of Pain was used to refer to the Houston Astrodome during NFL games played by the Houston Oilers. 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.
Peanut Heaven: The orange-colored seats in the upper decks of Pittsburgh's Three Rivers Stadium.
JerryWorld: AT&T Stadium, named after Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. See stadium's article for full list of current nicknames.
The Jungle: The nickname for Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati and also at the Bengals current home. The name largely derived in the 1980s from the Guns 'N' Roses' song "Welcome to the Jungle". The Bengals are also known for the "Who Dey" chant. The "Jungle" name has since applied other teams' stadiums with similar mascots.
The Linc: Nickname for Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
The Q: A nickname for Qualcomm Stadium, home of the San Diego Chargers. The stadium was also nicknamed "The Murph" after its original name of Jack Murphy Stadium.
Ralph: Ralph Wilson Stadium, home of the Buffalo Bills.
Razor: New England Patriots stadium Gillette Stadium.
Rockpile: The seating section underneath the scoreboard at Ralph Wilson 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 Rich Stadium) which was referred to locally as "The Rockpile".
The Swamp: Giants Stadium's nickname in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The 'Stick: Common nickname for Candlestick Park in San Francisco.
700 Level: The notorious upper levels of the former Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia between 1971 and 2002. This section was infamous for brawls between Philadelphia Eagles fans and those of visiting teams, especially Cowboys fans.
Titletown: Referring to both the city of Green Bay, Wisconsin and the 13-time NFL champion Packer teams, including those of legendary coaches Vince Lombardi and Curly Lambeau.
The Vault: Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. Home of the Carolina Panthers.
The 12th Man/The 12's: Nickname given to the fans of the Seattle Seahawks because of the impact of their loud cheering on the opposing team's offensive linemen, leading to false start penalties. Since 1990, the Seahawks have had to pay licensing fees to Texas A&M University at College Station, because of the college filing a trademark on the phrase that year. Used to a lesser extent by the Buffalo Bills, also under license.
49ers Faithful: Nickname given to the fans of the San Francisco 49ers.
4th Phase: Fans of the Chicago Bears. Infers the fans are the 4th phase of the game, after Offense, Defense and Special Teams.
Big Easy Mafia: (Motivated Authentic Fans In Alliance) is a premier New Orleans Saints fan club that holds massive tailgate parties before every home game in front of the Superdome, and also meet up in numbers at a local venue for the away games. The popular costume wearing "Saints Superfans" are also a big part of this club, participating in charity events and fundraisers in and around New Orleans.
Bills Backers: Buffalo Bills fans. Because of the massive population displacement of Western New Yorkers, "Bills Backers Bars" can be found in almost every major city throughout the United States.
Bills Elvis: Entertainer and Elvis impersonator John R. Lang, who appears with a large white guitar that he uses as a billboard. He is one of the Bills' most recognizable individual fans.
Black Hole: Oakland Raiders fans who sit in a section of the Oakland Coliseum known as the 'black hole' (sections 104, 105, 106, and 107) which is mostly occupied by rowdy fans.
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.
Browns Backers: The fan club for the Cleveland Browns that has over 100,000 members
Cheeseheads: A name given to people of Wisconsin (mainly Green Bay Packers fans) by Chicago Bears fans after the Bears won the Super Bowl. The name mocks Wisconsin's love of cheese. The name eventually gained acceptance.
Chief Zee: Fan at nearly all Washington Redskins games since 1978 and considered the unofficial mascot of the team. He wears an Indian headdress, large rimmed glasses, with a red jacket and carries a tomahawk.
Fireman Ed: Fan at NY Jets home games who wore a green fireman helmet with a Jets logo on the front. 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.
Franco's Italian Army: Fans of Pittsburgh Steelers running back Franco Harris.
Gerela's Gorillas: Fans of Pittsburgh Steelers placekicker Roy Gerela.
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.
Never Miss a Super Bowl Club: An exclusive group, who have attended every Super Bowl game to date.
Niner Empire: Fans of the San Francisco 49ers. Due to the 49ers Super Bowl dynasty of the 1980s and part way into the 1990s.
Packer Backer: Fan of the Green Bay Packers. Sometimes used derisively by Bears fans.
Pinto Ron: Ken Johnson, a well-known fan of the Buffalo Bills known for appearing at all the Bills' home and away games, his bushy beard, his tailgating on a 1980 Ford Pinto (hence his name), and the infamous practice of serving shots of liquor out of a bowling ball, a practice that the league has since banned.
Redskins Nation: Fans of the Washington Redskins.
Raider Nation: Oakland 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".
Steeler Nation: Fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
SuperSkin: Die-hard fan of the Washington Redskins, who attends each home game dressed in a burgundy and gold superhero costume and motivates other fans to cheer loudly.
The Sea of Red: Nickname given to the loudest NFL fans of the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
Who Dat Nation: New Orleans Saints fans.
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:
Baugh/Marshall rule: A forward pass that struck the goal posts was automatically ruled incomplete. Enacted in 1946, it is named after Washington Redskins quarterback Sammy Baugh and team owner George Preston Marshall. In the previous year's NFL Championship Game, the Rams scored a safety when Baugh, throwing the ball from his own end zone, hit the goal posts (which were on the goal line between 1933 and 1973). The two points were the margin of victory as the Rams won 15–14. Marshall was so mad at the outcome that he was a major force in passing this rule change. (The rule is now mostly obsolete, as the goal posts are now on the end lines and thus out of the field of play.)
Bert Emanuel rule: The ball can touch the ground during a completed pass as long as the receiver maintains control of the ball. Enacted in 2000 due to a play in the 1999 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 2008 as a result of Spygate.
Brian Bosworth rule: Linebackers are allowed to wear jersey numbers between 40 and 49. 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 1933, forward passing became legal from anywhere behind the line of scrimmage. Enacted in response to a controversial call in the 1932 NFL Playoff Game, in which Nagurski completed a two-yard pass to Red Grange for the Chicago Bears' winning touchdown. 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 2010 in response to a play by Calvin Johnson, who caught the ball in the end zone, and placed it on the ground before standing up. This was ruled incomplete upon review, and upheld, though it generated a lot of discussion about what constituted a catch.
Carson Palmer rule: A rushing defensive player won't be allowed to forcibly hit a quarterback below the knees, unless they are blocked into. Enacted in the 2006 NFL season after Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer was injured in the 2005 AFC Wild Card game after he was hit below by Steelers defender Kimo von Oelhoffen, as well as similar injuries to the Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger and the Bucs' Brian Griese.
Dave Casper rule: See the "Ken Stabler" rule.
Deacon Jones rule: No head-slapping. Enacted in 1977 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. Enacted after Sanders signed with the Dallas Cowboys in 1995 for a minimum salary and a $13 million signing bonus. (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 2009 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 1997. 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 1965 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 1979. Pruitt purposely wore flimsy jerseys that ripped apart in the hands of would-be tacklers. Such a jersey was most infamously seen in a 1978 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 2009 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 1999, the rule states all calls for coin flips will occur before the referee tosses the coin in 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." In a Thanksgiving Day game with the Detroit Lions on November 26, 1998, Bettis was sent out as the Steelers' representative for the overtime coin toss. Bettis appeared to call "tails" while the coin was in the air but referee Phil Luckett declared that Bettis called "heads" and awarded possession to Detroit, who would go on to win the game before Pittsburgh had the chance to have possession.
Jim Schwartz rule: Modifying the "no-challenge" rule adopted prior to the 2012 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 2012 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. Under the revised rule teams will be charged a time-out (or an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty if the team is out of time-outs) when a coach throws a challenge flag on a booth-reviewable play, but the play will still be reviewed if the replay booth believes a review is necessary.
Justin Tucker rule: First named during the controversial Monday Night Football game between the Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots in Week 3 of the 2012 season (one of the most memorable games that took place during the 2012 NFL referee lockout), commonly referred to simply as the "Tucker Rule," and named after Baltimore kicker Justin Tucker, this rule states that if the ball is kicked directly over one of the posts during a field goal attempt, then the field goal is deemed good. This is, indeed, what happened during the game, as Tucker made a successful kick like this on the final play of the game.
Ken Stabler rule: On fourth down at any time in the game or any down in the final two minutes of a half, if a player fumbles forward, only the fumbling player can recover and/or advance the ball. If that player's teammate recovers the ball, it is placed back at the spot of the fumble. A defensive player can recover and advance at any time of play. Enacted in 1979 in response to the 1978 "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 1981 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 1956 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 use of hands, defensive backs can only make contact with receivers within five yards of the line of scrimmage. Enacted in its current form in 1978. 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. Enacted in 1978. 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 75-yard touchdown.
NaVorro Bowman rule: Enacted in 2014, 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. Enacted in 1998. Smith had frequently used that technique while playing for both the Kansas City Chiefs and the Denver Broncos.
Odell Beckham, Jr. rule: Any player who accumulates two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in a game is automatically ejected. 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 2015 season. The rule, as enacted for 2016, would not have applied to Beckham.
Phil Dawson rule: Certain field goals can be reviewed by instant replay, including kicks that bounce off the uprights. Under the previous system, no field goals could be replayed. Enacted in 2008 in response to an unusual field goal by the Cleveland Browns kicker in a 2007 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. 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 1925.
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. Enacted in 2003. 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. Enacted in 2003. Pittsburgh Steelers owner Rooney was a major proponent of such a change.
Roy Williams rule: No horse-collar tackles. Enacted in 2005 after the Dallas Cowboys safety broke Terrell Owens's ankle and Musa Smith's leg on horse-collar tackles during the previous season.
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 2007 after the San Diego Chargers linebacker played at the 2007 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 15-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. Enacted in 2009 in response to a play by Kansas City Chiefs safety Bernard Pollard, who on the ground sacked Brady and injured the Patriots quarterback's MCL and ACL, sidelining him for the rest of the 2008 season.
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. Enacted in 1977. Dempsey, who was born without toes on his right foot and no right arm, 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 63-yard field goal in 1970 was the longest in NFL history until the Denver Broncos' Matt Prater kicked a 64-yard field goal on December 8, 2013.
Ty Law rule (also known as the Rodney Harrison rule): Enacted in 2004, 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 2003 AFC championship game against the Indianapolis Colts.
Baltimore Triangle: The mid-field logo at M&T Bank Stadium of the Baltimore Ravens. It is named so because the mid-field shield logo of the Ravens is shaped like a triangle and their defense "makes offenses disappear" when opposing teams take snaps from that area.
Battle of the Bays: Nickname given to any game held between the Green Bay Packers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Battle of the Beltway: Nickname given to any game held between the Washington Redskins and the Baltimore Ravens.
Boise Rule: A rule instituted by the NFL in 2011 banning non-green playing surfaces. "Boise" refers to Albertsons Stadium (then known as Bronco Stadium), the home field of Boise State University, famous for its blue playing surface. The rule was viewed as a reaction to potential sponsor influence, as no NFL team had considered adopting a non-green surface.
The Duke: A nickname for the late Wellington Mara, longtime owner of the New York Giants. The nickname stems from the Duke of Wellington, an actual English hereditary title. This nickname was extended to the official game ball used by the NFL "The Duke" named in honor of Mr. Mara. To this day one can notice the moniker "THE DUKE." branded into every official NFL football just to the left of the NFL Shield. (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 1987 looked like John Wayne's.)
Harbaugh Bowl: Rare games when brothers John and Jim Harbaugh, both NFL head coaches, met as opponents, which included Super Bowl XLVII, the first Super Bowl in which brothers were opposing coaches. The games have also been given nicknames like the "HarBowl".
Ickey Shuffle: Dance done by Cincinnati Bengals running back Ickey Woods whenever he scored a touchdown. 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 1980s and early to mid-1990s.
Lambeau Leap: During home games at Lambeau Field, some players from the Green Bay Packers would leap into the stands after scoring a touchdown. Originally created by LeRoy Butler, it was made popular by Robert Brooks. Players in other stadiums imitate the leap.
The Legend of Kiko Alonso: Humorous anecdotes about linebacker Kiko Alonso, done in the style of Chuck Norris facts.
Lights out: Dance by linebacker Shawne Merriman after he gets a sack.
Manning Bowl: Rare games when quarterback brothers Peyton (formerly of the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos) and Eli Manning (New York Giants) met as opponents.
Miami Pound Machine: Nickname for the 1980s Miami Dolphins defense, named in honor of Gloria Estefan's group Miami Sound Machine. Gloria and her manager-husband Emilio Estefan would become minority owners of the Dolphins before the 2009 season.
Miami Vise: Also a Dolphins defense nickname, after the TV show Miami Vice.
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.
Sack Dance: New York Jets defensive end Mark Gastineau was nationally famous for doing his signature "Sack Dance" after sacking an opposing quarterback. However, he had to stop when the NFL declared it "unsportsmanlike taunting" in March 1984 and began fining players for it. The ban on the Sack Dance stemmed from a 1983 game against the Los Angeles Rams, when Gastineau and Rams Pro Football Hall of Fame offensive tackle Jackie Slater got into a fight following a Gastineau sack of Rams quarterback Vince Ferragamo.
Tebowing: A pose imitating Tim Tebow's stance when praying; Tebow, a devout Christian, is often seen in prayer. Tebow has been indifferent to those who have used the pose to mock him, but has praised those who have done it out of respect for his faith.
Terrible Towel: a banner conceived by the late Myron Cope (long time Steeler commentator) used by fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers to cheer for their team, consisting of a yellow towel with the words "Terrible Towel" in black, to be waved in the air. The Carolina Panthers also began a spin-off known as the "Growl Towel". Also spoofed by the Packers following their third Super Bowl victory as the "Title Towel". Similar traditions have also started in other sports, as Towel Power used by the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League and the Homer Hanky used by Major League Baseball's Minnesota Twins.
Derrick Thomas Rule: Because of the deceased player's Pro Football Hall of Fame induction included speeches by both the general manager of the Kansas City Chiefs and his son ran long, the Hall of Fame prohibits deceased players' family or teams from making speeches for the deceased member.
WGCL Rule: Each NFL team has 14 games assigned to the network within their conference, with the two interconference home games assigned to the network of the visiting team's conference. In theory, Fox should carry at least one game during the season featuring each of the 16 AFC teams, and CBS should carry at least one game of the season featuring each of the 16 NFC teams. The Atlanta Falcons had both home games against AFC teams (airing on CBS) moved to NBC and ESPN, respectively, which in effect hurt WGCL, the CBS affiliate in Atlanta. The NFL made television rule changes in 2014 to permit networks to "cross-flex" the games during the new flexible schedule rules to protect its affiliates, as WGCL has struggled in the Atlanta market against established network affiliates because of its former independent status prior to the 1994 television realignment (Atlanta is one of three major NFL markets where CBS was severely demoted in the 1994 realignment), was beaten handily by WAGA during the season in ratings. Ironically, WGCL was a station that benefited from such a cross-flex during the 2014 season, as the home game against the Carolina Panthers, a Fox game, was assigned to CBS. The Week 17 game, which was a winner take all game for the NFC South, was assigned to CBS so Fox could keep the NFC North games that had playoff implications.
