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Top 25 NFL Player Nicknames Of All-Time

By Neal Lynch

Nov 8, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) reacts with guard Senio Kelemete (65) after throwing a touchdown pass against the Tennessee Titans in the fourth quarter of their game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Titans won, 34-28, in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 8, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) reacts with guard Senio Kelemete (65) after throwing a touchdown pass against the Tennessee Titans in the fourth quarter of their game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Titans won, 34-28, in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports /
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#17. “The Nigerian Nightmare” Christian Okoye

The Nigerian-born Okoye was a nightmare to tackle, standing at 6 feet 1 inch and weighing in at 253 pounds. The Kansas City Chiefs second round draft pick out of Azusa Pacific led the league in rushing in 1989, which got him Pro Bowl honors and First-Team All-Pro status. Okoye ended his career being the Chiefs all-time rushing leader and currently sits at fourth all-time on KC’s franchise leaderboard, two spots above Marcus Allen and one below Larry Johnson. For anyone who’s played Tecmo Super Bowl, you know that Christian is virtually impossible to tackle, but is often injured. He was inducted into the Chiefs Hall of Fame in 2000.

Sep 14, 2014; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills former quarterback Jim Kelly salutes the crowd during a tribute to Ralph Wilson before the game between the Buffalo Bills and the Miami Dolphins at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 14, 2014; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills former quarterback Jim Kelly salutes the crowd during a tribute to Ralph Wilson before the game between the Buffalo Bills and the Miami Dolphins at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports /

#16. Jim “Machine Gun” Kelly

The 5-time Pro Bowler and Hall of Famer earned his nickname by operating the K-Gun offense, a fast-paced, no-huddle system that most defenses in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s just couldn’t stop. The handle is based on the Memphis gangster Machine Gun Kelly whose real name was George Barnes, Jr. and whose favorite weapon was the Thomas submachine gun. Kind of fitting that Kelly’s backfield mate was Thurman Thomas, huh? Jim led the league in QB rating in 1990, passing touchdowns in 1991, and game-winning drives in ‘88 and ‘93. If you’ve never seen his poster, it’s oozing with machismo.

Jul 26, 2014; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals free safety Tyrann Mathieu (32) waves to fans during training camp at University of Phoenix. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 26, 2014; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals free safety Tyrann Mathieu (32) waves to fans during training camp at University of Phoenix. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /

#15. “The Honey Badger” Tyrann Mathieu

The Arizona Cardinals third round draft pick in 2013 got his nickname in 2011 as a member of the LSU Tigers for his fearless, tenacious play. Why Honey Badger? Well, probably because of this viral video titled “The Crazy Nasty@ss Honey Badger”, which humorously documented how the animal “don’t care” and does what it wants. Mathieu’s blond streak of hair matched up with the badger’s topside and history was made. After a rocky first two seasons in the NFL, Mathieu was a First-Team All-Pro and Pro Bowler in 2015, collecting five picks, and 80 solo tackles.

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