Discover the Fascinating Origins of All 32 NFL Team Names

Discover the Fascinating Origins of All 32 NFL Team Names

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. The History of NFL Team Names
   • 2.1 Chicago Cardinals
   • 2.2 Atlanta Falcons
   • 2.3 Baltimore Ravens
   • 2.4 Buffalo Bills
   • 2.5 Carolina Panthers
   • 2.6 Chicago Bears
   • 2.7 Cincinnati Bengals
   • 2.8 Cleveland Browns
   • 2.9 Dallas Cowboys
   • 2.10 Denver Broncos
   • 2.11 Detroit Lions
   • 2.12 Green Bay Packers
   • 2.13 Houston Texans
   • 2.14 Indianapolis Colts
   • 2.15 Jacksonville Jaguars
   • 2.16 Kansas City Chiefs
   • 2.17 Los Angeles Chargers
   • 2.18 Los Angeles Rams
   • 2.19 Miami Dolphins
   • 2.20 Minnesota Vikings
   • 2.21 New England Patriots
   • 2.22 New Orleans Saints
   • 2.23 New York Giants/Jets
   • 2.24 Las Vegas Raiders
   • 2.25 Philadelphia Eagles
   • 2.26 Pittsburgh Steelers
   • 2.27 San Francisco 49ers
   • 2.28 Seattle Seahawks
   • 2.29 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
   • 2.30 Tennessee Titans
   • 2.31 Washington Football Team
3. Controversy Surrounding NFL Team Names
4. Conclusion

The History of NFL Team Names

The National Football League (NFL) is known for its iconic team names that have become woven into the fabric of American sports culture. From the Chicago Cardinals to the Washington Football Team, each team's name has a unique story and history behind it. In this article, we will explore the origins and significance of the names of all the current NFL teams.

2.1 Chicago Cardinals

The Chicago Cardinals, now known as the Arizona Cardinals, got their name from the owner, Chris O'Brien, who purchased used maroon jerseys from the University of Chicago. The fans of the team started calling the color of the uniforms "cardinal red," thus giving the team its nickname. The team also adopted the cardinal bird as part of its logo in 1947.

2.2 Atlanta Falcons

When a professional football team was created in Atlanta, a local radio station sponsored a naming contest. The winning entry, submitted by Julia Elliott, was "Falcons." Elliott chose the name because she believed that falcons are proud, dignified, and have great courage and fight. The name also symbolized the city's great sporting tradition.

2.3 Baltimore Ravens

When Art Modell moved the Cleveland Browns to Baltimore in 1996, he attempted to buy back the team's nickname. However, he was unsuccessful, and a phone-in poll conducted by the Baltimore Sun newspaper was held to choose a new name. The two finalists were "Martyrs" and "Ravens." Ultimately, "Ravens" was chosen as a reference to Edgar Allan Poe's famous poem. Poe died and was buried in Baltimore.

2.4 Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills, originally an All-American Football Conference team, held a fan contest in 1947 to rename the team. The winning entry was "Bills," which is a reference to the famous frontiersman Buffalo Bill Cody.

2.5 Carolina Panthers

The nickname "Panthers" for Carolina's NFL franchise was chosen by Mark Richardson, the team president and son of the franchise owner. He also picked out the team's color scheme of blue, silver, and black. Richardson chose the nickname to represent the characteristics of panthers, such as pride, strength, and agility.

2.6 Chicago Bears

When former football star George Halas purchased the Chicago Staleys in 1922, he wanted to change the team's nickname. Since the team was going to play home games at Wrigley Field, along with the Major League Baseball's Chicago Cubs, he decided to continue with the theme and name the team the Chicago Bears.

2.7 Cincinnati Bengals

Paul Brown, the owner, general manager, and head coach of Cincinnati's AFL expansion franchise, chose the Bengals nickname in honor of the Bengals football team that played in Cincinnati between 1937 and 1942. The name represents strength, agility, and the city's football tradition.

2.8 Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns' nickname came from fan contests in 1945. It was either based on the "Brown Bomber" nickname for boxer Joe Louis or in honor of Paul Brown, the team's first coach and general manager. Paul Brown initially wanted the name to be the Cleveland Panthers, but it was already owned by a businessman in the area.

2.9 Dallas Cowboys

Dallas's NFL franchise began play in 1960 but initially did not have a name. The team was originally going to be called the "Steers," but the general manager, Texas Schramm, didn't want the team to be known as "castrated cattle." The name "Rangers" was considered next, but it might confuse people with a local minor league baseball team. Finally, the name "Cowboys" was chosen before the 1960 season began.

2.10 Denver Broncos

When Denver's newly formed AFL team held a "name the team" contest in 1960, the winning entry was "Broncos." The name was submitted with a 25-word essay by George Richards, a radio station executive. The name represents the wild horses that are native to the region.

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