6 Fascinating Stories Behind the Names of Six NFL Teams
Have you ever seen any pirates while spending time in Tampa Bay? In all probably, you have not. The regional pirate legends influenced the team becoming the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A special board reviewed 400 team name options, before settling on “Buccaneers.” Each NFL has a story behind its name. While the origin of some names is self-explanatory, others are more storied or obscure:
1. Chicago Bears
In 1921, the Decatur Staleys moved to Chicago, Illinois. Chicago already had a baseball team named the cubs. So owner George Halas chose “Bears” instead, as football is a much more rugged sport than baseball is.
A man named Paul Brown served as the Browns’ first head coach and general manager. The original Browns team later moved to Baltimore (1996), becoming the Baltimore Ravens. Three years later (1999), a new Cleveland Browns emerged as an NFL expansion team.
3. Indianapolis Colts
The Miami Seahawks relocated to Baltimore, Maryland, in 1946. A man named Charles Evans won a name-the-team contest, by choosing the name “Colts.” Maryland is renowned for its racehorses, so why did Evans choose the term that refers to a young male horse? His argument was that the Baltimore football team would be the youngest team in the league. Furthermore, he noted that “Colts” was easy to say and include in the headlines of newspapers. When the team moved to Indianapolis in 1984, it kept the name.
4. Atlanta Falcons
The city of Atlanta, Georgia is not renowned for falcons. So, how was the team named after the regal bird? A teacher named Julia Elliot won a name-the-team contest for the new NFL team. Elliot noted that various adjectives accurately described the falcon:
• courage
• deadly
• dignified
• proud
• sporting
Thus, the new Atlanta NFL team would take off as the Falcons.
5. Green Bay Packers
The story behind the Packers’ name is certainly one of the most fascinating ones in the NFL. George Calhoun and Earl “Curly” Lambeau once talked in passing about forming a new football team. Within time, the idea became a reality. The employer of Lambeau, the Indian Packing Company, agreed to sponsor the team. They provided jerseys, football equipment, and a practice field. Due to the company’s contributions for launching the team, the name “Packers” was born.
6. Tennessee Titans
The Titans were figures in the mythology of ancient Greece, so how did they become linked to an Nfl Football team? After the team moved from Houston to Tennessee, the owner announced that the team would have a new nickname. He revealed that “Titans” was chosen because the Tennessee’s city Nashville was nicknamed the “Athens of the South.” During the 5th century B.C., Athens became ancient Greece’s primary city.
What is in a name? Regardless of the NFL team for which you cheer, knowing the team’s name will provide you with a better appreciation for the squad. Use official NFL merchandise to cheer on your favorite NFL team-whether it is the Bucs, Browns, or Bengals!
About the Author
Rick Grantham is an avid NFL fan. Most of Rick’s articles focus on
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Merchandise
. Many articles are related to
NFL shopping
and other sports related topics. Rick is a contributing author to BooYah Village
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