Can You Guess These NFL Team Names?

For Americans, the NFL is more than a sport. It become part of their life and culture. From T’s to TV shows, the NFL players rule the heart of each American. They will trade anything to get an NFL ticket and cheer up their favorite players and team. Besides, the scores and games, the 32 teams got more interesting facts and stories behind their names. Are you an NFL fan? Do you know the interesting stories behind the NFL team names? If not, read the blog for the brief history behind the football team names. 

What is the Super Bowl?

The Super Bowl is the annual championship football tournament in the United States. The American Football Conference(AFC) and the National Football Conference(NFC) are the two teams that take part in the Super Bowl. Besides other sports, Football is a popular game that has millions of fans in America, who wait for every Sunday afternoon to watch the event. People throw Super Bowl Parties or gather at social clubs to watch the show. As people spend more time together, the eateries get crowded and sell the lion’s share of chicken wings, pizzas, and gallons of beer on that day. 

32 NFL Team Names

American Football Conference (AFC)

AFC East 

Buffalo Bills 

The Buffalo Bills have the pride of playing four Super Bowls consecutively from 1990 to 1993. 

Originally, they were referred to as Bisons, however, the owner decided to change the name in 1947. When the contest was held, James F. Dyson won $500 for penning an essay comparing the teams to a band of Buffalos Bills. The name denotes Willian Buffalo Bill Cody, who put on a show called Buffalo Bill’s Wild West. Buffalo Bills is quite a dominant name among the NFL team names. 

Miami Dolphins 

Miami Owner Joe Robbie became fond of the name dolphin, as it is considered one of the fastest and smartest creatures in the sea. Swanson, who predicted the title in the follow-up contest won 2-lifetime tickets to home games. 20,000 members submitted their ideas, however, the term Dolphins alone gained 600 supporters in the contest. 

New England Patriots 

In the name-the-team contest, 74 members and the panel of sportswriters rooted for the Patriots. Minuteman and Colonials are the other optional names for the team. The crew picked Patriots to honor Boston’s role in founding the nation. The once-called Boston Patriots were changed after they relocated to New England. 

New York Jets 

Popularly known as Titans until 1963, the team called themselves Jets. they considered ‘Dodgers,’ ‘Gothams’ but the teammates disagreed with the name. However, the team finalized the name after their scheduled match in Shea Stadium, located near LaGuardia Airport.

AFC North 

Baltimore Ravens 

The term Raven rings a bell, right? Yes, the FC team is named after the reputed poem “The Raven,” written by Edgar Allen Poe. The author lived and died in Baltimore. When a poll was conducted 21,000 voters supported the name, Raven. The team owner associated the name with its historical connection to their community.

Cincinnati Bengals 

The fans came up with names like ‘Buckeyes,’ but the franchise opposed the name as it was already used in Ohio state. Finally the team owner and general manager Paul Brown decided ‘Bengals’ to tribute the previous football team with a similar name.

Cleveland Browns 

The Browns picked the name from its first coach and general manager–Paul Brown, one of the best NFL coaches of all time. When the Baltimore raised their voice, the team’s media claimed it was named after boxer Joe Louis whose nickname was Brown Bomber. Plus, the name received huge support even in the fan contest conducted by the team owner Mickey Mcbride. 

Pittsburgh Steelers 

The Pittsburgh team was initiated as the Pittsburgh Pirates by Arthur J Rooney in 1933. The owner changed the name with a renaming contest. Many name suggestions showered on the team but the term “Steelers” caught Rooney Sr’s attention. Joe who was working in a steel company suggested the name. The team stuck to the Steelers because of the steel production reputation. 

AFC South 

Houston Texans 

Almost six teams picked the Texans to add to their team names. Though they already had a few options like bobcats, Wildcatters, Apollos, and Stallions. Bob McNair, the owner of the team made a final decision and expressed his love towards both region Houston and Texas saying, “I’m proud to be a Houstonian, and I’m proud to be a Texan.” 

Indianapolis Colts 

The team began as a Miami Seahawks before relocating to Baltimore in 1946. In the naming contest, the “Colts” caught the team’s attention, which Charles Evans of Middle River suggested. 

Jacksonville Jaguars 

Similar to the other NFL teams, the Jaguars also selected its name through a naming contest in 1991. Sharks and stingrays are the other options for their team name. 

Tennessee Titans 

The franchise known as the ‘Houston Oilers’ entered the arena in 1960. Later the team moved to Tennessee and played for ‘Tennessee Oilers’ for two years. The owner Bud Adams considered the term ‘pioneer’ and formed a committee to decide the name. They chose ‘Titans’ as it sounded heroic, and reflected strength and power.

AFC West 

Denver Broncos 

When the name-the-team contest was held for the Denver team, nearly 162 fans came up with different ideas, but the 25 essays of Ward M. Vining on why should they add “Broncos” to their title won the contest. 

Kansas City Chiefs 

The team played as Dallas Texans until moving to Kansas. They are named after the city mayor H.Roe Bartle, who was also known as “The Chief.” Bartle was the one who helped the team move to Kansas. Chiefs are one the most liked names among the NFL team names. 

Las Vegas Raiders 

In 1960, Senor was selected for the team name. However, fans and media were against the idea. Chet Soda, the manager, and other investors held a naming contest again, and picked the term ‘Raiders.’ 

Los Angeles Chargers 

Gerald Courtney, the one who suggested the name chargers won a trip to Mexico City and Acapulco. The team owner Barron Hilton seemed to be fond of the name and didn’t go for another option. He chose the “Chargers” because the fans would shout charge during the game at the Coliseum. Later the team relocated to San Diego. 

National Football Conference (NFC)

NFC East 

Dallas Cowboys 

The cowboys founded in 1960 became popular as ‘America’s Team.’ ‘Rangers’ was the first choice decided by Clint Murchison. However, the baseball team also had the same name. The team’s president Tex Schramm changed it to ‘Cowboy.’ Unlike other teams, Dallas didn’t conduct any fan contests to choose a name.

New York Giants 

The Giants were a family-owned franchise founded by Tim Mara. The team chose The New York Football Giants to avoid confusion with the baseball team which played in New York before moving to San Francisco.

Philadelphia Eagles 

Bert Bell and Lud Wray purchased the rights of Frankford Yellowjackets. The owners decide to change the name to Eagles in honor of Franklin DeRoosevelt’s National Recovery Act

Washington Commanders 

The commander began their football journey as Boston Braves in 1932. After five years they moved to Washington D.C and settled there since then. Later Geroge Preston decided to change the name from Braves to Redskins. However, the team again changed its name to Washington Commander in 2022.

NFC North 

Chicago Bears 

In the beginning, the team was known as “The Staleys.” After the expiration of the agreement, the team was renamed to “the Bears.” Halas thought to name the team “Cubs.” Since the players looked taller and bigger, they chose ‘The Bears.’

Detroit Lions 

George A. Richards got the rights on this team and moved to Detriot in 1934. As the team wished to stay consistent as the baseball team “Tigers,” the football team was named as “Lions.” Detroit Zoo director gifted two lion cubs to the team which accompanied the team in every game. 

Green Bay Packers 

The name “Packers” derived from the Indian Packing Co., the company that sponsored equipment and access to the field. The Indian company changed its name to “Acme Packing Company,” but the football team still sticks to the name. 

Minnesota Vikings 

Bert Rose, the manager of the football team chose ‘Vikings’ among other names such as ‘Chippewas,’ ‘Voyageurs,’ and ‘Miners.’ According to her, ‘Vikings’ reflect the aggressive nature to win and the Nordic tradition in the Northern Midwest.

NFC South

Atlanta Falcons 

Though “Falcon” was suggested by a lot of people, the franchise praised Julia Elliot for her excellent reasoning. The school teacher explained “The falcon is proud and dignified, with great courage and fight, “It never drops its prey. It is deadly and has great sporting tradition.” Elliot received four season tickets for three years and a football signed by the entire 1966 inaugural team. 

Carolina Panthers 

Carolina Panthers are native to South and North Carolina. This species was on the brink of extinction in the 20th Century. Besides, Mark Richarson, the son of owner Jerry Richardson preferred the name Panther because it reflects the factors a team requires—Power, sleekness, and strength. 

New Orleans Saints 

Saints got major support in the naming contest and got the blessing of the Archbishop. Plus, Louis Armstrong, the one who recorded “When the Saints Go Marching In” is native to Orleans reflecting the region’s Jazz heritage. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

Though the list had more than 400 names, the local sports writers, representatives, and the owner Hugh Culverhouse chose the name “Buccaneers” to honor the pirates who explored Florida in the 17th century. 

NFC West 

Arizona Cardinals 

The team was founded in Chicago before moving to St. Louis and Arizona. Chris O’Brien bought the used and faded maroon jerseys at Chicago University and explained it was not maroon but Cardinal Red. That’s how the name was born and the logo also represents the Cardinal bird head. 

Los Angeles Rams 

The team was founded in Cleveland and later relocated to Los Angeles. Damon Wetzel, the first general manager of the Rams was fond of the Fordham University Rams, so chose to name the team “The Rams.” 

San Francisco 49ers 

The “49ers” started playing in the All-American Football Conference in 1946. Their name represents 1849 when the voyagers traveled to the West for gold. 

Seattle Seahawks 

Moreover, 1,700 names were suggested in the name-the-team contest like skippers, pioneers, lumberjacks, and seagulls. The franchise picked the Seahawks as it suggests aggressiveness and northern heritage, and doesn’t belong to any other major league team. 

How Many Players Are on Each Team?

A football team can have around 90 players during the training camp. However, a quintessential team may have 54 players for the regular season and 16 players for a practice season. 

Facts about NFL Teams

• One of the incredible football facts about the NFL is that 12 teams never won a Super Bowl and 4 teams have never even entered the game. 
• The Green Bay Packers is the oldest team to maintain the name and location since the foundation.
• Justin Tucker from the Baltimore Ravens kicked a 66-yarder, which was the longest field goal in history.
• Tom Brady aka GOAT has played in most Super Bowls and won many “first and many” titles in football NFL games.
• Shannon Eastin was the first woman ever to referee the NFL in a 2012 pre-season game. Check out this blog to know the top 10 best referees of all time. 

Frequently Asked Questions about NFL Team Names

1.Are there 32 NFL teams?
Yes, there are 32 teams in the NFL. 16 belongs to the National Football Conference and 16 in the American Football Conference. 

2.Who is the number 1 team in the NFL?

Based on the recent rankings, the Chicago Bears topped the number one in the NFL.

3.Who won the first Super Bowl?

 The Green Bay Packers won the Super Bowl by defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 35-10 . In the first Super Bowl.

4.What NFL team has a new name?

Washington Football Team known as Redskins changed their name to Washington Commanders.