Legal Law

6 fascinating stories behind the names of six NFL teams

Have you ever seen pirates while spending time in Tampa Bay? Probably not. Regional pirate legends influenced the team that became the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A special board reviewed 400 options for team names, before settling on “Buccaneers.” Every NFL has a story behind its name. While the origin of some names is self-explanatory, others are more legendary or obscure:

1. Chicago Bears

In 1921, the Decatur Staleys moved to Chicago, Illinois. Chicago already had a baseball team called the Cubs. So owner George Halas chose “Bears” instead, as soccer is a much tougher sport than baseball.

2. Cleveland Browns

A man named Paul Brown was the first head coach and general manager of the Browns. The original Browns team later moved to Baltimore (1996), becoming the Baltimore Ravens. Three years later (1999), a new Cleveland Browns emerged as the NFL expansion team.

3. Indianapolis Colts

The Miami Seahawks moved to Baltimore, Maryland, in 1946. A man named Charles Evans won a team naming contest, choosing the name “Colts.” Maryland is famous for its racehorses, so why did Evans choose the term that refers to a young horse? Their argument was that the Baltimore football team would be the youngest team in the league. In addition, he noted that “Colts” was easy to say and get into newspaper headlines. When the team moved to Indianapolis in 1984, it kept the name.

4. Atlanta Falcons

The city of Atlanta, Georgia, is not famous for hawks. So how was the team named after the royal bird? A teacher named Julia Elliot won a team name contest for the new NFL team. Elliot noted that several adjectives accurately described the hawk:

oh courage

or deadly

or worthy

oh proud

or sports

Thus, Atlanta’s new NFL team would take off like the Falcons.

5. Green Bay Packers

The story behind the Packers name is without a doubt one of the most fascinating in the NFL. George Calhoun and Earl “Curly” Lambeau once spoke in passing about forming a new soccer team. In time, the idea became a reality. Lambeau’s employer, the Indian Packing Company, agreed to sponsor the team. They provided jerseys, soccer gear, and a practice field. Due to the company’s contributions to the launch of the team, the name “Packers” was born.

6. Tennessee Titans

The Titans were figures from ancient Greek mythology, so how did they get 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” were chosen because the Tennessee city of Nashville was nicknamed the “Athens of the South.” During the V century a. C., Athens became the main city of ancient Greece.

What’s in a name? Regardless of which NFL team you cheer for, knowing the team’s name will give you a better appreciation for the team. Use official NFL merchandise to cheer on your favorite NFL team, whether it’s the Bucs, the Browns, or the Bengals!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *