NFL's Greatest Nicknames and How They Were Created!

The NFL is famous for producing some of sports greatest nicknames ever heard. Here is a list of some of the NFL's top nicknames and were they originated from...

William "The Refrigerator" Perry

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Former Chicago Bears player William 'The Refridgerator' Perry at the Welcome to Detroit press conference at the Super Bowl XL Media Center at the Renaissance Center in Detroit, Michigan on January 30, 2006. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

William "The Refrigerator" Perry! His nickname says it all. His Super Bowl ring was a size 10! He was given the nickname by a friend who witnessed the Perry stepping out of an elevator and blocking out the entire doorway...

Darryl "Moose" Johnston

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28 Jan 1996: Running back Darryl Johnston of the Dallas Cowboys (center) breaks through the Pittsburgh Steelers line during Super Bowl XXX at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. The Cowboys won the game, 27-17. Mandatory Credit: Rick Stewart /Allsport

Darryl "Moose" Johnston of the Dallas Cowboys. Emmit Smith's primary blocker was given the nickname, Moose from backup quarterback, Babe Laufenberg because Johnston looked like a Moose running around a bunch of deer in the field. The deer being the Dallas Cowboy running backs.

Walter "Sweetness" Payton

Walter Payton aka "Sweetness" the Chicago Bears great running back. There are two different stories on how Payton ended up being called Sweetness.

Some say he earned the nickname way back at Jackson State because of his "sweet" running style...Other's claim he was given the nickname due to his "sweet" demeanor...Either way, Payton lived up to his nickname both on the field and off.

Christian Okoye, The "Nigerian Nightmare"

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1 Oct 1989: Running back Christian Okoye of the Kansas City Chiefs runs with the ball during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. The Bengals won the game, 21-17. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel /Allspo

Christian Okoye, the "Nigerian Nightmare". Played for Kansas City Chiefs and earned his nickname due to his punishing style of running through tacklers. Teammate Irv Eatman is credited for the nickname.

Craig "Ironhead" Heyward

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13 Dec 1992: Running back Craig Heyward of the New Orleans Saints looks on during a game against the Los Angeles Rams at Anaheim Stadium in Anaheim, California. The Saints won the game, 37-14.

Craig "Ironhead" Heyward earned his nickname in for both his massive head (size 8 3/4) and the way he would spear defenders with it.

"Neon" Deion "Primetime" Sanders

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NEW ORLEANS - FEBRUARY 17: Athlete/television personality Deion Sanders at the 57th NBA All-Star Game, part of 2008 NBA All-Star Weekend at the New Orleans Arena on February 17, 2008 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges a

Deion Sanders was "Prime Time" way before the NFL. Sanders was given the name by a friend after he scored 30 points in a Florida high school basketball game. Sanders was all-state in baseball, football and basketball while in high school.

Jerome "Bus" Bettis

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HOLLYWOOD - JULY 12: Pittsburgh Steelers players Jerome Bettis and Hines Ward shows off their Super Bowl rings at the 2006 ESPY Awards at the Kodak Theatre on July 12, 2006 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)

Jerome Bettis was given his nickname by Notre Dame's school newspaper. Bettis could carry several tacklers on his back while carrying the football, just like a bus.

David "Deacon" Jones

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ST. LOUIS, MO - SEPTEMBER 27: Former Rams player Deacon Jones has is jersey number retired prior to the Green Bay Packers against the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome on September 27, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. The Packers beat the Rams 36-17.

David "Deacon" Jones actually nicknamed himself. Jones believe that nobody would remember a player named David Jones, so this Hall of Famer nicknamed himself "Deacon" hoping people would remember him...

I never even knew his real name was David, so I guess it worked!

Jack "The Assassin" Tatum

Jack Tatum was called "The Assassin" due to the way he played. Tatum was one of the hardest hitters ever to play in the NFL. Tatum wrote in his book that his hits "Bordered on felonious assaults".

Tatum is infamous for his hit on New England Patriot receiver, Darryl Stingley. Stingley was paralyzed from the hit and never walked again.

"Broadway" Joe Namath

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - OCTOBER 26: Former Jets quarterback is introduced during halftime festivities celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Jets' win over the Colts in Super Bowl III during the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the New York Jets on

Joe Namath was given the nickname, "Broadway Joe" by his teammate, Sherman Plunkett after Plunkett saw Namath's 1965 Sports Illustrated Cover.

Namath was known for his brash outfits and bold predictions...