If you enjoy NFL football, most likely you know they have their team names. Did you ever wonder where they came up with these?
The origins of NFL team names and nicknames often reflect local history, industry, culture, or were chosen through naming contests. Here’s a breakdown of how these names typically came about:
COMMON SOURCES OF NFL TEAM NAMES
Local Industry or Economy
Many teams were named in reference to the prominent industries of their cities.
Pittsburgh Steelers – Named for the city’s strong ties to the steel industry.
Green Bay Packers – Named after the Indian Packing Company, which sponsored the team and provided uniforms.
Detroit Lions – Though not industrial in name, “Lions” was chosen to represent strength and to pair with the Detroit Tigers baseball team.
Local Culture or Regional Identity
Some names reflect the cultural background or historical identity of the area.
Minnesota Vikings – Chosen because of the state’s large Scandinavian population.
Buffalo Bills – Named after Buffalo Bill Cody, a famous figure from the American frontier.
New Orleans Saints – Named in honor of All Saints’ Day (the franchise was founded on November 1) and the jazz song “When the Saints Go Marching In.”
Animals and Natural Imagery
Animal names were often used to symbolize traits like strength, speed, and courage.
Chicago Bears – Originally the Staleys; the name was changed to “Bears” to align with the Cubs baseball team and suggest a stronger, rougher animal.
Philadelphia Eagles – Named after the eagle symbol used by the National Recovery Administration during the Great Depression.
Atlanta Falcons – Selected through a naming contest; the falcon was chosen for its image of strength and pride.
Historical or Military Themes
Some team names are rooted in American history or reflect military associations.
New England Patriots – Chosen to honor the region’s role in the American Revolution.
Washington Commanders – Adopted in 2022 to reflect military leadership, fitting with Washington D.C.’s identity.
Naming Contests and Fan Involvement
Several teams held public contests to determine their names.
Seattle Seahawks – Selected through a public naming contest; “Seahawk” refers to a sea eagle.
Carolina Panthers – Chosen by the team’s owner to reflect power and courage, but also popular among fans.
Legacy Names and Moves
Some teams kept their names despite relocating.
Arizona Cardinals – The oldest team in the NFL, they kept the “Cardinals” name from when they were based in Chicago. The name originally came from the color of their jerseys, not the bird.
Los Angeles Chargers – The name was selected because the owner liked the sound of fans yelling “Charge!”
NAME CHANGES AND RELOCATIONS
Several teams have moved cities or changed names entirely over the years:
Tennessee Titans – Originally the Houston Oilers.
Indianapolis Colts – Formerly based in Baltimore.
Las Vegas Raiders – Previously located in Oakland and Los Angeles.
Los Angeles Rams – Originally from Cleveland, later St. Louis, now back in L.A.
THERE ARE 32 TEAMS IN THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE (NFL).
THEY ARE DIVIDED INTO TWO CONFERENCES:
AFC (AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE) – 16 TEAMS
AFC East: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Jets
AFC North: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers
AFC South: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans
AFC West: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers
NFC (NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE) – 16 TEAMS
NFC East: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders
NFC North: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings
NFC South: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
NFC West: Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks
Each conference has 4 divisions with 4 teams in each. The current structure has been in place since the 2002 season.
HERE IS A DEEPER OVERVIEW OF HOW EACH OF THE 32 NFL TEAMS GOT THEIR NAMES, REFLECTING LOCAL CULTURE, HISTORY, INDUSTRY, OR THROUGH FAN INVOLVEMENT:
AFC EAST
Buffalo Bills: Named after “Buffalo Bill” Cody, a famous 19th-century showman. The name was selected through a fan contest.dictionary.com
Miami Dolphins: Chosen via a fan contest in 1965. The dolphin, known for its intelligence and friendliness, is native to the waters around Florida.
New England Patriots: Originally the Boston Patriots, the name was selected to honor the colonists who fought for independence during the American Revolution, reflecting the region’s historical significance. en.wikipedia.org
New York Jets: Originally called the Titans of New York, the team was renamed the Jets in 1963 to reflect the modern age of air travel and their proximity to LaGuardia Airport. mentalfloss.com
AFC NORTH
Baltimore Ravens: Named after Edgar Allan Poe’s famous poem “The Raven.” Poe spent part of his life in Baltimore, and the name was chosen through a fan contest. en.wikipedia.org
Cincinnati Bengals: Named after a previous professional football team in Cincinnati from the 1930s. The name was chosen to give the team a link to the past because Bengals are a fierce species of tiger.
Cleveland Browns: Named after the team’s first coach and co-founder, Paul Brown. The name was selected through a fan contest, and despite initial resistance, it remained.dictionary.com
Pittsburgh Steelers: Originally called the Pittsburgh Pirates, the team was renamed the Steelers in 1940 to reflect the city’s steel industry heritage. bleacherreport.com
AFC SOUTH
Houston Texans: The name was selected to reflect the state’s pride and heritage. It was chosen over other finalists like Apollos and Stallions. fox8.com
Indianapolis Colts: Originally based in Baltimore, the team was named the Colts to reflect the region’s history of horse breeding and racing. The name was retained after the team relocated to Indianapolis in 1984.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Chosen through a fan contest, the jaguar is a powerful cat native to the Americas, symbolizing strength, and agility.
Tennessee Titans: After relocating from Houston, the team was renamed the Titans to reflect strength, leadership, and heroism, aligning with Nashville’s nickname as the “Athens of the South.” en.as.com
AFC WEST
Denver Broncos: Named through a fan contest in 1960, the bronco is a wild horse symbolizing the Wild West and the rugged spirit of the region.fox8.com+5en.wikipedia.org+5en.as.com+5
Kansas City Chiefs: Named in honor of Kansas City Mayor Harold Roe Bartle, who was nicknamed “Chief” and instrumental in bringing the team to the city. vogue.com
Las Vegas Raiders: Originally the Oakland Raiders, the name was chosen to reflect a bold and adventurous spirit. The team has since relocated to Los Angeles, back to Oakland, and now Las Vegas.
Los Angeles Chargers: The name was selected by owner Barron Hilton, who liked the association with the word “charge” and the energy it conveyed. dictionary.com
NFC EAST
Dallas Cowboys: The name was chosen to reflect the state’s cowboy heritage. The team is also nicknamed “America’s Team,” a moniker that gained popularity in the late 1970s. en.wikipedia.org
New York Giants: Named after the city’s baseball team, the Giants, following a common practice at the time of naming football teams after baseball counterparts. bleacherreport.com
Philadelphia Eagles: Named after the eagle symbol of the National Recovery Administration, part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal. dictionary.com
Washington Commanders: Formerly known as the Redskins, the team changed its name to the Commanders in 2022 to reflect a more inclusive and respectful identity.
NFC NORTH
Chicago Bears: Originally the Decatur Staleys, the team moved to Chicago and was renamed the Bears in 1922 to align with the city’s baseball team, the Cubs, suggesting that football players were larger and tougher. en.wikipedia.org+1espn.com+1
Detroit Lions: Named to project an image of strength and courage, the lion is also a nod to the city’s baseball team, the Tigers.
Green Bay Packers: Founded by Curly Lambeau, who secured sponsorship from the Indian Packing Company, the team was named the Packers in honor of its sponsor. en.wikipedia.org+1dictionary.com+1
Minnesota Vikings: Chosen to reflect the region’s significant Scandinavian-American population and heritage.
NFC SOUTH
Atlanta Falcons: Selected through a fan contest, the falcon was chosen for its qualities of pride and courage.as.com+4dictionary.com+4en.wikipedia.org+4
Carolina Panthers: Team owner Jerry Richardson chose the name to reflect a sleek, powerful, and courageous image.
New Orleans Saints: Named on All Saints’ Day, November 1, 1966, the name also reflects the city’s rich jazz heritage and the popular song “When the Saints Go Marching In.” mentalfloss.com
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Named to reflect the region’s pirate history, particularly the legend of José Gaspar, a Spanish pirate who supposedly operated in the area. en.as.com
NFC WEST
Arizona Cardinals: The team originated in Chicago and was named the Cardinals after the color of their jerseys, which were a faded maroon that founder Chris O’Brien described as “cardinal red.”as.com
Los Angeles Rams: Named after the Fordham University Rams, the favorite team of the franchise’s first general manager, Damon “Buzz” Wetzel. dictionary.com
San Francisco 49ers: Named to honor the prospectors who arrived in Northern California during the 1849 Gold Rush. dictionary.com
Seattle Seahawks: Selected through a fan contest, the name Seahawks refers to the osprey, a bird native to the Pacific Northwest.
SOME PEOPLE ARE MORE FAMILIAR WITH NFL TEAM NAMES OR MASCOTS THAN THEY ARE WITH THE CITY OR REGION THE TEAM IS BASED IN. THIS HAPPENS FOR SEVERAL REASONS:
BRANDING AND POP CULTURE
Teams like the Cowboys, Patriots, or Packers have such iconic names and logos that they’re known beyond their local markets.
A casual fan might recognize the “Cowboys” but not immediately recall they’re from Dallas.
MERCHANDISE AND MEDIA EXPOSURE
Jerseys, hats, and logos are worn everywhere without deep knowledge of the team’s home city.
Kids and teens especially may grow up wearing or hearing about teams like the 49ers, Steelers, or Dolphins just by brand, not geography.
TEAM NAME DOESN’T INCLUDE THE CITY
Some teams use regional names, which adds to the confusion:
New England Patriots (not Boston)
Carolina Panthers (based in Charlotte, NC, but named for both Carolinas)
Arizona Cardinals (not Phoenix in the name)
POPULAR NICKNAMES VS. LOCATION
Fans and media often refer to teams by nickname only:
“The Jets are terrible this year” might be said with no mention of New York.
Someone might love the Raiders and have no idea they’re in Las Vegas now instead of Oakland or Los Angeles.
RELOCATIONS AND NAME STAYS
Teams that move cities but keep the same name add to the mix-up:
The Rams (once in St. Louis, now in Los Angeles)
The Chargers (San Diego to LA)
The Raiders (Oakland to LA to Oakland again to Las Vegas)
Team names often outshine the geographic knowledge behind them—especially for casual fans, international audiences, or those who know teams mostly from media, video games, or merchandise.
The origins of NFL team names are steeped in American history, culture, local industry, and even fan contests. While many names are instantly recognizable, some have deeper, lesser-known stories that add rich context to the league’s identity.
For example, the Green Bay Packers name came from the Indian Packing Company, a meatpacking business that funded the team’s early uniforms. It’s one of the few NFL names directly tied to a company, yet it stuck and became a symbol of blue-collar pride and small-town football passion.
The Buffalo Bills offer a unique twist—there were once multiple professional football teams named “Buffalo Bills,” but the modern one, established in the 1960s, adopted the name as a tribute to a previous All-America Football Conference (AAFC) team.
That team had chosen “Bills” in a fan contest, playing off the legendary Wild West figure Buffalo Bill Cody, which gave the name flair and regional connection.
Some names reflect local identity in symbolic ways. The Tennessee Titans, for instance, were originally the Houston Oilers. When the team moved to Nashville, they wanted a name that reflected power and ancient grandeur—hence “Titans,” a nod to Greek mythology and the city’s nickname, “The Athens of the South.” The Minnesota Vikings were named to honor the region’s strong Scandinavian heritage, emphasizing strength, resilience, and the bold spirit of Norse explorers, traits Minnesotans felt matched their identity.
The San Francisco 49ers take their name from the gold prospectors who flooded California in 1849 during the Gold Rush. It’s a rare case where a sports team name is directly tied to a specific year in history. The New Orleans Saints, meanwhile, chose a name rooted in music and culture.
Named on All Saints Day and based in a city famous for jazz and gospel, the team’s name reflects the spiritual and musical soul of New Orleans, with the hymn “When the Saints Go Marching In” becoming a natural anthem.
Other teams reflect motion and force. The New York Jets were named during the 1960s jet age, as the team moved near LaGuardia Airport and wanted a modern, sleek image. Similarly, the Los Angeles Chargers chose a name not for electricity, as some think, but simply because the original team owner liked the energy of the word “Charge!” shouted by fans and at USC games.
These stories show that NFL team names are more than labels—they’re cultural landmarks tied to identity, history, industry, and imagination. Whether chosen by fan vote, inspired by mythology, or shaped by geography, each name adds to the tapestry of what makes professional football deeply woven into American life.
Understanding the origins of NFL team names adds an extra layer of appreciation to the game. These names are more than just branding—they often represent local heritage, historical events, or broader cultural themes. From the industrial roots of the Packers to the mythical strength behind the Titans, each team name carries a story that links fans to a place, a people, or a moment in history.
For many fans, the team name is the first point of connection—something they chant, wear, and proudly identify with. Over time, these names become symbols of resilience, pride, and community, especially for cities where the team plays a central role in civic identity. Even when teams relocate, names can maintain their legacy, reminding fans of past eras and stirring up loyalty that often spans generations.
Whether you’re a lifelong fan or just beginning to follow the NFL, learning the meaning and backstory of each team name offers a deeper way to engage with the sport. It’s not just about touchdowns and rivalries—it’s also about culture, creativity, and the unique character that each name brings to the league.
TO EXPLORE MORE ABOUT NFL TEAM NAMES, THEIR HISTORIES, AND THE CULTURAL OR HISTORICAL CONTEXT BEHIND THEM, HERE ARE SOME REPUTABLE SOURCES WHERE YOU CAN DIVE DEEPER:
1. Official NFL Resources
- NFL.com – The league’s official site sometimes shares historical spotlights, team histories, and feature articles.
- Team-Specific Pages – Each NFL team has its own official website, often with a “Team History” or “Franchise Timeline” section.
2. Sports History & Analysis Sites
- Pro Football Hall of Fame – Offers in-depth historical archives, timelines, and origin stories related to teams and the league.
- ESPN – Articles, documentaries, and occasionally origin pieces during anniversaries or milestones.
- Bleacher Report and The Athletic – Known for doing deep dives and editorial features that sometimes include naming history.
3. Books and Guides
- “NFL Century” by Joe Horrigan – Written by a longtime Hall of Fame executive, this book covers the full history of the NFL, including team origins.
- “The League: How Five Rivals Created the NFL” by John Eisenberg – Great background on how the league formed and how many team identities came about.
- “The Ultimate Football Trivia Book” – Contains trivia and facts about teams, including names and mascots.
4. Local Histories and Newspapers
- Local news outlets often document how their team got its name or how it evolved, especially around anniversaries or relocations. Try:
- Chicago Tribune (Bears)
- Cleveland Plain Dealer (Browns)
- Green Bay Press-Gazette (Packers)
5. Wikipedia (With Caution)
- Many NFL teams have well-cited Wikipedia pages with information on naming origin, mascot, and franchise history. Always check the citations and footnotes to follow links to original sources.