Top Ten List of the Chiefs Best Nicknames for 2019 or Ever – The “Super Bowl” was originally nothing except a nickname for the NFL Championship game. In the NFL, nicknames are the new normal, but they’ve also always been there, with nicknames like: The Immaculate Reception, The Ice Bowl, Roger Dodger, or The Gipper. As old as American football is, nicknames endure.
The Chiefs have often been referred to in the past… in the not so pleasant terms… as the Chefs or the Chumps. Also, in the recent past, ex-Chiefs players have had some nicknames worth recalling:
There are currently Ten Chiefs with nicknames that I’ll rank here, down below. First, let’s take a peek at the Top Seven players and their nicknames, the best nicknames from decades in the past.
The Nigerian Nightmare is my favorite Chiefs related nickname of all-time. Christian Okoye embodied the Marty Schottenheimer bludgeoning running method often called, “Martyball.” Now there’s another nickname that I left off the list. Another one that belongs on some list, but I’m not so sure it’s the nicknames list, is when Dick Vermeil told Larry Johnson to “take the diapers off.”
In the NFL, things aren’t much different. Of course, after researching all the nicknames of the players on this team, I came up with so very many that I had to create an Honorable Mentions list. So, before giving you my final Best Top Ten Nicknames of 2019, here are the Honorable Mentions:
Without further adieu, here is my:
Top Ten List of the Chiefs Best Nicknames for 2019:
Mitchell Schwartz wears a size 18″ shoe, so in college he was referred to as BIGFOOT. Also, he has been called, “The Big Show” because he bears a striking resemblance to the WWE wrestler by the same name. In any event, he’s the Chiefs best offensive lineman and Pro Football Focus named Schwartz the Best Offensive Lineman of 2018 this offseason as well. He passed the 7,000 consecutive snaps barrier last November and is currently the NFL’s Iron man among offensive linemen. As far as Nicknames goes, I like it a lot and don’t hear enough people use it. His kick-back when getting off the line of scrimmage is near legendary and the main reason he is able to keep up with the best speed rushers of the league. So, BIGFOOT it is.
I can’t imagine when or where Harrison Butker may have picked up that name. His Grandfather’s Grandfather’s Grandfather… likely had to put up with it as a kid… and so, decided to continue to pass it along until, one day, they actually got a Place Kicker in the family. Now, Harrison is putting it to good use. As far as nicknames goes, it is a 100% fit and believe me, as a teacher, I would rarely give out a 100% to anyone on anything.
De’Anthony Thomas came out years ago and stated that he’d had the nickname “Black Mamba” long before Kobe Bryant ever picked it up. Thomas, aka DAT, was often referred to as the Black Mamba while at Oregon where he had a stellar career as a running back and return man. Now that he’s back with the Chiefs perhaps fans will pick up on it again, especially if he returns a couple of Kickoffs for a TD.
Blake Bell was given this nickname while at Oklahoma. My rule of thumb is, if the shoe fits, wear it, and at 6-foot-6 and 252 pounds, Bell may have been a masher in college but we have yet to see him roughing up the defensive lineman of the NFL. He seems to have won the TE job mostly by default with the injury to Deon Yelder (an ankle) although the Chiefs could keep 3 TEs on the roster.
Choosing your own nickname hardly ever works but that’s exactly how Darwin Thompson has come in. On the field, he has run over enough defenders already to garner the respect that goes with that nickname too. So, DTrian, is one that fits and I hope we get to see him running with the ones a lot this season. He looks like the perfect compliment to Dame… Damien Williams.
Anthony Sherman has been called, “The Shermanator” or “Tank” but the most endearing name seems to be Sausage. After the Chiefs opening day win over the Chargers in 2018, a game in which Sherman caught a 36 yard TD pass from Patrick Mahomes down the sideline, head coach Andy Reid was on a radio interview and said,
“I was telling [Chiefs Radio Network executive producer] Dan [Israel], he’s got crazy hands, man. You think of him as a sausage, so he goes out, and he’s a sausage with hands.”
I don’t know if the name “Sausage” predates that interview or what Reid had on his mind, but it seems to be a fitting nickname. He’s not just a piece of meat (often used as a nickname)… he’s not just a ham (also used as a nickname), but he’s The Sausage. It’s a great fit and makes him 5th best on my list.
Andy Reid is going on his 7th season as the Head Coach for the Kansas City Chiefs and somewhere along the line he was given the moniker: BIG RED.
I am also here for the Andy Reid Kool-Aid man GIF pic.twitter.com/pNlaBB3LKg
— Isaac (@WorldofIsaac) September 7, 2017
The image of Reid breaking through the wall like the Kool-Aid Man will forever be stuck in my mind. The Nickname is a BIG FIT for Big Red and easily earns #4 on my list.
Zeus: the god of the sky, lightning and thunder in Ancient Greek mythology seems incredibly fitting for Travis Kelce. Kelce also has that Greek God physique that is often associated with that name. Ben Almquist gave Kelce the 9th best ranking on his list of all-time best nicknames in Kansas City Sports history. Here, he’s quite deserving of #3 on my Best Nicknames of the 2019 Season for the Chiefs. [Video Note: skip the first and last 30 seconds]
A great nickname has to fit the person. This one is fantastic. A real honey badger is said to be an animal that is the most fearless in all of the animal kingdom. Now, Tyrann Mathieu brings that same fearlessness to Chiefs KIngdom. If you’re interested in watching an 8:37 video on Tyrann Mathieu’s story, here’s your chance:
Tyreek Hill wins my best nickname for the 2019 season. He is fast if you haven’t heard and many call him the fastest man in the NFL. The cheetah is the fastest land animal capable of running up to 40 mph. Hill has hit speeds of 21.95 mph and as Mitch Holthus, the voice of Chiefs radio, has stated, Hill could get pulled over for going too fast in a school zone. If you’ve been to training camp and watched him move up close, he’s not only fast but quick. I came across this little video which should help you get hyped for the season to come… that is, if you’re not hyped up already.
Did I miss some nicknames you like? Let me know.
Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne
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