We often remember the AFL players for their colorful nicknames as much as for their accomplishments on the field. Here is a list of many of those great nicknames. If you can think of more, please post a message and I will add them to the list!
- Lance “Bambi” Alworth
- “Mini” Max Anderson
- John “Bull” Bramlett
- Marlin “The Magician” Briscoe
- Junious “Buck” Buchanan
- Ed “Bluto” Budde
- George “Butch” Byrd
- Gino “Duke” Cappelletti
- Reg “Sniff” Carolan
- Francis “Cotton” Davidson
- Lenny “The Cool” Dawson
- Tom “Tippy” Day
- Elbert “Golden Wheels” Dubenion
- Leslie “Speedy” Duncan
- Larry “Wildman” Eisenhauer
- Bill “Earthquake” Enyart
- Wilbur “Weeb” Ewbank
- Earl “Tree” Faison
- Serafino “Foge” Fazio
- Gary “The Grey Ghost” Garrison
- Carlton “Cookie” Gilchrist
- Jon “Guppy” Gilliam
- Austin “Goose” Gonsoulin
- Ted “Alley Oop” Greene
- John “Froggy” Hadl
- Abner “Butch” Haynes
- Sherrill “Psycho” Headrick
- Mack “Truck” Hill
- Robert “The Tank” Holmes
- E.J. “The Beast” Holub
- Jim “Earthquake” Hunt
- Rich “Tombstone” Jackson
- Harry “The Baby Faced Assassin” Jacobs
- John “Curley” Johnson
- Ernie “The Giant Cat” Ladd
- Daryle “The Mad Bomber” Lamonica
- Willie “Bear” Lanier
- “Riverboat” Richie Lucas
- Don “Sunshine” Maynard
- Jerry “Huzza-Huzza” Mays
- Curtis “The Count” McClinton
- Edward “Wahoo” McDaniel
- Ron “The Dancing Bear” McDole
- Warren “Motor Mouse” McVea
- Ron “The Intellectual Assassin” Mix
- Leroy “Sweet Pea” Moore
- “Broadway” Joe Namath
- Walt “Buffalo” Napier
- Vito “Babe” Parilli
- Frank “The Riddler” Pitts
- Gerrard “Buster” Ramsey
- Gloster “Slick” Richardson
- Johnny “Candyman” Robinson
- Paul “Rocky” Rochester
- Tom “Big Ses” Sestak
- Dave “The Ripon Ripper” Smith
- Jim “Jetstream” Smith
- Noland “Super Gnat” Smith
- Ed “Butch” Songin
- Stewart “Smokey” Stover
- Walt “Suds” Sweeney
- Gene “Univac” Thomas
- Jim “Pumpkin Head” Tyrer
- Ernie “Big Hoss” Warlick
- Fred “The Hammer” Williamson
- Jerrel “Thunder Foot” Wilson
A few other old Chiefs nicks/may or may not be worth listing online:
Curt ‘Mother’ Merz [later worked in radio the KC area]
Otis ‘Slug’ Taylor – also ‘Keghead’ [ SPORT magazine/Arnold Hano 1967; Otis slow-moving ways the reason the first nick, latter because his head 'was' big]
Mike ‘Elmer Fudd’ Garrett [LIFE magazine January 13, 1967]
Willie ‘Top Cat’ Mitchell [ various KC media guides]
Curtis ‘The Count’ McClinton [various KC media guides]
Noland ‘Super Gnat’ Smith was also known as ‘Jet’ [ he actually preferred Jet to Super Gnat, but the latter was the more renowned]
Len Dawson was also referred to as ‘Bad Body’ [QB Magazine, 1971]
Wendell ‘King’ Hayes [various KC media guides]
Dave Smith “The Ripon Ripper” and Gino Capellitti “Duke”