From Broadway Joe to Megatron: The 25 greatest NFL nicknames

From "The Bus" to "Joe Cool," the NFL has featured some of the best nicknames in sports. These are 25 of the best NFL nicknames in history.

Lynch became known for his powerful runs during his NFL career and trademarked his nickname. He rushed for more than 10,000 yards during his 12-year NFL career, mostly in Seattle.

Known as a product spokesman as much as a quarterback, Namath earned the nickname "Broadway Joe" early in his NFL career. He played 13 seasons in the league, famously guaranteeing and winning Super Bowl III over the Baltimore Colts.

Bettis became known as "The Bus" while at Notre Dame, and his powerful running style carried over into a 13-year NFL career. He made six Pro Bowls between the Rams and Pittsburgh, and won one Super Bowl with the Steelers.

Hill has become known as the Cheetah due to his electrifying speed. The Chiefs and Dolphins star made the Pro Bowl in each of his first eight NFL seasons.

Jones became affectionately known as Deacon Jones in his dominant NFL career with the Rams. The lead member of the Rams Fearsome Foursome recorded 173.5 career sacks in 14 seasons.

Grange emerged as one of the early greats of the NFL, playing eight seasons from 1925-1934. His prowess as a halfback earned him the Galloping Ghost nickname with the Bears.

Mathieu became a household name in college at LSU for his propensity to create turnovers, and garnered the "Honey Badger" nickname in conjunction with a viral YouTube video. The name continued during his very productive NFL career.

Ditka was known for his toughness both as an NFL tight end and head coach, so the "Iron Mike" nickname couldn't be more appropriate. The name became part of his legacy after growing up in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, a former steel town.

Heyward was powerful and ferocious fullback during his NFL career, playing 11 seasons with five different teams. The "Iron Head" nickname was given to him by his mother and stuck throughout his career.

Some players are known for their performance in clutch moments and none more than Montana. His late-game heroics became routine while at Notre Dame and later with the 49ers and Chiefs to earn his nickname.

Simpson will forever be best known for his post-career legal issues, but he was a Hall of Fame NFL running back and spokesman before then. He made six Pro Bowls and won the 1973 MVP, rushing for over 2,000 yards.

Greene earned his nickname while playing at North Texas, and later became one of the best NFL pass rushers in league history while with the Steelers. He played 13 seasons and made 10 Pro Bowls.

Johnson could seemingly do anything on the football field, and earned the "Megatron" nickname while the Transformers movie series was at its height. He retired after nine seasons in Detroit, making the Pro Bowl in his final six years.

White was an ordained minister, making his nickname very appropriate. He's also arguably the best pass rusher in league history, recording 198 sacks over 15 seasons.

Johnston is still known as "Moose" as a TV analyst these days, but he earned his nickname as a bruising fullback during the Cowboys' 1990s dynasty. He made two Pro Bowls during his 11-year career.

A bruising running back of more than 250 pounds, the Nigeria native Okoye earned the "Nigerian Nightmare" nickname with the Chiefs. He played six seasons, and led the NFL in rushing in 1989.

Lane earned the perfect nickname of "Night Train" during his 14-year NFL career at cornerback. The Hall of Famer had 68 interceptions in his career, including 14 in his rookie season in 1952.

Johnson took his jersey number to another level, going by the name "Ochocinco" and even briefly changing his name so that the nickname would appear on his jersey. He had an excellent 11-year career, making six Pro Bowls.

Irvin routinely made big plays for the explosive Cowboys during their dynastic era, earning his "Playmaker" nickname. Over 12 seasons in Dallas, he made five Pro Bowls.

Sanders now makes headlines as the head coach of Colorado, but he was arguably the league's top cornerback during his 14-year playing career. His flare on and off the field made "Prime Time" a fitting nickname, with eight Pro Bowls and six First Team All-Pro selections.

Perry became a household name as "The Refrigerator" while in college due to his enormous size. His moniker became more popular as the centerpiece of the Bears' dominant defense, as well as a short-yardage runner in Super Bowl XX.

Revis was a terrific cornerback, particularly in man-to-man coverage, garnering his nickname. He played 11 seasons, mostly with the Jets, making seven Pro Bowls.

Stewart's athletic ability allowed him to moonlight early in his career at multiple positions in addition to quarterback, garnering the nickname "Slash" while with the Steelers. He eventually settled in at quarterback for the team, starting 80 regular season games.

Payton's productive and smooth running style gave him the natural nickname of "Sweetness" with the Bears. His 13-year Hall of Fame career with the Bears included nine Pro Bowls and the 1977 MVP Award.

The 6-foot-9 Jones was the first pick of the 1974 NFL Draft out of Tennessee State, playing 15 seasons. The nickname was fitting for his height, but he proved the doubters wrong with 106 career sacks.