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NFL quarterbacks hear all kinds of names, depending on their level of play. We\u2019ve focused on those given by friends and family and gave a letter grade for each. NFC passers are first up.<\/p>\n
Jayden Daniels | Washington Commanders | \u201cSmooth Operator\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n During an appearance on “Boardroom” with Kevin Durant and Travis Scott<\/span><\/a> last season, Daniels revealed that friends back home call him \u201cSmooth Operator\u201d and \u201cYoung Smooth\u201d due to the effortless manner in which he runs the ball. He did, after all, lead the Commanders in rushing with 891 yards last season.<\/p>\n Grade: A<\/span><\/p>\n Jalen Hurts | Philadelphia Eagles | \u201cJalen Two Shoes\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n Hurts earned the name after\u00a0<\/span>wearing mismatched cleats<\/span><\/a>\u00a0during a game in 2024. He had to change one shoe due to a problem with the laces, but struggled to get the original back on. Too bad the Eagles didn\u2019t play better in Super Bowl LVII, otherwise Hurts might be called \u201cJalen Two Rings.\u201d \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Grade: C<\/p>\n Dak Prescott | Dallas Cowboys | \u201cThe Fortress\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Fortresses are designed to keep people out. So, like the Super Bowl? For the record, \u201cDak\u201d is the nickname of the quarterback born \u201cRayne Dakota Prescott.\u201d<\/p>\n Grade: F<\/span><\/p>\n Russell Wilson | New York Giants | \u201cMr. Unlimited\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n The only unlimited thing about Wilson these days is the number of teams he\u2019s played for. The Giants will be Wilson\u2019s fourth team in five years and most expect he\u2019ll give way to first-round pick Jaxson Dart before the end of the 2025 season.<\/span><\/p>\n Grade: D<\/p>\n Jared Goff | Detroit Lions | \u201cMr. Perfect\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n A perfectly good nickname for any quarterback who goes a record 18-of-18 with 292 yards and two touchdowns, as Goff did in a 42-29 victory over the Seahawks last season. He did throw one incompletion, but it was erased by a penalty.\u00a0<\/p>\n Grade: A+<\/span><\/p>\n Jordan Love | Green Bay Packers | \u201cMr. Worldwide\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n In high school, Love was known as “Sticks” or “Nutella Sticks” due to his slight frame. These days, the bulked-up QB goes by “Mr. Worldwide,” a name given to him by his wife after posting\u00a0<\/span>a series of Instagram photos<\/a>\u00a0about his recent travels to Dubai, United Arab Emirates.<\/span><\/p>\n Grade: C-<\/p>\n J.J. McCarthy | Minnesota Vikings | \u201cJ.J.\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Otherwise known as Jonathan James McCarthy. All-Pro wide receiver Justin Jefferson previously went by those initials but has since dubbed himself \u201cJets,\u201d according to USA Today\u2019s Andrew Harbaugh<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Grade: Two Fs<\/span><\/p>\n Caleb Williams | Chicago Bears | \u201cSuperman\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n We\u2019ll hold judgment until DC\u2019s “Superman<\/span><\/a>” opens on July 11 and Williams gets to play under former Lions OC and new Bears head coach Ben Johnson.<\/p>\n Grade: N\/A<\/span><\/p>\n Baker Mayfield |Tampa Bay Buccaneers | \u201cMoxie\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n Head coach Todd Bowles came up with the name to credit his quarterback\u2019s courage and determination. The No. 1 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, Baker Mayfield played for the Browns, Rams and Panthers before landing in Tampa, where he helped the team win a pair of division titles and finished as the league\u2019s third-leading passer with 4,500 yards last season.<\/span><\/p>\n Grade: B+<\/span><\/p>\n Michael Penix Jr. | Atlanta Falcons\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Desmond Howard wasn\u2019t comfortable using\u00a0<\/span>this name<\/a>\u00a0coined by colleague Robert Griffin III during a 2023 episode of ESPN\u2019s “College GameDay,” and neither are we. Unfortunately, Penix threw only 105 passes in five games last season, which isn\u2019t much to work with.<\/span><\/p>\n Grade: F-<\/p>\n Tyler Shough | New Orleans Saints | \u201cShuck\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n As in \u201cAw, shucks\u201d or the actual pronunciation of his last name.\u00a0<\/p>\n “It\u2019s literally impossible to pronounce it if you don\u2019t know it,” Shough told Sports Illustrated\u2019s Gilberto Manzano<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Let him beat the Cardinals in Week 1, and \u201cWho Dat Nation\u201d will have no problem with their quarterback’s last name.<\/p>\n Grade: D+<\/span><\/p>\n Bryce Young | Carolina Panthers | \u201cCarolina Reaper\u201d\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Young fears the name sounds evil but it\u2019s said to reference the hot pepper and the notion that losing to Young\u2019s Panthers leads to uncomfortable benchings and firings for opponents. Once the top pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Young\u2019s career could go up in flames if he can\u2019t improve on his 6-22 record as a starter.<\/span><\/p>\n Grade: C-<\/p>\n Sam Darnold | Seattle Seahawks | TBD<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cSammy Dimes,\u201d \u201cAmerica\u2019s Quarterback\u201d and \u201cGEQBUS\u201d are all mentioned in various corners of the internet but there is no consensus. Perhaps Seattle, Darnold\u2019s fifth team in eight years, can come up with something clever.\u00a0<\/p>\n Grade: N\/A<\/span><\/p>\n Brock Purdy | San Francisco 49ers | \u201cMr. Irrelevant\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n The\u00a0<\/span>last player selected<\/span><\/a>\u00a0in the 2022 NFL Draft just signed a five-year, $265M contract to remain in San Francisco. We should all be so irrelevant.<\/span><\/p>\n Grade: F<\/p>\n Kyler Murray | Arizona Cardinals | \u201cK1\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n His name starts with a \u201cK\u201d and his jersey number is 1. Try harder, Arizona.<\/p>\n Grade: F-<\/span><\/p>\n Matthew Stafford | L.A. Rams | \u201cMr. Long Handoffs\u201d and \u201cMr. No-Look\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a nickname that makes a lot of sense \u2014 \u2018Mr. Long Handoffs,\u2019 because his deep throws are just routine,\u201d Rams safety Quentin Lake told\u00a0<\/span>TMZ Sports<\/a>. \u201cAnd \u2018Mr. No-Look,\u2019 because he manipulates defenders with his eyes like no one else. It\u2019s normal for him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Both are good names. Maybe he can let Murray borrow one.<\/p>\n Grade: A<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n