The Actual Origins Of NFL Team Names, Ranked By How Much They Fit That City

Location: Pittsburgh, PA

Mascot: Steely McBeam

How They Got Their Name: Established in 1933, the football team in Pittsburgh was called the Pirates until 1940 when it became the Steelers. The initial name was chosen to mirror the baseball team in the city.

Thanks to a contest for a new name in 1940, the Steelers were born. A fan named Joe Santoni submitted the name to set the football team apart from the baseball team but also because he was a mill worker for Pittsburgh Steel. 

The industrial roots of Pittsburgh have carried on in the team's name as well as in the team's mascot. In 2007, Steely McBeam was introduced to represent steel and beams alike. The “Mc” part of the name comes from Diane Roles, who came up with the moniker because the Rooney family (the Steelers' longtime owners) are Irish. 

Location: Santa Clara, CA

Mascot: Sourdough Sam the Prospector

How They Got Their Name: The San Francisco 49ers was established as a charter member of the Alll-American Football Conference in 1946. 

When it came time to name the team, Allen E. Sorrell - one of the partners who invested in the team from the outset - reportedly suggested “'49ers' after the voyagers who had rushed the West for gold.” 

Because so many prospectors arrived in Northern California in 1849, they were often called '"49ers." Sourdough Sam also pays homage to the bread that prospectors legendarily brought to the region around the same time. 

Location: Foxborough, MA

Mascot: Pat Patriot

How They Got Their Name: Initially called the Boston Patriots when the team was founded in 1959, the founding member of the AFL became part of the NFL in 1970. When the team moved from Boston (where they played in various stadiums) to their current home in Foxborough in 1971, the name changed, too.

The “Patriot” part of the team's moniker was the result of a host of options submitted by locals when Boston began developing a team. “Patriots” was a nod to the revolutionary history and spirit of Boston, and the team's first logo featured colonial militia troops (minutemen). 

The Patriots mascot, Pat Patriot, was created by cartoonist Phil Bissell in 1960. Bissell, who worked for the Boston Globe and drew an image that appeared in the paper, recalled:

I just wanted to make a guy that looked like he's ready to go. That he had hands all broken because he was in the trenches digging holes… He was a real fighter in the trenches, and that's what made him a good Pat. 

Bissell's drawing was on the Patriot players' helmets until 1993. 

Location: Metairie, LA (headquarters); New Orleans, LA (stadium)

Mascot: Gumbo the Dog and Sir Saint

How They Got Their Name: The New Orleans Saints joined the NFL in 1966. In January 1967, the nickname of the team officially became “Saints.”

The name of the New Orleans football team traces back to the song “When the Saints Go Marching In.” Associated with the city and its link to jazz music, the song is often simply called “The Saints.”

The team's owners made sure they had been sanctioned by the archbishop of New Orleans, Philip M. Hannan. According to David Dixon, the businessman who helped bring the team to the city:

[The Archbishop] had an idea the team was going to need all the help it could get.

Location: Eagan, MN (headquarters); Minneapolis, MN (stadium)

Mascot: Viktor the Viking

How They Got Their Name: The Minnesota Vikings played their first game as part of the NFL in 1961. Sponsored by Max Winter, E. William Boyer, H.P. Skoglund, Ole Haugsrud, and Bernard H. Ridder Jr., the Vikings were named by none of them. It was the first general manager of the team, Bert Rose.

According to the Minnesota Vikings' website:

Rose recommended the nickname "Vikings" to the Board of Directors. The name was selected because it represented both an aggressive person with the will to win and the Nordic tradition in the northern Midwest.

Minnesota continues to be home to more individuals with Scandinavian ancestry than any other US state.

Location: Baltimore, MD

Mascot: Poe the Raven

How They Got Their Name: From 1946 to 1951, the professional football team in Baltimore was called the Colts. After two seasons, a revamped Colts team re-entered the NFL and renewed its presence in Baltimore until 1984. At that time, the Colts relocated to Indianapolis.

It wasn't until 1996 that Baltimore got another professional football team. The previous year, Art Modell, owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced he was going to move his team to Baltimore. After negotiations with the NFL and the city of Cleveland, members of the Cleveland team were able to become part of what was technically considered an expansion team in Baltimore.

The return of football to Baltimore was met with excitement - and an opportunity for a new name. After a list of potential names was whittled down, fans chose “Ravens” as a nod to the poem “The Raven” written by Baltimore resident Edgar Allan Poe.