In general news and sports coverage, the full city and team name should be used on first reference in copy.
However, in all headlines and on first reference in copy where the NFL context is obvious, only the full team name needs to be used: Falcons gear up for Week 8 clash with Saints; The Broncos clinched the AFC West title.
Below are common nicknames for each team, all of which are acceptable on subsequent reference in copy. Nicknames with a caret (^) are the preferred name, whereas nicknames with an asterisk (*) should be used sparingly, if at all.
| Arizona Cardinals | Cards |
| Atlanta Falcons | Birds, Dirty Birds* |
| Baltimore Ravens | |
| Buffalo Bills | |
| Carolina Panthers | |
| Chicago Bears | Monsters of the Midway* |
| Cincinnati Bengals | |
| Cleveland Browns | |
| Dallas Cowboys | ‘Boys |
| Denver Broncos | |
| Detroit Lions | |
| Green Bay Packers | the Pack |
| Houston Texans | |
| Indianapolis Colts | |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | Jags |
| Kansas City Chiefs | |
| Las Vegas Raiders | |
| Los Angeles Chargers | Bolts |
| Los Angeles Rams | |
| Miami Dolphins | Fish |
| Minnesota Vikings | Vikes |
| New England Patriots | Pats |
| New Orleans Saints | |
| New York Giants | G-Men* |
| New York Jets | |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Birds |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | |
| San Francisco 49ers | Niners^ |
| Seattle Seahawks | Hawks |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Bucs |
| Tennessee Titans | |
| Washington Commanders |