What nickname is written on every NFL football?
The Duke
50%
Correct
Mean Joe
Sweetness
Night Train
Tim Mara founded the New York Giants in 1925, and allowed his young son Wellington (named for the Duke of Wellington, vanquisher of Napoleon) to take part in the games as a ballboy. The players decided to call him the Duke, and the name stuck. Later, when Tim Mara secured a contract with the Wilson company to supply game balls, Chicago Bears coach/owner George Halas suggested they add “The Duke” to the balls in honor of the Maras. This arrangement came to an end when the NFL joined with the AFL in 1970, but when Wellington Mara passed away in 2005, the NFL added “The Duke” back to its footballs as a tribute. These days, many coaches and players refer to the ball itself as just the “duke” — a perfect tribute to a former ballboy.
Source: Smithsonian Magazine | Date Updated: April 27, 2021