Can You Identify the NFL Player From an Action Image?

SPORTS

By: Beth Hendricks

7 Min Quiz

Image: Wiki Commons by Keith Allison

About This Quiz

32 teams. 53 players each. The quick-and-dirty math spells out the obvious: There are nearly 1,700 athletes in today's National Football League. From quarterbacks and wide receivers to linebackers and cornerbacks, the 11 players on both sides of the ball each play have contributed to some pretty memorable moments during each 16-game season. Did you happen to see Stefon Diggs' catch that's been dubbed the "Minneapolis Miracle?" What about the infamous "helmet catch" in the Super Bowl a few years ago? Maybe you remember Odell Beckham Jr.'s crazy one-handed catch into the end zone against the Cowboys. The history of the NFL has given fans some great "action shots" of sacks, catches, tackles and goal line sneaks.

How many of these athletes can you recognize from an action image? No, we aren't going to make you identify all 1,700 athletes – just 40 will do. Can you recognize Ezekiel Elliott on a breakaway run? What about Tom Brady's throwing motion? How about Aaron Donald plowing through the offensive line to get his hands on the quarterback?

That's what this quiz is all about ... the stars of the NFL in motion! See how many of these athletes you can identify from images of them doing what they do best: scoring touchdowns, lobbing the ball down the field and delivering crushing tackles.

This guy has been a quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks since 2012. What is his name?

In 2012, when Wilson was drafted by the Seahawks, he earned the NFL's "Rookie of the Year" honors. Since then, he has been a six-time Pro Bowlers and has one Super Bowl title to his name.

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Which New York Giants running back was nominated for an 2019 ESPY Award as a "breakthrough athlete?"

Former Penn State running back Saquon Barkley was a first-round pick and the No. 2 pick overall in the 2018 NFL Draft for the New York Giants. His rookie season saw him rush for more than 1,300 yards.

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Which of these Cowboys' running backs led the league in rushing his rookie season, earning a Pro Bowl nod?

Drafted in 2016 out of Ohio State University, Ezekiel Elliott led the league in rushing his rookie season. He has been with the Dallas Cowboys the duration of his career, where he has had some off-field troubles of note.

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This defensive end for the Houston Texans led a massive fundraising efforts to help survivors of Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Who is it?

J. J. Watt has had an injury-plagued career, but that hasn't stopped the former University of Wisconsin athlete from working hard on and off the field. His fundraising efforts earned him the league's Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award in 2017.

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A former Steelers wide receiver, he is now the league's highest-paid pass catcher and an Oakland Raider. Who are we talking about?

After spending eight seasons in Pittsburgh, Brown's grumblings and off-field antics helped the team decide to trade him away, which they did before the start of the 2019 season, to the Oakland Raiders.

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Which of these NFL quarterbacks was groomed behind superstar Brett Favre for three seasons?

Aaron Rodgers was selected in the first round of the 2005 NFL draft, but sat behind superstar Brett Favre for three seasons before being unleashed as the team's starting quarterback.

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Now a member of the Cleveland Browns, which of these wide receivers is best remembered for his one-handed grab falling into the end zone?

Odell Beckham Jr.'s star grew after that one-handed catch with the New York Giants against the Dallas Cowboys. Beckham was traded to the Cleveland Browns before the 2019 NFL season.

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This Atlanta Falcons receiver is widely considered to be one of the top pass catchers in the NFL. Who is it?

Julio Jones, drafted by the Falcons after a collegiate career at the University of Alabama, had a prolific 2018 season, catching eight touchdowns and amassing nearly 1,700 yards.

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This NFL quarterback holds a variety of career records, including pass completions and passing yards. Who is it?

Playing with the New Orleans Saints since 2006, Drew Brees has climbed to the top of numerous career achievements among quarterbacks. Five times in his career he has surpassed 5,000 yards in a season.

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This running back sat out the entire 2018 NFL season, rejecting the franchise tag his team was trying to place on him. Who did it?

Le'Veon Bell got what he wanted – a ticket out of Pittsburgh – after sitting out the entire 2018 NFL season. Bell was traded to the New York Jets in the off-season following his franchise tag-rejecting statement.

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This quarterback boasts six Super Bowl rings over his nearly two-decade-long NFL career. What is his name?

Love him or hate him, you won't find many people who don't respect the career accomplishments this New England Patriots quarterback has put together since being drafted 199th in the 2000 draft. His 40-yard dash time could use some work, though.

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Which of these NFL defenders won a Super Bowl and then took on "Dancing with the Stars?"

Von Miller, an outside linebacker with the Denver Broncos, earned Super Bowl 50's MVP award. A few months later, he tackled the televised "Dancing with the Stars" competition, getting eliminated in week 7.

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This Steelers quarterback is part of the "31 Club," a group of NFL quarterbacks who have beaten each of the NFL's other teams at least once. Who is it?

Roethlisberger was drafted by the Steelers in 2004 and has performed as its starting quarterback ever since (barring injury). He is one of only six NFL quarterbacks to have at least one victory against each of the NFL's other 31 teams.

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Which of these linebackers was – shockingly – traded from the Raiders to the Bears at the start of the 2018 season?

A disruptive force on defense, Khalil Mack was shockingly traded away from the Raiders to the Bears at the start of the 2018 season. Mack wanted a big contract, but new Raiders coach Jon Gruden had other plans.

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This Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback is as well-known for his trash talk as he is his on-field play. Who is it?

A former standout at Florida State University, Ramsey was drafted by the Jaguars in 2016. He is well-known around the league for his trash-talking ways, taking jabs at everyone from his own team to his weekly opponents.

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This star running back for the Rams was surprisingly absent in his team's Super Bowl 53 appearance. Who is it?

After several prolific seasons in the NFL, Gurley was noticeably absent from his team's Super Bowl 53 appearance, prompting questions about the severity of a knee injury that had been nagging him.

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In 2017, this running back was the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year. Who is it?

Alvin Kamara played collegiate football at the University of Alabama before transferring to the University of Tennessee. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the third round of the 2017 draft.

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Which of these wide receivers caught more passes in his first three years in the NFL than any other up to that point?

The Bengals' A. J. Green took the NFL by storm when he burst onto the scene in 2011, catching more passes in his first three seasons than any other receiver to that point. The Browns' Jarvis Landry later broke that record during his time with the Dolphins.

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In a 12-month period, this athlete won an NCAA championship, the Heisman and was the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft. Who is it?

When Cam Newton was drafted No. 1 in the 2011 NFL draft, he completed a trifecta few others have achieved including winning an NCAA title and college football's most prestigious award, the Heisman Trophy.

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This Eagles tight end caught the go-ahead touchdown in Super Bowl LII to secure the victory for his team. Who is it?

Tight end Zach Ertz's go-ahead touchdown in Super Bowl 52 secured the victory for his team, the Eagles' first Super Bowl victory. It was Ertz's only touchdown catch in a Super Bowl where he earned 67 yards on seven catches.

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Which of these defenders has been called both one of the NFL's top defenders and the greatest interior lineman of all time?

After a collegiate career at the University of Pittsburgh, Aaron Donald was drafted by the Rams in 2014, making the move with the team from St. Louis to Los Angeles. His name is always mentioned at the top of defensive honors.

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Which of these quarterbacks is the only to have thrown for more than 5,000 yards in both a collegiate season and an NFL season?

After sitting behind then-starter Alex Smith for one season, Mahomes earned the starting nod the next year. He subsequently threw for more than 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns. Not bad for a rookie.

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This new-to-the-league quarterback broke a nearly two-year winless streak for his NFL team. Who are we talking about?

Baker Mayfield led the Cleveland Browns to a victory in his first start, snapping a nearly two-year winless streak the franchise was in the midst of. Mayfield was the No. 1 draft pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

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This NFL wide receiver has played with nearly 20 different quarterbacks during his career. Who are we talking about?

Despite spending the entirety of his NFL career with the Arizona Cardinals, Larry Fitzgerald's team has struggled with keeping a QB for the Pro Bowler. By some estimates, Fitzgerald has played with 18 different QBs since 2004.

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One of these former college quarterbacks is the second most prolific post-season players in history behind Jerry Rice. What is his name?

Standing just 5 feet, 10 inches tall, Julian Edelman has defied the odds in the NFL. His post-season work has vaulted him to the top of the list for receiving yards and receptions behind only Jerry Rice.

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This Tennessee Titans' QB was born in Hawaii. What is his name?

Marcus Mariota was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1993 and went on to play collegiately at the University of Oregon, where he won the Heisman Trophy. Mariota is the Tennessee Titans' starting quarterback.

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This Los Angeles Chargers defensive end earned Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2016. Who is it?

Drafted by the Chargers in 2016, Joey Bosa earned the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year honors his first season. Bosa played college football at Ohio State University and was his draft class's third pick overall.

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This quarterback was the heir apparent in New England before being traded to the San Francisco 49ers. Who is it?

After sitting several seasons behind Tom Brady, Jimmy Garoppolo was sent to the 49ers in a trade that shocked fans of both teams. Garoppolo was injured early in the 2018 season and did not finish the year as the team's starter.

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Which of these wide receivers has spent the duration of his NFL career with the Houston Texans?

DeAndre Hopkins played college ball at Clemson University before being the second wide receiver taken in the 2013 draft. Hopkins has played for the Texans for the duration of his professional career.

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Which Jacksonville Jaguars running back has battled injury – and other players – since entering the league in 2017?

The Jaguars first-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Fournette was expected to make an immediate impact for the team. But a rash of injuries – and a fistfight in the midst of a 2018 brawl – have slowed the running back's progress.

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This Cardinals cornerback has earned Pro Bowl nods in each of his eight seasons in this league. Who is it?

The Arizona Cardinals' Patrick Peterson has never been to a Super Bowl, but he has earned Pro Bowl nods in each of his eight seasons in the league. Peterson was a first-round draft pick out of LSU.

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This defensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles earned a peer-voted place on the "NFL Top 100 Players of 2018" list. Who is it?

Fletcher Cox earned his first Super Bowl ring at the conclusion of the 2017 season with the Philadelphia Eagles. He has been named to the "Top 100" list by his peers three separate times.

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Which of these defenders, who has been a member of four NFL squads, is well-known for his aggressive on-field behavior?

Ndamukong Suh hasn't always been on the positive side of the press about him, being fined more than $250,000 since 2014 for violating the league's safety rules. He has nearly 500 tackles throughout his NFL career.

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This Carolina Panthers linebacker led the NFL in sacks his rookie season. Who is he?

Luke Kuechly has spent the duration of his NFL career in Charlotte with the Carolina Panthers, leading the NFL in sacks his rookie season in 2012. Kuechly is also a six-time Pro Bowler.

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The middle linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks has earned Pro Bowl honors five times in his seven-season career. Who is it?

Bobby Wagner only earned one scholarship offer in college, accepting it and enrolling at Utah State. He has been a prolific addition to the Seahawks' defense, earning Pro Bowl honors five times during his career.

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Which of these receivers led the entire NFL in receptions during the 2018 season?

The New Orleans Saints' Michael Thomas led the league in receptions for the 2018 season, hauling in 125 receptions for more than 1,400 receiving yards. He broke several team records the same season.

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This defensive end's play helped contribute to the Jaguars' "Sacksonville" nickname. What is his name?

Starting his career with the Arizona Cardinals, Calais Campbell signed with a new team – the Jaguars – in 2017. His play during that season helped the team earn the nickname, "Sacksonville," among its fans.

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This athlete is a free safety who was drafted by the Green Bay Packers before later signing with the Buffalo Bills. What is his name?

Micah Hyde played college football at the University of Iowa, and was drafted by the Packers in 2013. He played several seasons in Green Bay before signing with the Buffalo Bills before the 2017 season.

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This cornerback spent several seasons with the Buffalo Bills before signing with the Bills' division rival. Who is it?

Stephon Gilmore, considered by many to be the league's most elite corner, finally earned his Super Bowl ring with the New England Patriots in the 2018 season. Gilmore intercepted a pass in that game to help ensure the team's victory.

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He's a former University of Cincinnati athlete considered one of the league's best tight ends. Who is he?

Travis Kelce played college ball at the University of Cincinnati before being drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2013. He has been selected to the Pro Bowl four times during his NFL career.

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