ADHD-Related Fantasy Football Team Name Ideas

Players have reported. Training camps have begun. And, a new NFL season is dawning. Many of us will be taking part in the annual tradition of fantasy football. If you are like me, you want a unique name for your team. Why not use this year’s team name as an opportunity to raise ADHD awareness? There are some great possibilities out there. Below, I have compiled a few.

If you play in a league that requires a location as part of your team name, I have included some. I went for alliteration over something that makes sense neurologically. There is no reason why you have to use the location names I went with; I just used NFL franchise locations. Feel free to substitute your city or another location if you like the team name but not the location.

Detroit Dopamine

Dopamine is the reward chemical in the brain. ADHD brains crave dopamine. This leads to behaviors that are, well, interesting. Dopamine is a key player in ADHD and could be a key player in your fantasy football dominance this year.

Dallas Dopamine Receptors

I explained the significance of dopamine above. Dopamine receptors “mediate the central and peripheral actions of dopamine” (Sibley and Neve 2008). There is also potential for a football pun by changing “receptors” to “receivers,” but I’ll let you decide how you want that to play out.

Cleveland Comorbid Conditions

It is quite common for ADHD to have a tag-along. Many people (roughly half or more depending on your source) have another co-occurring condition. Naming your team the “comorbid conditions” could raise awareness that ADHD does not always occur by itself.

Denver Distractions

If you have ADHD, you are familiar with distractions. They take you away from achieving your goal. This can be frustrating. However, if you distract your opponents in sporting events (or fantasy football) that creates an opportunity for your success. I think “Distractions” is a great team name.

Houston Hyperactivity

ADHDers are known for their hyperactivity. It is seen as a bad thing in schools. However, hyperactivity can be a strength in sports. It provides relentless energy to take to opponents. I know I would not want to go up against a hyperactive defense.

Houston Hyperfocus

Yes, ADHDers suffer from inattention. However, another way of looking at it is, not a deficit of attention, but a lack of attention regulation. ADHDers are always paying attention to something. It could be what they are supposed to be focusing on, or it could be their own daydreams. Sometimes, the ADHD brain can hyperfocus on something, causing everything else to seemingly disappear. This can be a strength. Some refer to this as “flow,” not hyperfocus. Hyperfocusing on the game of football can be a strength on the field or in fantasy football.

*Houston got used twice because they were the only H-location team in the NFL.

Philadelphia Flow

See above.

Minnesota Multimodal Treatment

ADHD is best treated on multiple fronts. Medication alone will not solve all ADHD problems. “Pills don’t teach skills,” as they say. ADHD experts often recommend a multimodal approach to managing ADHD. This could mean medication and coaching, medication and a vigorous exercise regimen, or some other combination of ADHD interventions. The options are endless.

Football teams also need to attack their opponents on multiple fronts. Hence, the applicability of this term for fantasy football.

New York Neurotransmitters

CHADD’s Glossary of Terms, which they offer on their website for clarity of what we mean when talking about various aspects of ADHD, defines a neurotransmitter as a “chemical in the brain that functions as a messenger to transmit nerve impulses between nerve cells (neurons) within the nervous system.” Neurotransmitters are key players in ADHD, and can be key players for your fantasy football team!

Pittsburgh Prefrontal Cortices

The prefrontal cortex is a key player in ADHD behavior. According to CHADD’s Glossary of Terms, “[t]he front part of the frontal lobe in the brain that plays a role in controlling attention, behavior, judgment, and emotion.” One might say the prefrontal cortex is the defense against unwanted behaviors. What could be a better team name than that?!

San Francisco 504ers

This is a play on the San Francisco 49ers. While the San Francisco team is a nod to all of the miners and fortune seekers who traveled to California to seek out gold, this team name is a reference to a part of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Students with disabilities can receive support through a Section 504 plan to receive equal opportunity at schools all across the country.

Indianapolis IEPs

I.E.P. stands for Individualized Education Program. When a student (who has a disability according to law) has an IEP, the school system is required to provide specialized educational services to the student in question. This can be a great help to students with ADHD. Simply naming your fantasy football team the IEPs can be a way to raise awareness of IEPs and could help get more students with ADHD on IEPs.

Seattle Stimulants

Stimulants are the first-line treatment option when medicating ADHD. They provide the boost ADHD brains need. While stimulants should not be abused, a good team needs some sort of boost. Hence, the appropriateness of naming a team the Stimulants.

New England Executive Functions

Executive functions are those mental skills that allow us to get organized and get things done. These skills are often impaired in those with ADHD. While that might not sound like a great ADHD-related team name, it can still raise awareness.

Arizona Advocates

Everyone with ADHD needs an advocate. It can be hard to get what one needs when one has ADHD. If no one steps up to help the ADHDer, the ADHDer must be their own advocate. The world was not wired for ADHD brains. Therefore, the ADHDer needs accommodations to get an even playing field. (Come to think of it, Academic Accommodations could be a team name, too.) Advocates are powerful, and a sports team (or fantasy team) needs a powerful name. Consider naming your team the Advocates.

Atlanta ADHD Awareness

ADHD awareness is crucial. Without it, ADHD will continue to be seen as not that big of a deal. Simply naming your team “ADHD Awareness” will raise awareness. It might not be the most fearsome name, but it will get the message across.

Reserve your spot at the Reset ADHD Improv Session Thursday, August 10th.