NFL Mascots: Ranking Every Mascot In The National Football League

The NFL is teeming with mascots. Only four of the league’s franchises don’t have some kind of cartoonised animal or humanoid stirring up the crowd between plays, and the Saints even run out two mascots.

Yet, even with the Los Angeles Chargers, New York Jets, New York Giants, and Green Bay Packers being sans an NFL mascot, there are plenty of crazy characters to amp it up on game day.

Now and then, mascots manage to get the crowd to hit that next level of support, spurring the team on to defy the odds and make a comeback, so it’s sometimes worth considering their antics for live betting purposes.

Among the bunch, you’ll find nine big-headed humanoids (including one elf), five birds, four cats (of the domestic and big varieties), two horses, a dog and a wolf, and one bull, bison, ram, dolphin, bear, raccoon, and pig.

Putting the mascots into a ranking isn’t an exact science, but for these, we’ve taken character design, presence in and around games, and the general fan reception of the mascots reported around the league.

Raider Rusher (Las Vegas Raiders)

Footing the rankings is the Las Vegas Raiders mascot, Raider Rusher. The franchise may be an illustrious one, but the creativity and appeal of this NFL mascot better reflect the team’s underwhelming 2024 exploits.

At least the Raiders’ home stadium is always teeming with creative supporters who turn up to games in zanier, more menacing, and more outrageous outfits than their mascot.

K.C. Wolf (Kansas City Chiefs)

Looking beyond the years of NFL betting success the Kansas City Chiefs have brought backers, K.C. Wolf, unfortunately, doesn’t get to rank in the upper echelons of NFL mascots here.

Despite rocking up as a wolf, K.C. Wolf doesn’t exactly inspire the same kind of fear Patrick Mahomes and Co. do whenever they step onto the field, but perhaps weirdly goofy was what they were going for here.

T-Rac (Tennessee Titans)

Easily mistaken for one of the many cat NFL mascots, T-Rac is actually a raccoon, according to their official team page description.

On the one hand, T-Rac is a novel choice that makes the world of NFL mascots all the more interesting. On the other, the design is just missing something that’d make T-Rac fully stand out as a raccoon – perhaps white fur around the spectacles, nose, and ear tufts?

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Captain Fear)

Being the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, going for a pirate was always the natural pick, but the shift from Bucco Bruce to Captain Fear was a bit of a downgrade.

Even with his scar and grimace, Captain Fear doesn’t even sport a classic pirate captain hat! Still, the mascot design does suit the team.

Brownie the Elf (Cleveland Browns)

Resurrected after 61 years out in the cold, the Cleveland Browns brought back Brownie the Elf in 2022 after he won, by quite some margin, a fan vote to bring him back.

Brownie the Elf was the team’s first official mascot, but was put on the shelf by the team’s new owner, Art Modell, back in 1961. Modell stated to the press that his first act would be to “get rid of that little f****r.”

Well, that “little f****r” is back now and even helped inspire a run to the playoffs in 2023, as well as Joe Flacco, Myles Garrett, Jim Schwartz, and Kevin Stefanski to win AP Awards.

Sir Saint and Gumbo (New Orleans Saints)

The whopping chin and cape of Sir Saint make for what is at least a more cartoonish take on the humanoid NFL mascot, but this isn’t the most inspired mascot choice.

Sir Saint’s companion, Gumbo, used to be played by an actual dog, and while Gumbo is certainly far better than whatever Mambo was when it replaced the pooch, there’s not a lot to bark about with the Gumbo character.

Rowdy (Dallas Cowboys)

The Dallas Cowboys have themselves a cowboy as a mascot, which makes sense. What makes less sense is that they picked a cereal box character to play the role.

As an NFL mascot, Rowdy does, indeed, manage to get Dallas fans rowdy when the team needs them, and enjoys putting on a fair few special stunts from time to time.

Freddie Falcon (Atlanta Falcons)

The design of the Atlanta Flacons’ logo is quite cutting and intimidating, but for their mascot, they went with a nerd bird.

Freddie Falcon’s here to be the friendly and welcoming NFL mascot, but you can be friendly and welcoming to your home fans while also giving the opposition something to think about.

Pat Patriot (New England Patriots)

Very much the Muppet incarnation of his former New England Patriots center namesake, Pat the Patriot does manage to stand out among the humanoid NFL mascots for his novel design.

Complete with spurred gauntlets and an anvil jawline, Pat the Patriot offers just enough to inspire a raucous response from fans by his design alone.

Billy Buffalo (Buffalo Bills)

A play on Buffalo Bill and the whole bison-leaning of the franchise’s name, Billy Buffalo has been toned down from his much more gruff and menacing former aesthetic.

Now, he’s family-friendly, a bit on the chunky side, and likes to do things like wear vests and shades in the snow. He’s let himself go, but Billy still puts in a good shift on game day.

Poe (Baltimore Ravens)

Creatively named after the Edgar Allan Poe poem, Poe is the last remaining of the original three mascot brothers – most likely left behind because his wings aren’t big enough to get that bill off of the ground.

More of a black pelican in the eyes of many, Poe’s cartoonishly large beak is understandable as a design choice for a fun, family-friendly rendition of a bird that’s long been known as a harbinger of death.

Staley Da Bear (Chicago Bears)

A superb naming choice to link back to the Chicago Bears’ original owner, Staley Da Bear is an iconic NFL mascot. However, he is in need of an update.

Perfectly suiting the team he represents, the dreary eyes, oversized snout, and somewhat chubby face could do with a bit of work to make the bear either more cartoonish or, preferably, a bit more modern and menacing.

Blue (Indianapolis Colts)

Blue puts on a show at the Lucas Oil Stadium and has won over many fans around game day with his bubbly attitude and fun tricks.

He’s just a very happy horsey that embraces the more zany design put to the character. Plus, Blue loves to get involved with the crowd – especially when there’s a whipped cream pie to go!

T.D. (Miami Dolphins)

The Dolphins are an iconic team, with their name, logo, and colour scheme being among the best in the NFL, so they had to commit to having a dolphin mascot.

While perhaps not as beloved as Snowflake from Ace Ventura: Pet Detective would be, T.D. is much more practical and animal-friendly. Plus, given that they needed to get a cetacean in football gear, the designers did a grand job.

Major Tuddy (Washington Commanders)

As the Washington Redskins, the team didn’t exactly have an official mascot, but there was Chief Zee to add to the growing controversy in the US as to the name and persona of the team.

With a big revamp to the Washington Commanders came a new official mascot, Major Tuddy. A fan of the team since he was a mere piglet, the toughness of the team’s offensive line inspired him to become big and strong.

Sourdough Sam (San Francisco 49ers)

Sourdough Sam is the epitome of a happy chappy, always getting involved with the in-stadium entertainment, showing off his moves, and cheering on the San Francisco 49ers.

As far as the humanoid NFL mascots go, Sourdough Sam easily ranks among the best in design and his impact on game day.

Steely McBeam (Pittsburgh Steelers)

Fully embracing the Steel City moniker of his home city, complete with steelworker attire and a big grin for all occasions, Steely McBeam is a man of the people.

Some say that Steely McBeam’s anvil jaw is actually made of steel, while others say it’s just foam shaped to replicate coach Bill Cowher.

Sir Purr (Carolina Panthers)

Panthers have a bad reputation in the United States, so there’s something admirable about Sir Purr being such a cuddly form of big black cat as they prowl the ground and get the fans going.

The mascot even has a great sense of humour about those who thought he was a bear – what with the slightly too long snout – with Sir Purr’s X name being “I’M THAT BEAR.”

Toro (Houston Texans)

It’s always bigger in Texas, as they say, and Toro fully embodies this; the bull being quite the unit on the sidelines.

He’s tall, sports pretty broad shoulders, and a set of pointed horns atop its great big head, making for the perfect NFL mascot for the Houston Texans.

Jaxson de Ville (Jacksonville Jaguars)

Doing a lot of making up for team performances at home, on the road, and overseas, there isn’t any denying that Jaxson de Ville earns his paycheque.

The mascot is regularly coming up with new stunts to perform for the crowds, loves himself a zipline, and is always bouncing around the field to get the crowd going.

Roary (Detroit Lions)

Roary’s quite the unit on the NFL field, but with his lax eyes and bouncy mane, he strikes a balance between being approachable and, of course, being a rip-roaring lion.

The Detroit Lions opted to change his design not long ago, and now, the team looks like a true top contender for the Super Bowl. Read into that what you will…

Viktor the Viking (Minnesota Vikings)

The highest-ranking humanoid NFL mascot on this list, Viktor the Viking is easily the best choice for the Minnesota Vikings and goes all in on the persona of the warring Scandinavians of the Middle Ages.

He’s all-in on the Viking persona, boasting long locks, an enviable moustache, and old horned helmet, golden gauntlets, and muscles that could rival those of Thor himself.

Who Dey (Cincinnati Bengals)

Named to famed chant of the crowd, Who Dey is the perfect pick to suit up in the ever-eye-catching tiger stripes of the Cincinnati Bengals.

The towering Bengal tiger’s design does well to steer away from the cereal box mascot, and over the years, Who Dey has become known as one of the more mischievous NFL mascots – especially when the Browns come to town!

Swoop (Philadelphia Eagles)

The Philadelphia Eagles want Lincoln Financial Field to be a daunting stadium to visit, and while the fans and team help to make this so, it’s Swoop who adds that final fluttering of fear for travelling teams.

The raging bald eagle first dove into the stadium from 10,000 feet in 1996 to join the cheerleaders on the field. Since then, the hulking Swoop has continued to spur on the crowd and stare down opposing teams.

Miles (Denver Broncos)

An icon of the NFL mascot scene, Miles managed to make a horse look incredibly menacing and mighty, boasting a sharp stare and a sinister grin.

The mascot raised by wild horses is always upbeat, bouncing around the ground and getting the crowd going when their team makes a big play.

Blitz the Seahawk (Seattle Seahawks)

The big birds continue to circle the top five places in this NFL mascot ranking, with Blitz being one of the most fear-inducing of the bunch.

Not only does the incredible design make for one of the coolest-looking NFL mascots around, but Blitz the Seahawk became all the more relevant in the Pete Carroll days alongside his ‘Legion of Boom.’

Big Red (Arizona Cardinals)

A third bird makes the cut for the top five NFL mascots, with the iconic Big Red flying in with his 6’4’’ frame and 7’’ wingspan.

Actually based on the northern cardinal, which is a roughly 9’’ songbird, Big Red is a freak of nature, always swooping around the stadium, showing off his impeccable costume design, and getting the fans hyped.

Rampage (Los Angeles Rams)

The then-St. Louis Rams made a wise choice to switch from the bizarre Ramster of the 1990s to the imperious design that we now see for Rampage with the Los Angeles Rams.

Ditching the cuddly sheep persona and aesthetic, Rampage is all action, with mighty curved horns atop its rock-solid skull. Best of all, Rampage is a cool guy, always mixing up the show and connecting with fans on game day.