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Ranking NFL mascots: Who is the best mascot in American Football?
Ciku Njuguna
April 16, 2024 at 4:18 PM
The live NFL football experience is not much to discuss without its entertaining animated characters. Mascots are considered a team's good luck charm and play a crucial role in rallying and entertaining fans and players. Dig into this article for a complete ranking of the best NFL mascots.
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Table of Сontents:
Who is the NFL's number-one mascot? Sports Brief has compiled a comprehensive list of the most successful mascots in NFL history using official NFL sources, Sports Illustrated, and fan reviews from TierMaker. From Blitz of the Seattle Seahawks to Arizona Cardinals’ Big Red, dig into this up-to-date ranking of NFL mascots who have brought joy and entertainment to the gridiron world.
Who are the best NFL mascots?
Mascots are an integral part of teams and the football fan culture in the National Football League. Traditional sports talismans were first used in the 1920s as live animals or symbols before gaining mainstream popularity in the 1960s. Since then, the concept of emblems has evolved into playful animated personalities that represent the team's values.
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The best NFL mascots embody the spirit of football and teammanship. In addition to entertaining the audience during game days, the fun-loving animal characters play a crucial role in enchanting football fans and maintaining engagement.
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Iconic figures in the trade include Sir Purr of the Carolina Panthers, who won the 2017 and 2018 NFL Mascot of the Year. This article dives deep into the history of the best NFL mascots and their influence on team performance.
Mascot | Team |
T-Rac | Tennessee Titans |
Who Dey | Cincinnati Bengals |
Jaxon De Ville | Jacksonville Jaguars |
Toro | Houston Texans |
Viktor | Minnesota Vikings |
Swoop | Philadelphia Eagles |
Steely McBeam | Pittsburgh Steelers |
Blitz | Seattle Seahawks |
Major Teddy | Washington commanders |
Billy Buffalo | Buffalo Bills |
10. T-Rac
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- Full name: T-Rac
- Debut: 1999
- Team: Tennessee Titans
- Character description: Racoon
As the Tennessee Titans mascot, T-Rac does his part to ensure every game in the NFL is exciting. Always the entertainer/comedian, he has been known to zipline from the top of Nissan Stadium, rappel from the highest buildings in downtown Nashville, and has been to the twelve Pro Bowl tournaments.
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9. Who Dey
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- Full name: Who Dey
- Debut: 1994
- Team: Cincinnati Bengals
- Character description: Bengal tiger
Cincinnati Bengals’ ‘Who They?’ or ‘Who Dey?’ chant began in the 1980s with historians linking the term to a Cinchona brewing company, Hudepohl Brewing. Before their aptly named mascot took on a life-size form, Benzoo, a real tiger from the Cincinnati Zoo, graced their games.
8. Jaxson de Ville
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- Full name: Jaxson de Ville
- Debut: 1996
- Team: Jacksonville Jaguars
- Character description: Jaguar or cat
Before debuting as the Jacksonville Jaguars mascot, Jaxson de Ville was a stray cat discovered living in the team's stadium in 1993. The 403-pound life-sized jaguar is known for his daredevil entrances, including ziplining onto the football field. Jaxson de Ville is 2.13 m (7') tall.
7. Steely McBeam
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- Full name: Steely McBean
- Debut: 2007
- Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
- Character description: Human
In 2007, the Steelers' new mascot was named after a fan contest involving around 70,000 submissions. The human figure who makes appearances at matches, practice sessions and team events is made in the likeness of the team's former coach, Bill Cowher. When asked about the name choice, the contest winner, Diane Roles, said on YouTube,
"It is Steely McBean. Steely because it is a steel town (Pittsburgh), Mick because the Steelers are Irish and Beam because 'steel beam' plus my husband loves Jim Beam, so there you go. It is an all-win situation, right?"
6. Viktor
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- Full name: Viktor the Viking
- Debut: 2007
- Team: Minnesota Vikings
- Character description: Viking warrior
Battle-ready warrior Viktor the Viking is a favourite among fans. The mascot, known for dressing in full armour, received mixed rankings on TierMaker's 2024 NFL mascots tier lists.
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5. Toro
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- Full name: Toro
- Debut: 2001
- Team: Houston Texans
- Character description: Bull
In addition to winning the hearts and minds of Houston Texans' fans and players, Toro has won multiple awards. According to Shorty Awards, the mascot bagged eleven Pro Bowler titles, the 2020 NFL Mascot Anchor in the Community, the 2016 and 2022 NFL Mascot Stunt of the Year and the 2022 NFL Mascot Video of the Year.
Toro is 1.83 m (6') tall. The bovine prankster is also one of the most followed NFL mascots, with 216,000 followers on Facebook, 200,000 on Instagram, 18,300 on X(Twitter), 1.4 million on TikTok and 91,700 subscribers on YouTube as of April 2024.
4. Swoop
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- Full name: Swoop
- Debut: 1996
- Team: Philadelphia Eagles
- Character description: Bald eagle
Bald eagles are carnivorous, with Swoop's diet comprising rival teams such as the Cardinals, Falcons, Ravens, and Seahawks. The 1.92 m (6'3") tall mascot soars high on the TierMaker ranks, just like a bald eagle.
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3. Blitz
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- Full name: Blitz
- Debut: 1998
- Team: Seattle Seahawks
- Character description: Augur hawk
Blitz is one of the most popular NFL mascots, standing at 1.86 m (6'1") tall. Seahawks describes the Seattle Seahawks' mascot as a fun-loving hawk who jumps off the Lumen Field roof; Boom, an adolescent member; and Taima, an Augur hawk who has been with the Seahawks since June 13, 2005.
2. Major Tuddy
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- Full name: Major Tuddy
- Debut: 2023
- Team: Washington commanders
- Character description: Pig
Major Tuddy is one of the newest NFL mascots, unveiled in January 2023. According to USA Today, Major Tuddy hails from a former offensive lineman from the 1980s who led the team to three Super Bowls. Major Tuddy is 1.98 m (6'5") tall.
1. Billy Buffalo
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- Full name: Billy Buffalo
- Debut: 2000
- Team: Buffalo Bills
- Character description: Buffalo
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Away from the rampaging buffalo herds, Billy Buffalo is ever present during his team's home games at Highmark Stadium. He even attends the team's practice sessions, weddings, schools, and other community events. Billy Buffalo is 2.20 m (7'2") tall.
Frequently asked questions
Although the compilation above does not include the list of all ranked NFL mascots, every team's emblem is essential in maintaining the team's culture. Have a look at these facts about the top NFL mascots in 2024.
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1. Who is the hardest-working mascot in the NFL?
CBS Sports says Sourdough Sam has been the San Francisco 49ers' official mascot since 1994. Regarded as the hardest-working character in the NFL, Sam was a gold prospector turned miner whose favourite food is sourdough bread.
The kind-hearted miner often attends corporate gatherings, festivals, charities, youth camps, schools, and birthday parties.
2. Who is the most followed NFL mascot?
Several teams maximise their mascots' popularity to maintain fan engagement in the season and off-season. Three-time NFL Mascot of the Year Blue of the Indiana Colts has over 254,000 followers on Instagram and over 5,580 subscribers on YouTube as of April 2024.
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Fan favourites such as Blitz the Seahawk have over 108,000 followers on Instagram and 40,700 followers on X(Twitter).
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3. Who is the most recognisable mascot?
Some of the most famous emblems worldwide include Mickey Mouse and Michelin Man. In a 2024 ranking by Strawpoll, the top-ranked most popular emblems include Houston Texans’ Toro, Denver Broncos' Miles, and New England Patriots' Pat Patriot.
Final word
NFL mascots play a significant part in the fan's experience. Team emblems are known for uplifting crowds and keeping up team spirit. Others even attend birthday parties and weddings.
READ ALSO: Here is a list of the most popular sports mascots in the world
Sports Brief has published an article on one of the most popular sports emblems worldwide. Brand mascots such as Mickey Mouse need no introduction, like emblems in sports such as Mr Met, KC Wolf and the Olympic mascots. Click on the link above for details of the most beloved sports emblems.
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