The National Football League is home to some of the most interesting team names in Sports. While many of the teams in the league have human names, several teams have made names for themselves after professions, weather, and people of high significance. However, teams in the NFL that have animal mascots are usually the most recognizable since animals usually have qualities that the team, or league, would want to portray.
In addition, these mascots are also more recognizable and entertaining to the fans at a later time.
As such, this article contains all the information regarding NFL teams with animal mascots along with the meanings and interesting facts about them.
Why Animal Mascots are so popular
Animals can often be linked to specific characteristics, for instance big animals like the Bears are linked to power whereas faster animals, such as the cheetah, are linked to speed. Secondly, animal mascots are usually instantly recognisable and have catchy logos, mascots and rituals for the teams that employ them. Lastly, some mascots are so iconic that they overshadow the team itself.
NFL Teams With Animal Mascots
Below is the list of every NFL franchise that has an animal mascot as their team name with a small description of every animal and its significance.
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinal is a beautiful bird that boasts exceptionally bright red colors. Although this cute little animal has never been associated with anything violent or aggressive, it has nevertheless become an NFL mascot because of its beautiful feathers.
Atlanta Falcons
Falcons are one of the fastest and smartest bird species in the world.
Baltimore Ravens
Edgar Allan Poe’s famous poem about the Raven made every citizen of Baltimore desire to adopt the bird as their team name since it is one of the most intelligent species in the avian world.
Carolina Panthers
The panther is a large and beautiful feline with frightening visages that radiate power and strength on the field making it one of the most menacing NFL mascots.
Chicago Bears
The bear is one of the largest animals on land with tremendous force that has been captured by many NFL teams. Chicago bears is an example of a team that makes good use of the powerful mascot.
Cincinnati Bengals
Same with bears, bengals are big cats with ridiculous strength and speed which makes one of the scariest NFL mascots. They are also one of the most recognizable mascots for an NFL franchise.
Denver Broncos
Broncs are wild horses, and the horse’s features perfectly match the characteristics of the NFL team. It is impossible to call such a sports team member as timid or weak. The name itself already makes the players perform bigger stunts to prove that they are worthy bronc riders.
Detroit Lions
Lions are one of the most popular animals for mascot representation because of being the king of the jungle. Exactly the same reason made Detroit Lions choose this team name and mascot as well. Moreover, they have one of the oldest mascots in the NFL.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars are one of the fastest big cats in the world with one of the most powerful bodies amongst felines making them one of the most feared NFL mascots.
Los Angeles Rams
Rams are one of the strongest animals in the world with frightening abilities, one of which is having horns as one of their weapons. They also possess the ability to charge with an unstoppable force making the NFL mascot appropriate for the sport.
Miami Dolphins
Dolphins may seem silly for a sports team since they are aquatic animals that cannot run on land. However, dolphins are one of the most clever, quick, and agile animals in the animal world and the Miami Dolphins have one of the most interesting NFL mascots.
Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles are one of the most recognizable animal mascots that are found almost worldwide. They are also one of the most revered birds in the world, plus one of America’s founding symbols, giving the Philadelphia Eagles one of the most recognizable mascots in the NFL.
Seattle Seahawks
In fact, the Seahawks are not even animals, but rather a group of large and quick birds that are often seen hanging around coastal regions. The birds of prey gave the Seattle Seahawks one of the most fitting mascots for an NFL franchise.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers are one of the most befuddling choices for an NFL mascot, as the team actually doesn’t have one. The team picked a parrot to be their mascot, while the name Buccaneers was given to groups of pirates.
Tennessee Titans
One should assume that Titans are some kind of large animals but these are actually Greek mythical warriors from ancient legends.
What animal mascots are the most common?
Looking at the list, it seems as if the most common type of animals for mascots are birds. Such as the Cardinals, Falcons, Ravens, as well as Seahawks.
Another class of animals that are commonly found as mascots are large powerful animals. Such as the Bears, Lions, Panthers, Jaguars, Bengals, and Rams.
The reason why so many NFL mascots are large predators is because they radiate the traits of being powerful and fearsome which are the qualities desired by most sports teams.
Traits of a Good NFL Mascot
Most mascots that have stood the test of time tend to have the following attributes:
- Memorable/Simple
- Symbolizes strength/speed/creativity
- Appealing to children
- Fitting to use on logos and accessories
- Fun/Funny
Fun Facts about animal mascots in the NFL
- There are animal mascots for over a third of the NFL teams.
- Birds seem to be the most common NFL mascots.
- The Ravens were named after Edgar Allan Poe’s famous poem about the raven.
- The Bengals were named after the Bengal tiger.
- The Lions and the Bears have had their mascots for almost a century.
- Many teams utilize their mascots as their primary attraction in logos, stadiums, and other events.
Also Read: Team Name for Cooking Competition: 100+ Funny, Creative, Catchy, and Clever Ideas
Why do people like animal mascots?
Although there is no certain answer to this question, animal mascots have proved to be more entertaining and recognizable to fans, as well as provide memorable merchandise. They also create a sense of unity not just for the city or state but for the fans as well. In short, animal mascots are what make up the most recognizable part of the NFL leagues.
FAQ
Q: Which animal mascot is the strongest in the NFL?
It could be argued that many animal mascots can be considered the strongest, but animals such as the Bear, Lion, Panther, Jaguar, Bengal tiger, and Ram are all incredibly strong.
Q: Are all NFL animal mascots actually real animals?
Although most animals are real, the Seahawk is not really an animal but rather a group of large coastal birds.
Q: What is the significance behind NFL mascots that are animals?
The significance behind NFL mascots that are animals is they radiate qualities that are sought by teams in the league. They are also memorable and entertaining.
Animal mascots have played an essential role in promoting the popularity of sports all over the world. The fierce Bengals, powerful Lions, beautiful Panthers, and other big cats, such as Jaguars, are some of the most recognizable mascots of NFL teams.
At the same time, large and fast animals, such as the Rams and Broncos, may also be suitable symbols of the football team, as they inspire fear in the sport where power is the primary attribute.
By contrast, birds, such as Eagles, Ravens, and Falcons, symbolize agility and speed, which are essential qualities of any NFL player.
Still, regardless of which category of animals’ mascots is preferred, sports fans and historians will find fascinating facts about their history, which have contributed to the NFL’s iconic status for centuries.