An NFL team does not need a mascot to succeed. If that were the case, four squads — the Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, Los Angeles Chargers, and New York Jets — would actually have an official one to begin with.
Alas, having a human being wear a giant cartoon-like suit while prancing around the field isn’t a mission everyone pursues. But the franchises that do have a cool mascot deserve praise for adding to the on-field pageantry. Sure, we’re really only around to watch the games and monitor our fantasy teams. There’s no need to deny it. Still, it’s always tremendously funny to see a caricature of a wild animal or figure from American history try to pump us up for a sport as silly as football.
With the 2023 NFL season in full swing, here’s the only glossary of mascot rankings you’ll need to reference all year. Some, of course, are absolute winners and delights to look at. Others are rough around the edges, ugly, and sometimes just entirely dull.
MORE NFL: