30 Top Famous Sports Mascots

Here’s a list of 30 sports mascots I’ve put together for you. It includes mascots for football teams, sports clubs, Olympic Games, basketball teams, baseball teams, and iconic mascots from various sports events.

30 Famous Sports Mascots

Mascots are brand representatives that can be helpful in several aspects. If you need detailed information on this topic, read the blog “What are Brand Mascots?”

Also, we have a list of top brand mascots here: Most Famous and Popular Brand Mascots.

However, as stated above, in this blog, we’ll focus on the sports industry and take a closer look at well-known mascots that sports teams use as their symbol.

The first one is:

Benny the Bull (Chicago Bulls – NBA)

Predictably, a team named Chicago Bull must use a bull as its mascot, and the team owners have done this. Benny is a famous and beloved brand character who became the physical mascot, connecting the team and its fans.

Benny was introduced in 1969, and from the very beginning, he became the club’s favorite icon because he perfectly embodies the energetic and competitive spirit that are inseparable attributes of the Chicago Bulls’ history.

Beyond its role on the court in creating excitement among fans, the marketing team has benefited from its existence in multiple campaigns over the decades. It still serves as a valuable asset that draws attention to advertising content.

It is worth mentioning that Benny’s popularity is not limited to Chicago since he occasionally makes appearances in various NBA global events.

Millanello (AC Milan – Seria A)

AC Milan was founded more than 120 years ago, and it is a highly iconic football (soccer) club in Italy and even the world. The club’s mascot, Millanelo, which is named after their famous training center, is a devil representing the team’s historical label: Devils.

The branding team created this smiley red devil in 2000, and since then, it has played a leading role in marketing and advertising campaigns.

Although leveraging brand mascots in European football teams is not as common as in the NBA and among American basketball clubs, it’s been a while since big teams in this sport started taking this approach, and AC Milan is one of them.

Like other famous sports mascots, Millanello is helpful in terms of engaging with fans, merchandising, content creation, etc.

Magique (Winter Olympic Mascot)

Not only do clubs and teams benefit from creating mascots, but also global sports events, such as the Olympics, take the same approach and leave a more lasting impression. Magique was the mascot of the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France. The little imp in a star shape was created 3 years before the opening ceremony in 1989. A combination of blue, red, and white flawlessly represents the French flag, the colors of the host nation.

Magique is a made-up name selected after a lengthy process of choosing the right title for the mascot.

Racing Presidents (Washington Nationals – MLB)

Washington is the capital of the U.S. and has been home to its presidents for centuries. The Washington Nationals, a baseball team competing in Major League Baseball, embraced the history of its hometown and introduced four mascots to its fans, each representing an iconic president of the country. These four influential figures are:

1. George Washington
2. Thomas Jefferson
3. Abraham Lincoln
4. Theodore Roosevelt

These mascots race each other around the field at every Washington Nationals home game, delighting and entertaining fans.

The Presidents replaced the club’s former mascot in 2006, and statistics prove this change was successful. Symbolic national figures represent a team named the Washington Nationals; it’s that simple.

Gritty (Philadelphia Flyers – NHL)

Gritty is a relatively young orange beast 7 feet tall yet friendly and lovable to fans. It was introduced in 2018 after club managers felt the gap could only be filled with a well-crafted mascot that personifies the club’s characteristics and values.

Gritty’s bright orange fur, dazed beard, large googly eyes, and rounded belly made him a beloved brand character among Philadelphia Flyers fans. Gritty’s unique attributes and temperament perfectly suit hockey’s essence. As a result, he successfully extended his reach beyond the hockey arenas, and club owners benefitted from their renowned mascots’ appearances in various programs and events.

Gunnersaurus (Arsenal – Premier League)

Gunnersaurus is a dinosaur representing the Arsenal Football Club in London. Arsenal is a globally famous team and has been playing in the top league of England for many years. As their logo depicts, the team is primarily known as the Gunners. The mascot is designed as a dinosaur, as mentioned earlier. Thus, combining ‘Gunners’ with ‘dinosaur’ resulted in the name Gunnersaurus. It’s indeed fascinating.

Another interesting fact is that an 11-year-old fan was the original creator of Gunnersaurus. In 1993, the club ran a competition to engage younger supporters, and participants were asked to submit their sketches for the club’s mascot.

Finally, Peter Lovell’s design, Gunnersaurus, was selected. This beloved dinosaur has found its place in the hearts of Arsenal fans since his debut, and he has made their home games, now at Emirates Stadium, more special than ever.

Jaxson De Ville (Jacksonville Jaguars – NFL)

Except for Jacksonville Jaguars fans, NFL viewers generally agree that this team is not worth watching. However, its mascot is a fantastic brand character, symbolizing the club and fostering an emotional bond with its fan base.

As the club’s name suggests, Jaxson De Ville is a yellow jaguar in human form who officially appeared in 1996. From the very beginning of his career, fans have loved him for his bold and fearless attributes. Imagine you’re sitting in a stadium, and suddenly, the mascot of the host ziplining down to the field. That’s why fans started to adore Jaxson De Ville as the representative of their favorite sports team despite the club’s struggles.

Like other mascots we examined up until now, Jaxson went beyond American football games and began participating in events across the U.S.

Fun fact: Curtis Dvorak was the only person to wear Jaxson De Ville’s number 100 jersey from 1996 to 2015 until his retirement.

The Stanford Tree (Stanford University Teams – NCAA)

It’s a tree with eyes representing Stanford University’s different sports teams. Although it’s not the university’s official mascot, its popularity made it to our list.

The tree was created in 1975 when the Stanford band added it to their performance to increase the show’s effectiveness. Time passed, and now that tree is an unrepeatable component of sports competitions at this university. Over time, hundreds of students took the responsibility of wearing the tree custom, and each one added their unique signature to the tree’s characteristics.

Even though the tree has not officially been announced as the mascot of this university’s sports team, it’s an agent that plays the crucial role of uniting all students around the spirit of the place.

Misha (Olympic Games – Moscow)

In the final years of the Cold War, Russia, the Soviet Union at the time, managed to become the host of the 1980 Olympic Games. For the mascot of the events, comrades chose Misha, a famous bear in Russian culture and folklore. Bears are considered a national symbol of this vast country, so selecting Misha, which is still used in Russian animations and books for children, was a strategic choice that demonstrated this country’s roots and traditions.

Designers customized Misha by adding a belt featuring the Olympic Games symbol, five circles in different colors.

It’s worth mentioning that Misha was a massive success in commercial usage.

One of Misha’s most memorable appearances was in the event’s closing ceremony when a massive inflatable creation of this mascot was sent to the sky. This left a lasting impression on all who followed the games at the time.

Sam (Olympic Games – Los Angeles)

Four years after Misha’s introduction, the other side of the Cold War was ready to show off its power—the U.S. was nominated as the host of the 1984 Olympic Games.

Just like the Soviet Union, Americans chose to use their national animal, the bald eagle, as the event’s mascot, which resulted in Sam.

Famous artists of the country, the legendary Walt Disney and C. Robert Moore designed Sam with elements of American patriotism.

Interestingly, officials’ initial choice for the mascot was a bear to represent the state of California, where the games were about to be hosted. However, since the Russians had used a bear as a mascot in Moscow four years earlier, they agreed to use the bald eagle to represent the whole nation and distinguish their games from those hosted in their rival country.

The Raptor (Toronto Raptors – NBA)

The Toronto Raptors is a basketball team in Toronto, Ontario, established in 1995. The Raptor, the team’s official mascot, is as old as the club—a red dinosaur with more aggressive facial features, unlike Gunnersaurus, Arsenal’s mascot, who is friendly and smiley.

The red dinosaur wears the jersey with the number 95, the year the team was founded, and always appears with basketball shoes on their home court.

The Raptor is an invaluable asset for the club. With his acrobatic moves and energetic personality, he entertains fans in the arena. He possesses all the attributes one would expect from a basketball team’s mascot.

As always, this mascot’s application is not necessarily limited to the court. The bold dinosaur participates in various events on behalf of the club, strengthening the relationship with the fan base and engaging with them in diverse ways.

Hercules the Lion (Aston Villa FC – Premier League)

Aston Villa FC is a more than 150-year-old football club that uses a lion as its mascot, Hercules the Lion. Predictably, the mascot is not as old as the club, yet it is still older than many famous sports mascots established in 2003.

The team’s nickname is the Lions, and that’s why managers decided to use a lion as the brand character. Since its introduction, Hercule the Lion has played a crucial role in entertaining the club’s fans in their home stadium, Villa Park in Birmingham.

Phillie Phantic (Philadelphia Phillies -MLB)

Back to MLB, Phillie Phanatic is the official mascot of the Philadelphia Phillies. It is a fantasy bird covered in green fur with playful attributes and a rich history.

Similar to other best sports mascots, Phillie Phanatic’s main responsibility is entertaining fans at Citizens Bank Park, the team’s home stadium.

The mascot mentioned was created in the winter of 1976, and since then, he has done his job flawlessly. It’s good to know that Phillie Phanatic is considered one of the most renowned mascots in North American sports.

The initial goal behind creating this brand character was to attract more families to home games, and stats gathered over the years prove that the club’s managers accomplished this milestone successfully.

Fans of all ages still love Phillie Phanatic. They adore the unique spirit he brings to the stadium and embrace him off the field in various marketing channels.

Zakumi (Fifa World Cup – South Africa)

In 2010, for the first time in history, an African country was the host of the most-watched sports event all around the globe. South Africa hosted the Fifa World Cup and designed a leopard for the event’s mascot. A leopard named Zakumi.

The reason for the name is also interesting. ZA represents the country’s code, and Kumi is the word for the number 10 in African languages. Simply put, the name indicates South Africa hosted the World Cup in 2010.

Zakumi wore green and yellow, South Africa’s national team jersey colors.

The country’s leaders were aware of the capabilities of the Mascot in Marketing and kept leveraging Zakumi even after the closing ceremony and the final match. For example, they used Zakumi in a 20-episode animated series to keep people engaged with the country’s unique culture and notable history.

Youppi! (Montreal Canadiens – NHL)

First of all, the exclamation mark is a part of his name, and if you hear its story, you’ll definitely be surprised.

The first-ever appearance of Youppi! dates back to 1979, when this orange hairy human was responsible for representing the Montreal Expos, an MLB team. However, they parted ways more than 20 years later.

In 2004, the Montreal Expos moved to Washington, leaving Montreal after many years. After several years of loyal service, Youppi! remained in the city because he had become a part of the culture.

He was jobless for a year until, in 2005, he started as the mascot of the Montreal Canadiens, an NHL hockey team. Unlike the Montreal Expos, he remained loyal to the city, and that’s why he is considered an iconic symbol of the town.

Another interesting fact is that Youppi!’s designer is Bonnie Erickson, the same person who designed Phillie Phanatic.

Roary (Detroit Lions – NFL)

Here is another lion in the list of famous sports mascots. Roary is the name of the Detroit Lions mascot, an American Football team competing in the NFL.

This anthropomorphic lion plays a pivotal role in entertaining fans and helping the brand achieve various marketing and advertising goals.

The number 1 jersey is dedicated to Roary since its establishment as the club’s official mascot.

Loyal club fans can request Roary’s attendance at their events and parties. Opting for this approach helped the club tighten the young mascot’s position faster and benefit from its existence for the team’s good.

Albart (UEFA Euro 2024 – Germany)

Football fans believe that after the FIFA World Cup tournament, the UEFA Euro is the most attractive competition in this sport. It was in Euro 1980 in Italy that using mascots for these tournaments became common, and since then, every four years, a new mascot is introduced to attract attention to the upcoming European nationals competition.

The last tournament was held in Germany in 2024, and the mascot was a teddy bear named Albart. Once again, a made-up name depicts the host nation’s culture.

Al comes from the name of the Alster River in Hamburg, and Bart in German translates to bread in English. The process of selecting the name for the mascot went through an online survey, in which users, specifically schoolchildren, chose Albart.

As part of the marketing plan for the tournament, Albart played an important role by traveling all over the continent, attending schools, and participating in various events. Its aim was to encourage excitement for the championship, and it did the job faultlessly.

Prowl (Minnesota Lynx – WNBA)

PROWL is the leading actress at Target Center, the home court of the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA. With her blue eyes and bold black eyelashes, Prowl started representing this professional women’s basketball team in 1999.

Her feminine vibe perfectly matches team spirit, and this justifies why she became so favored by fans. She is excellent at delighting audiences during home matches by making acrobatic moves and showing them high-flying dunks.

Overall, Prowl is now considered the team’s symbolic icon, as one would expect from a well-created mascot.

Due to its popularity in the state, her applications exceed entertaining fans in the arena. She actively participates in various events and communication channels, stealing the thunder and cheering up the visitors and viewers.

Jay Zebra (Juventus FC – Seria A)

The Juventus FC, a well-known Italian football club in Turin, uses a zebra as its mascot. The team’s jersey has black and white stripes, which are exactly like how a zebra looks. As a result, Zebras became the club’s nickname long ago, and they remain so today.

The mascot’s name is Jay Zebra, and it was introduced to fans in 2015. Like other famous sports mascots, Jay Zebra’s primary responsibility is to provide fans at Allianz Stadium with an enjoyable time and encourage them to support the team.

Besides Jay Zebra’s role at Allianz Stadium and the different marketing campaigns that Juventus FC managers run, this mascot stars in the Jay Team, an animated TV series that is broadcast in partnership with the club.

Lastly, we must mention that the introduction of Jay Zebra provoked numerous criticisms, too, and it wasn’t like a flawless brand character.

Raymond (Tampa Bay Rays – MLB)

Tampa Bay Rays is a baseball team that predictably competes in MLB. Raymond, their mascot, is a furry blue seadog. As legends say, the seadog is a mythical creature of the Gulf of Mexico, recently announced by President Trump as the Gulf of America.

This Brand Mascot Design successfully earned Raymond’s place among fans of all ages. For years, Raymond has entertained fans with a funny face and wide, expressive eyes.

Raymond’s job is to amuse attendees before and during the game. He’s also responsible for encouraging excitement and asking fans to support athletes by waving flags and shouting out the team’s anthem.

Although Raymond’s design and characteristics have been criticized numerous times, he has been nominated for several awards during his years of service for the Tampa Bay Rays.

Rat Penat (Valencia CF – Laliga)

The Spanish football club Valencia CF is nicknamed bats. So, why does their mascot’s name start with the word rat? Because in the local language, bat means rat. If you look at the picture above, you’ll see that the club’s mascot is a brown bat.

It’s worth mentioning that most English speakers mention this mascot with the title Super Rat.

Bats have a deep connection not only to Valencia FC club but also to the city of Valencia in Spain, a historical connection that dates back to medieval times.

Due to this strong bond between bats and the people of Valencia, Rat Penat became a beloved mascot from the very beginning of his entrance into Mestalla Stadium, Valencia FC’s home stadium.

As always, this mascot’s identity, which is strongly related to the club and the city, plays a crucial role in bringing smiles to Mestalla attendees; naturally, Rat Penat actively engages in off-pitch activities, too.

Cobi (Olympic Games – Barcelona)

Another example of Olympic Games mascots and this one is for the 1992 games hosted in Barcelona. Cobi is an abstract representation of Barcelona’s native dog breed, the Gos d’Atura, designed by a Spanish artist named Javier Mariscal.

At that time, Cobi’s design was revolutionary, and Mariscal pushed boundaries with his creativity. Its cubist style and funny appearance made this event-related mascot one of the best famous sports mascots ever.

Despite mixed and uncertain opinions after his introduction in 1988, four years later, when the games began in Barcelona, the public embraced this unique mascot and its avant-garde design with open arms.

Cobi played a significant role in promoting the event globally, and thanks to its unique design, it fulfilled all its responsibilities flawlessly.

Champ (Dallas Mavericks – NBA)

Although the Dallas Mavericks have two official mascots, we will entirely focus on Champ, the blue anthropomorphic horse wearing the team’s jersey.

Champ is an integral part of the club, with a white mane and a tail, like all horses, entertaining fans during home matches in many seasons, including the club’s championship run in the 2010-2011 NBA season.

Why does a horse represent the club? The name Mavericks refers to an unbranded range of animals, symbolizing the team’s independent nature and free spirit.

Considering that Champ collaborates with another official mascot, he shares responsibilities with MavsMan, the team’s other mascot. Together, they successfully cheer up attendees in the stadium and are always around to help the team whenever they need the full support of their loyal fans.

Mighty Red (Liverpool FC – Premier League)

Like other European football clubs, Liverpool FC of England realized the importance of a well-crafted mascot a bit late. However, in 2012, they introduced Mighty Red to their fans and announced it as the club’s official mascot.

The Liver bird, a mythical bird related to the city’s culture, inspired the mascot’s design.

As the name indicates, Mighty Red wears the team’s red jersey and is friendly and approachable. At first, managers wanted to engage with younger supporters in more modern approaches. After over a decade, it’s proven that the mascot is helpful in entertaining fans of all ages and still serving the club in various ways, on and off-pitch.

Choosing the Liver bird to create Mighty Red was a strategic decision that helped the club foster a stronger bond between the team and fans, who usually live in Liverpool Port and have feelings for this legendary creature.

Slider (Cleaveland Guardians – MLB)

Cleveland Guardians, formerly known as Cleveland Indians, uses a colorful fantasy creature named Slider as the team’s official mascot. The Slider is covered with pink fur and has a big yellow nose. He also has shaggy eyebrows with the same color as his snoot.

Because of its importance and influential role in entertaining fans for decades, Slider was inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame in 2008.

One of Slider’s most memorable moments—and even that of all famous sports mascots—happened in 1995 when the Slider actor fell off a 6-foot wall and tore a knee ligament.

It was in 2021 that the team officially changed its name from Cleveland Indians to Cleveland Guardians. Despite this significant shift, Slider has kept his role as the club’s mascot and has entertained fans visiting the club’s home stadium until now.

Rocky (Denver Nuggets – NBA)

Rocky, one of the most famous sports mascots, was inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame in 2008. Moreover, in 2019, Rocky had the honor of winning the NBA Mascot of the Year prize, beating some good rivals such as Benny the Bull.

Introduced in 1990, Rocky has represented the Denver Nuggets basketball team in the NBA for more than 30 years.

The mascot we’re examining here is a mountain lion in human form. As all good mascots do, it excites fans and cheers them up during the club’s home matches.

Rocky perfectly embodies Denver Nuggets values, and as a result, we can see its footprint in off-court activities like charities, school programs, community events, etc.

Fred the Red (Manchester United – Premier League)

The Red Devils of the Premier League have an official mascot named Fred the Red. Manchester United managers introduced this brand character in the early 1990s when the club was at its prime, and Sir Alex Ferguson was the team’s head coach.

Fred perfectly personifies a big football club and is beloved by fans at Old Trafford, Manchester United’s home stadium.

Despite the club’s recent downfall, Manchester United is among the football clubs with the most robust branding. Fred’s design, a red devil with friendly attributes to communicate with fans, follows branding principles correctly.

Club managers leverage the official mascot’s fame and popularity in merchandising, marketing, and advertising campaigns, as well as its impact on stadium attendees.

Ragnar the Viking (Minnesota Vikings – NFL)

The big difference that comes into sight is that the Minnesota Vikings mascot is a human, which is surprising. What better mascot for a team named the Vikings than a Viking legend? That’s why branding managers chose Ragnar the King as the club’s mascot.

However, you should note that this NFL team based in Minneapolis has used several mascots throughout history, and Ragnar the King was in charge of this responsibility from 1994 to 2015.

If you have watched the Vikings series, you’ll likely know Ragnar Ladbrok, who enters the stadium with a motorcycle during Minnesota Vikings’ home matches, as this club’s official mascot.

Logically, club fans loved that mascot and perceived him as related to their culture and the team’s history.

Hennes (1.FC Koln – Bundesliga)

Hennes is one of the oldest mascots in European football and has a wealthy background.

The story of this living mascot of this living mascot dates back to 1950 when a circus manager gifted a young billy goat to the club during a carnival in Germany. Managers of that time named the goat Hennes after the club’s first-ever player-coach, Hennes Weisweiler.

Since then, Hennes has played a critical role in the team’s home games. As it’s a living creature, fans are more bonded with it.

Naturally, the original young billy goat passed away many years ago. Over the decades, several goats have taken on this responsibility. As you’re reading this blog, the 9th Hennes is in charge of watching games in RheinEnergieSTADION, the club’s home stadium.

Benelucky the Lion (UEFA Euro 2020 – Netherland-Belgium)

At the beginning of the current millennium, a Euro national competition was held in the Netherlands and Belgium. This tournament’s mascot, another lion, is the final famous sports mascot we’ll examine in this blog.

It was the first time that two countries co-hosted a championship. Therefore, Benelucky was designed to showcase this monumental occurrence and collaboration between the two nations.

This lion had a demon tail, representing the Belgium national team, known as the Devils. Meanwhile, its head was featured on the crest of the Royal Dutch Football Association, representing the other tournament host.

Undoubtedly, Benelucky the Lion was one of the most well-crafted mascots, and every detail in its appearance and characteristic contributed to a cultural aspect of Belgium, the Netherlands, or both.

Here is the end of our list, and it’s time to get to a conclusion.

In this blog, we looked at 30 popular sports mascots. These mascots help their teams in many ways, like exciting fans and boosting marketing.

No matter what your business does, a great mascot can help your brand too.

But making a good mascot isn’t easy. It needs experts. That’s why we suggest hiring agencies that specialize in this. At Dream Farm Agency, our team has experience creating mascots that match brands perfectly. We can work with you to make a mascot that represents your company well.

If you’re interested, contact us to talk more!