NFL Mascot History

Most teams in the National Football League have an official mascot. The mascot is an individual wearing a costume that represents some sort of tie to the team's name or city. Of the 32 NFL teams there are only five that do not have an official mascot, with that handful being the New York Giants, the New York Jets, the Green Bay Packers, the Oakland Raiders and the St. Louis Rams.

NFC East

The Dallas Cowboys mascot is named Rowdy and has been the club's official representative at games and charity events since 1996. It is dressed as a huge cowboy with a 10-gallon hat. The Philadelphia Eagles mascot is a person dressed as a giant eagle named Swoop, while the mascot of the Washington Redskins is more of an unofficial nature. A fan named Zema Williams has been attending Redskin contests since 1978 dressed as a Native American. Known as Chief Zee, he made the short trip to Philadelphia in 1983 dressed in his outfit and was injured by Eagles fans that attacked him.

NFC North

Viktor the Viking made his mascot debut in 2007, prior to that there had always been a burly man dressed as a Viking rooting for Minnesota and urging on the crowd. Staley Da Bear dates back to 2003 when he first became Chicago's mascot, named after the club's original founder from 1919. The Detroit Lions have an individual dressed as a lion named Roary, who is on the sideline for Detroit football games.

NFC South

The Atlanta Falcons mascot, Freddie Falcon, has been a fixture at Falcon games since 1974. It is dressed as a falcon wearing a jersey. Sir Purr prowls the field at Carolina Panther games since their initial 1995 season, dressed as a panther-like figure. The New Orleans Saints, at one time, had a live St. Bernard named Gumbo as their mascot but then switched to a costumed figure by the same name. Captain Fear, a person costumed as a pirate, fires off a cannon after every Buccaneers' score while standing aboard a huge replica of a pirate ship at Tampa Bay games.

NFC West

Blitz the Seahawk, attired as a large blue bird, has been the Seattle mascot since 1998. The 49ers have had a person representing a prospector since 1946 as their mascot and the current version is named Sourdough Sam, wearing an outfit redesigned in 2006. The Arizona Cardinals have a red bird-like costume for their mascot--Big Red--who first appeared in 1998.

AFC East

The Buffalo Bills sent Billy Buffalo out as their mascot in 2003 wearing a costume that featured a large buffalo head that makes the individual wearing it almost 8 feet tall. The New England Patriots have a Revolutionary War Minuteman named Pat Patriot leading the squad's fans, wearing a jersey with a No. 1. Miami has a person in a dolphin costume for its mascot, complete with a helmet that makes it resemble the helmeted dolphin logo of the team. Named "TD," the dolphin mascot has been with the team since 1997.

AFC North

Steely McBeam became the Pittsburgh Steelers' mascot in 2007. Dressed as a steelworker, carrying a steel beam, the mascot was named by Diana Roles of Pennsylvania after she won a contest to name the good luck charm. The Baltimore Ravens have three people dressed up like ravens named Edgar, Allen and Poe in honor of the city's famous poet. The Browns, bitter rivals of Baltimore, have four mascots in different dog costumes that go by the names of CD, TD, Chomps and Trapper. The Bengals have a mascot that is dressed like a tiger. Called Who Dey the mascot got its name from a chant raised during Cincinnati games.

AFC South and West

The Indianapolis Colts also have a blue mascot. It is actually named Blue and has been around rooting for the Colts since 2006. The Jacksonville Jaguars blue and yellow costumed cat-like mascot has been with the team since 1996. T-Rac the raccoon has been the Tennessee Titan mascot since 1999, dressed as a large raccoon. The Houston Texans made Toro the Bull their mascot from the outset in 2001. It wears a blue suit with an enlarged bull head on top. Miles, dressed up in a large white horse suit, is the Denver Broncos mascot since first appearing in 1999. Kansas City originally had a horse named "Warpaint" that would be ridden around by a man dressed as a Native American war chief but in 1989 switched to K.C. Wolf, a character which represents a wolf. The San Diego Chargers' Boltman has a head that is designed to look like a lightning bolt. Boltman has been seen at Charger home games since 1995.