The National Football League (NFL) has become one of the most popular professional sports leagues in the United States, and its team logos have become symbols of pride for fans around the country.
Whether you’re a long-time fan or just getting into the spirit of professional football, here are some interesting facts about NFL team logos that you may not know.
History of NFL Team Logos
The first official NFL logo was used in 1921 as a way to distinguish it from its rival league, the American Football League. It featured a shield design with the Roman numerals “I” and “V” representing the year the two leagues merged.
Since then, many teams have adopted their own distinct logos to represent their brand and identity. Here are some of the most popular team logos and their origin stories.
Dallas Cowboys Star Logo
Dallas Cowboys Primary Logo 1964 - Present
He wanted to capture the spirit of Texas by having an iconic symbol that represented power, strength, and courage. Over time, it has come to be seen as a symbol of excellence for both players and fans alike.
Green Bay Packers "G" Logo
The Green Bay Packers are one of the oldest teams in the league, and their logo has been around since 1961. The “G" stands for "Green Bay" and is meant to honor the city's long-time nickname – “Titletown USA” – while also paying homage to its blue-collar roots with its sharp edges and angles.
It has become synonymous with Packer pride ever since it was unveiled nearly 60 years ago.
New England Patriots Flying Elvis Logo
The New England Patriots' flying Elvis logo is another classic example of an enduring team image that symbolizes strength, loyalty, and determination on game day.
Although it wasn't officially adopted until 1993, the logo of the New England Patriots has an interesting history. The franchise was bought out of bankruptcy court proceedings by Robert Kraft. However, some people have speculated that the logo may be based on an old high school flag design. This design is from Providence Rinkley High School, which had an eagle carrying a football across its center field back in 1965.
New York Giants Giant Head Logo
New York Giants Alternate Logo 1961 - 1972
This trademark look features an oversized cartoonish representation with blue eyes staring out over white lettering that reads "Giants" so everyone knows who they're cheering on every Sunday!
NFL Draft Fun Facts
Aside from being exciting milestones for teams building towards future success through player drafts each year, the NFL Draft is also full of fun facts. For instance, did you know that since 1967, no quarterback taken within the first three picks in any NFL draft has gone on to win multiple Super Bowl rings?
Another interesting fact is that every player selected as the number one overall pick since 1970 (with the exception of Eli Manning in 2004) has eventually reached the Hall of Fame.
These tidbits add extra flavor to our favorite sport's annual draft season, making it not only exciting but informative as well. So, if you're a football fan, be sure to keep these NFL Draft fun facts in mind during the next draft season.
Wrap Up
The logos of each team throughout America are iconic representations that hold great significance for their respective fan bases.
From historic beginnings, such as the Green Bay Packers "G" logo, to recent additions like the Pittsburgh Steelers' terrible towel, each emblem serves a different purpose. However, they all have one thing in common - they convey passionate support from those who proudly wear them on or off the field.
These logos have become symbols of team pride and identity, and are often instantly recognizable by fans of the sport. Whether it's the classic designs or the more modern ones, these logos have a way of uniting fans and bringing them together to cheer on their favorite teams.
Sports Logo History is a community of sports logo enthusiast who enjoys the history of each team’s logo history. Sports Logo History has primary logos, alternate logos, or wordmark logos from the NFL, NBA, MLB, MLS, NHL, Premier League, WNBA, CFL, NCAA, ABA, USFL, AAF, and XFL.
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