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32 teams offer 32 very different designs. We have iconic ones like the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers, and horrendous ones like the Cleveland Browns. How do all 32 stack up against one another? Find out below to see who takes the top spot!
32. Cleveland Browns
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When it comes to NFL logos, all but five teams utilize their primary logo on their helmet. With that being said, only one team can say its logo is its helmet. Some people may like Cleveland’s logo, but they shouldn’t. Boring doesn’t begin to describe Cleveland’s logo. In the past, the franchise has utilized an elf-like creature as its primary logo. Currently, the Browns have an alternate logo that pays homage to the ‘Dawg Pound’. Both the elf logo and the secondary mark are far superior to Cleveland’s current logo — an orange helmet.
31. New York Giants
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Not terrible, but uninspired. The New York Giants have been rather terrible on the field in recent years, and their logo isn’t much better. Unfortunately, the Giants took a step back in the visual department starting in 2000. From 1976-1999, New York’s primary logo — which also adorned the helmets — read ‘GIANTS’ with a line underneath. The look became synonymous with the 1986 and 1990 Super Bowl winners. For whatever reason the franchise decided it was time for a change — and the change was for the worse. Once the franchise switched from ‘NY’ to ‘GIANTS’ in ’76, it should have never looked back.
30. Cincinnati Bengals
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Not only are the Bengals 0-3 in the Super Bowl after falling short against the Rams 23-20 in 2022, but they also have one of the worst primary logos in the league. For a team with a tiger as its mascot, Cincinnati fell short when choosing its main signage. The ‘B’ with three tiger stripes isn’t the worst thing we’ve ever seen, but it is certainly uninspired. Cincinnati’s secondary mark, a tiger head, was the main logo from 1997-2003. It is time to return to the roaring tiger and leave the ‘B’ for merch.
29. Carolina Panthers
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Another big cat, another underwhelming logo. The Carolina Panthers have only been in the NFL since 1995, but have already tweaked their primary logo once. Unfortunately, the new logo is a downgrade from the original — and the original was average at best, as well. Carolina has a lot of potential with ‘Panthers’ as its team name. However, sporting a ferocious beast only shown from its shoulders up isn’t the right move. We have faith that the franchise could improve its look…then again, Carolina’s alternate logo (1995-2011) is one of the worst things we’ve seen…so maybe we shouldn’t have much faith.
28. New York Jets
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Nothing is worse than the Browns utilizing an orange helmet as their primary logo, but we are slightly confused as to why the Jets wouldn’t include a jet in their logo. New York’s original logo, in 1963, was a plane with ‘Jets’ written across it. Just one year later, however, that logo was scrapped and the Jets adopted a logo similar to their current look. After 13 years of Jets-less logos, New York once again incorporated a jet into its logo — and kept it in place until 1997. The current logo is fine. It is easy to read and is pleasing to the eye — but it is also boring and needs a jet included.
27. New England Patriots
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The only people who love this logo are likely diehard Patriot fans. And even then, many New England supporters favor the Patriots’ old logo — Patriot Pat — over the flying head that has been in place since 1993. Perhaps it’s a result of seeing Tom Brady and Co. win too often, but this logo screams “terrible.” Call it jealousy if you’d like — but we will not stand down. This logo needs to be scrapped. Bring back Patriot Pat.
26. Miami Dolphins
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At one time, the Dolphins had a top-5 logo in the NFL. From 1966-2012, Miami went through four primary logos which largely looked the same — an aqua dolphin, donning a helmet, leaping in front of an orange sunburst. The logo was rather spectacular and was perfect for the team’s helmet and uniforms. So, fans were understandably upset when the franchise updated its look in 2013. The new logo is a more realistic look, but that doesn’t mean it is better. It is a massive downgrade. Everyone wants the leaping dolphin back — nobody asked for this swimming, unprotected dolphin.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars
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Four teams in the NFL — Cincinnati, Carolina, Jacksonville, Detroit — are represented by a big cat, and unfortunately, all four teams boast a disappointing primary logo. Like the Panthers, the Jaguars joined the league in 1995. Until 2013, the franchise used its initial logo — a gold jaguar head with black spots and a teal tongue. Starting in 2013, the team adopted its new logo (above) to go with its brand-new (hideous) uniforms. While the new logo is a slight improvement over the OG, it still leaves something to be desired. Jaguars are fierce animals in the wild — the football team should have a logo that intimidates its opponents.
24. Washington Commanders
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Beginning in 2022, the team formerly known as the Washington Football Team became the Washington Commanders. The team name isn’t the best, but there is no denying that Washington’s new logo is an improvement over the ‘WFT’ look and the franchise’s now-disgraced ‘Redskins’ moniker. The Commanders’ new ‘W’ logo is rather simple, but simple isn’t always a bad thing. As for Washington’s secondary mark, it appears as if the team is trying too hard to look like a soccer club.
23. Arizona Cardinals
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Arizona’s ‘Cardinal’ logo is decent but a bit generic. There isn’t a ton that the franchise can do with its logo, but it doesn’t help matters that the St. Louis Cardinals have a much better logo and overall look. The colors work well together, and the shape of the eye and beak help give the bird a more menacing appearance. Overall, however, this is just a middling logo.
22. Los Angeles Rams
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One of the NFL’s newest primary logos belongs to the Los Angeles Rams. The Rams have had many different looks over the years. For the first 38 years in franchise history, the team’s logo was a version of a ram’s head. For a decent period, the Rams took Cleveland’s approach and used the team’s helmet as the logo. In recent years, Los Angeles has updated its look from a menacing ram head to the logo seen above. The logo itself isn’t terrible. The ram’s horn extends over and through the ‘LA’. The biggest issue with this logo is that it can easily be confused for an LA Chargers logo…and that it resembles a wave.
21. Indianapolis Colts
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Who knew a dark blue horseshoe could look so good? The Colts have never had a bad logo. Back when the team was in Baltimore, the primary logo was a bucking colt with a helmet flying off its head and a football at its feet. The franchise adopted its current look — the blue horseshoe — in 1979. The logo followed the team to Indianapolis and has remained ever since. In 2002, the Colts updated the color of the horseshoe to a slightly lighter hue. Nothing too crazy, but a solid look.
20. Dallas Cowboys
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The iconic star logo is as synonymous with football as the Yankees logo is with baseball and the Lakers with basketball — that must be said. However, we don’t have to love the logo just because it is iconic. While everyone surely knows what team is represented by the star, it is just that — a star. A blue and white star. Woo!
19. Detroit Lions
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Say hello to the Detroit Lions — the fourth and final team represented by a big cat. It is somewhat sad that not one of the four cat-friendly teams — Panthers, Jaguars, Bengals, Lions — cracks the top half of this list. The Lions have had some truly putrid teams and logos over the years. With a lion as the main logo/mascot, there are endless opportunities to create a good look. Instead, Detroit trots out a bland lion year in and year out. Seriously, how is this the best you can do with an animal as grand as a lion?
18. Green Bay Packers
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Green Bay’s ‘G’ logo is yet another iconic look in the NFL. The Packers’ logo is as simple as it gets. The ‘G’ stands for…wait for it…Green Bay. Yep, that’s it. The franchise has used its primary logo since 1961, and it is hard to fathom Green Bay ever walking away from its ‘G’. There is nothing wrong with the Packers’ logo, but it doesn’t blow us away.
17. New Orleans Saints
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The fleur-de-lis never looked so good. Debuting in 1967 with a monochrome version, the iconic emblem has been the logo for the New Orleans franchise throughout its entire existence. It exudes royalty and has a certain high-class feel to it. Additionally, it also just looks excellent on the Saints’ gold helmets. Black and gold is a trustworthy color combination that should be utilized in every professional sport. There’s a reason why the Saints have made hardly any alterations over the past few decades. It’s perfect the way it is.
16. Baltimore Ravens
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Talk about a scary-looking bird. We shouldn’t be too surprised that the Baltimore Ravens opted for a more menacing look. After all, that comes with the territory when you decide to name a team after an Edgar Allen Poe poem. The red-eyed raven made its debut in 1999, and the team won its first Super Bowl in franchise history shortly after. The look stuck from there. Tucked inside the raven is a gold “B” which doesn’t look out of place in the slightest. Any team that utilizes purple and gold is bound to be a winner…
15. Houston Texans
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Joining as an expansion team in 2002, the Texans debuted with the “bull” logo we all know today. For the last two decades, the franchise hasn’t felt the need to make any major changes to the original logo. We don’t blame them. It’s always been a solid design that pays homage to the state flag while also exhibiting some creativity. Using the star as the bull’s eye was the perfect touch. While the team hasn’t touched its primary logo much, they’ve tried rolling out some different alternates over the past several years. None have stuck, though we would be interested to see the Texans try their hand at an “H” logo akin to the ones seen on Houston Astros’ hats.
14. Philadelphia Eagles
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The Eagles logo is so good that you will see it being used by hundreds (if not, thousands) of high school sports teams across the country. The rare left-facing logo, there’s a reason why this design is among a dying breed. The feathers of the Eagle form an “E” on the right, and that would only be possible with the current orientation. Otherwise, the emblem is fairly basic in its execution.
13. San Francisco 49ers
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The 49ers have kept it simple and it has worked greatly to their benefit. Why fix what isn’t broken? You won’t hear too many people criticizing San Francisco’s team crest. Of course, their delightful red and gold color scheme would make basically anything look good. The “SF” lettering is used regularly by Bay Area teams with excellent results. It helps that the 49ers have been a great team throughout team history. One look at the logo brings up memories of Jerry Rice winning Super Bowls alongside Joe Montana and Steve Young.
12. Tennessee Titans
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There aren’t many teams that utilize their entire color palette better than the Titans. In the logo alone, we see multiple shades of blue, white, silver, and a dash of red. The combination makes for a sweet-looking flame effect. Inside the circle rests a “T” which doubles as a sword. Some fans even believe the circle doubles as a shield though it’s never been confirmed. This looks like something a Marvel superhero would don on their cape or torso. A lot going on, but it works here.
11. Pittsburgh Steelers
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It doesn’t get much classier than the Steelers’ insignia. The team began using the crest in 1962 after heeding a suggestion from Cleveland’s Republic Steel. This was right around the time when teams first began placing logos on helmets — teams used to put players’ numbers on the helmet in the 1950s. To this day, the Steelers remain the only team in the NFL whose logo appears on only one side of its helmet. All three colored stars represent different materials used to make steel. The yellow is for coal, the red (used to be orange) is for ore, and the blue represents steel scrap.
10. Kansas City Chiefs
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Kansas City found something that worked and has stuck with it. More power to them. In 1972, the Chiefs debuted the white arrowhead which sits on the team’s gorgeous red helmet. Anytime the Chiefs have a good team it makes the logo even more intimidating — all 11 arrows pointing directly at Kansas City’s opponents. Petitions to have the Chiefs change their logo (and name) have surfaced over the last several years. The team’s ownership has denied any interest in rebranding, but it’s certainly a story to monitor in the coming years.
9. Seattle Seahawks
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One of the top bird logos in the league, the Seahawks have done a fine job of updating their logo while staying true to their roots. The right-facing bird has always been a part of the equation. However, the Seahawks have tried several color swaps over the years. The underbelly changed to silver (previously a paler shade of blue) in 2012 and we believe it’s their best look yet. However, what really brings this entire design together is the bird’s eye. That little touch of neon green goes a long way.
8. Denver Broncos
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Denver’s logo is as aggressive as they come. The Broncos unveiled the new look in ’97 as they moved away from the previous snorting bronco. Longtime QB John Elway responded by leading the team to two consecutive Super Bowls in the following years. Of course, that meant the team had to keep the look which has remained largely unchanged over the last 25 years. Sporting a bright orange mane, the Bronco appears fearless and looks to be moving at a rapid pace.
7. Chicago Bears
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Up until the 2023 season, the Bears were yet another team with a menacing animal in its name, but a ‘meh’ primary logo. The Bears, like the Cowboys, have one of football’s most iconic logos. Chicago’s orange ‘C’ logo had been in place since 1974, and for 12 years before that the logo was a white ‘C’. The franchise had a much better look from 1946-1973 — featuring a snarling bear atop a football. Ahead of the ’23 season, Chicago made the logo above its primary look — we are big fans.
6. Los Angeles Chargers
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There isn’t much to dislike with the Chargers’ current design. Since moving to Los Angeles, the team has put more of an emphasis on the signature baby blue. We support that decision entirely. The logo itself has remained largely unchanged since 2002 aside from a couple of palette swaps (the team tried to introduce a new “LA” logo in 2017 but quickly rescinded it after receiving massive backlash from fans). The yellow lightning bolt is an ideal emblem for the Chargers explosive offense under franchise QB Justin Herbert.
5. Minnesota Vikings
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The Vikings are the perfect example of how to design an intimidating logo. I mean, just look at that ‘stache. No other logo (or mascot) in the league would mess with the Minnesota Viking. He looks like he works out extensively and doesn’t shy away from physicality. The design does an excellent job of incorporating the team colors. It works pleasantly well with the team’s current helmet which features a horn from the Viking’s cap. Recoloring the horn from yellow to white was a subtle, but effective change made by the team in ’66.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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Something about pirates makes for an excellent logo design. The Buccaneers were due for a rebrand in 1997 following 14 consecutive losing seasons. Despite adoration for the orange “Creamsicle” jerseys, Tampa’s initial look had become associated with a losing franchise. In ’97, Tampa Bay switched to the patented red and pewter and debuted the skull and flag logo we all know today. Tampa Bay proceeded to reach the playoffs in five of the following six seasons and were crowned Super Bowl champions in ’02.
3. Atlanta Falcons
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With an animal as cool as a falcon, it’s difficult to screw things up. To the Atlanta Falcons’ credit, the team has done a standup job of representing the fierce birds of prey. Fans adored the team’s previous logo which it donned on its helmets from 1966 (the year the franchise debuted) to 2002. In ’03, the Falcons introduced a newly designed falcon and introduced a red accent. Black and red as a color combination rarely disappoints. It helps that the bird looks like it’s moving at a high speed and the Falcons have boasted some of the NFL’s fastest players like Michael Vick and Julio Jones.
2. Buffalo Bills
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For starters, nobody does the combination of red and blue as well as the Bills. Both hues stand out and work in cohesion to form one of the most visually appealing brands in the league. The team has gone with the galloping bill after featuring a more docile beast in a previous iteration. The red stripe was introduced in 1974 and has been an excellent inclusion. In addition to having one of the league’s top logos, Buffalo’s helmets are equally as elite.
1. Las Vegas Raiders
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The best logo the NFL has to offer, bar none. The patch-wearing pirate debuted with the team back in 1960. It took another four years for the team to decide on the black shield background. It has stuck around ever since while receiving slight tweaks along the way. There hasn’t been much tinkering needed. The leather helmet and “RAIDERS” font give an old-school vibe while somehow never feeling out of style. Originality, flair, and creativity are all at an all-time high with this pristine offering.
