Ranking all 124 "Big 4" Mascots
What's in a name? For sports fans, they are everything. Mascots are what connect fans and serve as badges of honors for fans, cities, and whole regions of the country. We looked at all current franchises in the NFL, NHL, NBA, and MLB. Our ranking criteria was based on:
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Connection to home city, state or region
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Uniqueness
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Tone and attitude; does it get you excited about a big game?
This list did not include color schemes or logos, just the franchise names.
124. Chicago Blackhawks
This one is complicated. While the franchise has argued that the name is meant to honor Black Hawk, a Native American who was an important figure in Illinois state history, many Native indigenous groups have disavowed the name.
123. New Orleans Pelicans
There are already too many bird mascots in pro sports. No matter how prevalent they are in New Orleans, pelicans are ridiculous birds.
122. Winnipeg Jets
Duplicated mascots automatically go to the bottom of the list, and Jets is the worst mascot of that lot.
121. New York Jets
This franchise began life as the Titans; that's an awesome mascot (spoiler alert), but the Jets name should have been left to West Side Story.
120. Sacramento Kings
Another duplicate, Kings is just the most overplayed nickname in all facets of society. Why aren't there more teams named the emperors or dukes or something?
119. Los Angeles Kings
With everything California and Los Angeles has to offer, this is the best they could come up with?
118. Arizona Cardinals
The oldest team in the NFL? That's cool. The team getting its name from old, faded maroon jerseys that the owner said were now cardinal red? Less cool.
117. St. Louis Cardinals
On the field, the Cardinals are one of the 20 greatest franchises in American sports history. However, that doesn't save their nickname from being redundant.
116. Florida Panthers
Florida having multiple NHL teams and Wisconsin having none still feels like a travesty, but that's a complaint for a different day. There's just too many panthers in sports.
115. Carolina Panthers
Okay, so Carolina Panthers does sound cool, and though it is not factored into this list, the logo and uniform are awesome. Still, all the above complaints of Panthers as a mascot still stands.
114. Texas Rangers
In the eyes of the ranger... Sorry. Of course, Texas wants to pay tribute to its storied lawmen, and in all fairness, this would likely rank much higher as a standalone, but alas, all duplicates fall to the bottom.
113. New York Rangers
They ruined it for Texas.
112. San Francisco Giants
This name made more sense when they were in New York City and would stand far higher if the football team hadn't ridden their coat tails 100 years ago.
111. New York Giants
It does sound better when people call them the "New York Football Giants," but that doesn't change the fact that they are copycats.
110. Golden State Warriors
We are finally out of the duplicative monikers. They are the only Warriors in the pro ranks, but it might be the most widely used name in all levels of sports. Again, all California has to offer and the Warriors pick the most popular, generic team name possible.
109. Atlanta Hawks
Basically all of the same complaints about the Warriors but in the bird realm. How many thousands of "Hawks" are there throughout sports?
108. Philadelphia Phillies
What exactly is a Philly? Best I can tell, it's just a fan or athlete in Philadelphia. It makes for a great connection to the city, but it's a nonsense word.
107. Denver Nuggets
Yes, it's a reference to Colorado's rich mining history, so props for that, but "nugget" is just not an attractive or intimidating word.
106. Cleveland Browns
Naming the franchise after founder and one of the most important figures in the formation of the NFL, Paul Brown, is worthy of a tip of the cap, but that's about all this nickname has going for it.
105. Houston Astros
We are still mad about the sign stealing scandal, so the Astros get penalized and stuck down here.
104. Ottawa Senators
Stop naming sports franchises after anything political.
103. Washington Nationals
Stop naming sports franchises after anything political, the American version.
102. Los Angeles Clippers
A team named after boats...?
101. Las Vegas Golden Knights
Vegas only gets a cheap bump from slipping Golden into this name. Otherwise, it's just as basic as the Warriors. They could have gone so many amazing directions with a Las Vegas mascot.
100. Washington Commanders
The jury is still out on the newest name on this list. It's definitely an upgrade, and it fits in with the city, but this one needs to be test driven for a few seasons.
99. Brooklyn Nets
It's a team that plays basketball; basketball has nets.
98. Arizona Coyotes
For all the cat and bird mascots in sports, there's weirdly not that many dogs. Maybe that's for the best because if Coyotes is the best we can come up with, we're off to a bad start.
97. Philadelphia Flyers
According to research, one of the founders' wives watched people ice skating and the name sporadically came to her. Neat.
96. Washington Capitals
Stop naming sports franchises after anything political, the slightly better American version.
95. Washington Wizards
Wow, who knew D.C. had such awful sports mascots? Anyway, points for uniqueness, originality and no longer being named the Bullets, but this is really more odd unique than good unique.
94. New York Mets
Yes, it's short for Metropolitans and New York is a huge metropolitan area, but Mets is just banal. They should have taken the old Gothams name from the Giants.
93. Miami Dolphins
Choosing something aquatic connects well to Miami and it is a very distinct, identifiable name. But Dolphins are the jerks of the ocean.
92. Detroit Lions
The Lions ar a bit of a ripoff of the Tigers, as the baseball team was already established in Detroit when the football team came to town.
91. Detroit Tigers
Tigers are the best big cats, but this mascot is really not that original. They may have had it first, but they can't escape how ubiquitous Tigers have become in sports.
90. Seattle Seahawks
Seahawks aren't even real birds. They should see about getting their hands on the Super Sonics name.
89. Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles are beautiful, proud, and connect to Philadelphia's home as the birthplace of America, it's just too overplayed.
88. Houston Texans
It's meaningful to the local fanbase, and really that's what matters, even if rest of the world is "meh" about it.
87. Milwaukee Bucks
Bucks are intimidating yet majestic, and the name fits in well with Wisconsin and the upper Midwest. However, at the end of the day, it is still a deer, and nobody really fears the deer.
86. Buffalo Bills
The Bills surely is a one-of-a-kind name, and alliteration is fun. But is the name Bill something to behold in a world of Mavericks, Lightning, and Yankees?
85. Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons does sound great together, and Falcons is one of the better bird names in sports, but it's just not the most extraordinary moniker.
84. Anaheim Ducks
Basically the opposite of the Atlanta Falcons, there is nothing fiery or intimidating about ducks, but it's incredibly unique in the sports world. However, the team basically being a marketing tool for Disney takes some shine off.
83. Chicago Bulls
Bulls are tough and dangerous, so it's a great vibe for combat, and it dovetails with the bulls and bears stock market theme of Chicago sports. The point deduction is for the name being a touch repetitious.
82. Toronto Blue Jays
Apparently all Toronto sports teams must be blue? Check it out sometime, they have a thing for blue mascots and uniforms. Blue Jays is fine, it's different as far as bird mascots go, but it is just not that exciting. Plus, blue jays are kind of the jerks of the bird world.
81. Pittsburgh Penguins
This one is just fun and random. It's not a fierce mascot or even that connected to Pittsburgh, but it is unique enough to warrant some respect.
80. Chicago Bears
Bears are big and scary; that's good, it works for football. Plus there is the layer of the bulls and bears tying into the Chicago stock market.
79. Oakland Athletics
This name feels like it would have been great 100 years ago, but it's a bit pedestrian today. As a relocated team from Philadelphia, there is no endemic connection to the market.
78. Los Angeles Rams
Rams is a fantastic sports mascot, which is probably why it is so popular. That's what knocks L.A. down to this level--the sports world is saturated with Rams.
77. Cincinnati Reds
One of the oldest franchises in all of American sports, the Reds can't be accused of selecting a cliched name. They also get credit for going away from Red Stockings and Redlegs; simply the Reds is much better. The Reds are good, but other franchises have just been more inventive over time.
76. Los Angeles Angels
So, the name is literally "The Angels Angels?"
75. Minnesota Vikings
Vikings is one of the best mascots in all level of sports. It evokes aggressiveness, toughness and a hard-nosed mentality. Much like Rams, it's just overused.
74. Charlotte Hornets
Hornets are both wonderful and ridiculous at the same time. It has a flare and is a one-of-a-kind nickname. Hornets can be scary and tenacious, so it works on that level. However, what does it have to do with Charlotte?
73. Columbus Blue Jackets
This was one of the names that needed some research. Columbus and all of Ohio were home to some of the greatest Union Army heroes of the Civil War, thus the team is named in honor of their service. Historical significance, connection to the city and uniqueness--all in all a good nickname and a sign we are now in quality territory.
72. Miami Marlins
Miami Marlins sounds better than Florida Marlins, so that change in 2012 was an upgrade. The team not only connects to the area and its history, but is also an homage to former minor league teams that played in the city.
71. Dallas Cowboys
While they may be the most famous and most popular franchise in all of American sports, the Dallas Cowboys just aren't that special in the mascot department. Cowboys is just too overused.
70. Kansas City Royals
Kansas City--for whatever reason--has a history of using royalty in its sports teams. Royals is just enough of a tweak from the overused "Kings" moniker to catapult this high.
69. San Jose Sharks
It is a little strange sharks is not more used in pro or college sports. They are the kings of the ocean, so the imagery of power and ferocity is there. It's a good mascot and relatable to the region.
68. Cleveland Guardians
Cleveland got this one right when the Indians became the Guardians. It's also meaningful to the city and not something generic.
67. Pittsburgh Pirates
Does the name make any sense at all? Nope. It dates back to the late 1800s and a feud between the American Association and the National League, two rival baseball organizations of the day. It is more of tongue-in-cheek name than anything else, but props to Pittsburgh for keeping it alive and unchanged for more than 100 years.
66. New Jersey Devils
The coolest aspect of this name is the inspiration from the legendary Jersey Devil that has long been rumored to haunt the woods of southern New Jersey. It's not real, but it's still fun. Trivia fact--the franchise began as the Kansas City Scouts.
65. Baltimore Ravens
One of the few mascots, if not the only one, to take inspiration from literature, the Ravens draw their name from the classic Edgar Allan Poe poem. Oh, and Poe lived in Baltimore.
64. Indianapolis Colts
Baltimore's first football franchise, the Colts name makes more sense in horse-farm rich Maryland. Colts sounds much better than "baby horses."
63. New York Islanders
The New York Islanders play on Long Island in New York. Plain, simple and accurate; it's not special or flashy, but it's hard to be more intertwined with the local fanbase than that.
62. Dallas Stars
Please, hockey gods, let this team move back to Minnesota and become the North Stars again. That name was legendary and a perfect fit for hockey.
61. Minnesota Twins
This is what a sports mascot should be--pertinent to the home fanbase and distinct. There's no name similar to Twins, and it's a clear connection to the Twin Cities. The only thing holding it back is the Twins isn't a very intimidating mascot.
60. Baltimore Orioles
Birds, cats, and dogs dominate the sports world. While not as fearsome as an eagle or a hawk, an oriole is a gorgeous bird and a fantastic name. Baltimore Orioles is one of those names that just feels right rolling off the tongue.
59. Cincinnati Bengals
Stories vary as to what exactly inspired Paul Brown to choose Bengals as his team's mascot, but one thing is certain--it is way better than Tigers. Tigers is a cliche mascot, Bengals is rare and memorable. And they boast the best helmet in pro football.
58. San Antonio Spurs
Admittedly, spurs are kind of lame. It's an accessory on a cowboy boot; there's nothing regal, dynamic, or intimidating about that. However, it is unmistakable. San Antonio gets major credit for that. Anything cowboy related works in Texas, too.
57. Jacksonville Jaguars
Of all the big cat nicknames, Jaguars may be the best. Lions and Tigers are fine, but Jaguars is just better. Also, why aren't there teams named cheetahs or leopards?
56. St. Louis Blues
Named after a W.C. Handy song, the St. Louis Blues boast a big slice of Americana. Handy is considered the father of blues music and St. Louis was a hotbed for the genre; in terms of connection to the city, it's hard to beat the Blues.
55. Phoenix Suns
They have a lot of sun in Phoenix, ergo the Phoenix Suns. Simple and direct but still distinct enough.
54. Toronto Maple Leafs
The maple leaf is Canada, and Canada is hockey. This is where the mascots start to get special and meaningful. The Maple Leafs are a terrific representation of a Canadian hockey team.
53. Atlanta Braves
This one is complicated, as with any team based on Native American imagery. The franchise began life as the Boston Red Stockings, then had stints as the Beaneaters, Doves, and Rustlers before settling on Braves in 1912. The Braves nickname allegedly came from a previous owner's affiliation with Tammany Hall, a story too long to get into here.
52. Indiana Pacers
This is another esoteric team name that is not immediately obvious. It all ties back to the pace cars at the Indianapolis 500. Cross-sport tie-ins are fantastic and rare.
51. Kansas City Chiefs
Another mascot with conflicting origin stories; the preferred story is the team was named in honor of local indigenous tribes.
50. Chicago White Sox
They've come a long way from being the Sioux City Cornhuskers. They went from White Stockings to White Sox in 1904; would they rank even higher if they reverted back to the Stockings?
49. Boston Red Sox
Basically the same story as the White Sox, although the Chicago team did formally have the Sox name first. However, Boston Red Sox sounds just a tiny bit better.
48. Orlando Magic
Magic is a fun, memorable name, and it plays off the importance of Disney to the city.
47. Minnesota Timberwolves
We've established how overused dogs and cats are in the sport mascot game, but Timberwolves stands out in the crowd. The name reflects the franchise's representation of the entire state.
46. Utah Jazz
Yes, it's a bit ridiculous and doesn't make near as much sense as when the team was in New Orleans, but it's such a distinct name. Everybody knows who the Jazz are.
45. Seattle Kraken
Kraken is an amazing name. Seattle team names always tie into the seafaring roots of the city, and the Kraken is such a standout moniker that's rich with marketing potential for Washingtonians.
44. San Diego Padres
The Padres draw their name from the Spanish friars who founded the city in the 1700s. It's hard to get much more intertwined to a city than that.
43. Boston Bruins
Bruin is basically the Dutch word for bear. #TheMoreYouKnow
42. Memphis Grizzlies
Could they have been the Memphis Bruins? This is another name retained after a franchise move, this time from Vancouver to Memphis. Grizzly Bears aren't prevalent in Tennessee, but Grizzly Bears are ferocious beasts.
41. Tampa Bay Rays
Dropping the "devil" part from the name was a wise choice; Tampa Bay Rays just rolls off the tongue so easily and sounds so natural.
40. Denver Broncos
Broncos are majestic yet fierce; that sounds like an dominant football team.
39. Chicago Cubs
They began life as the White Stockings in 1876, then became the Colts, Orphans, and finally Cubs. Perhaps due to the longevity, it's an iconic name synonymous with American sports.
38. Vancouver Canucks
Not exactly sure what a Canuck is, but it's clearly something Canadian, which means it's hockey.
37. Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers have stood the test of time, despite being a much more logical name in Brooklyn, and in the 1930s. The franchises lineage includes time as the Bridegrooms and Superbas. Somebody please bring back Superbas.
36. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
A celebration of Florida's history of piracy--which is a weird thing to celebrate. But it is a signature local tie-in and Buccaneers is fun to say.
35. Houston Rockets
Perhaps the only case of a team name making more sense after a move, the Rockets began life in San Diego before moving to Houston, one of America's signature aerospace cities.
34. San Francisco 49ers
The 1849 California Gold Rush is the reason San Francisco exists, so there's huge points for local appeal. Plus, 49ers is a memorable, singular name.
33. Cleveland Cavaliers
The mascot came from a fan "pick the name" contest. Cavaliers may not have an overt connection to Cleveland, but it creates a perfect alliteration.
32. Los Angeles Lakers
Is it silly? Absolutely. Was it more sensible in Minnesota? 100%. But it is still another piece of alliterative excellence and is among the top three most famous team names in American sports.
31. Edmonton Oilers
The founder and owner picked the name, based on his previous team, the Oil Kings.
30. Seattle Mariners
An homage to Seattle's history as a critical seaport, the Mariners is a prime example of playing to the city. On top of that, there's no other name anywhere like that.
29. Colorado Rockies
Is there a more impressive natural landmark than a mountain? And when anyone thinks Colorado, they think Rocky Mountains.
28. Montreal Canadiens
There's just something about that French flare and spelling it Canadiens that makes it way better than simply Canadians.
27. Arizona Diamondbacks
Snakes are some of the coolest/scariest creatures on earth; Diamondbacks is a tremendous name; the Arizona desert is filled with diamondback rattlesnakes. This team wins on all three fronts.
26. Miami Heat
It's so simple yet inventive.
25. Toronto Raptors
There's a reason raptors are some of the most popular dinosaurs. Smart, savage and they work as a team--it's a mentality needed for a winning basketball team. Trivia fun fact: other finalists for the mascot were Terriers, Towers and Hogs.
24. Calgary Flames
Born out of the demise of the Calgary Cowboys and relocation of the Atlanta Flames, the team was originally named after General Sherman's "March to the Sea" and burning of Atlanta during the Civil War. Interpret that as you will. It's now supposedly meant to represent the oil industry in the area. Regardless of the inspiration, it's a solid name.
23. Carolina Hurricanes
It is a bit odd to name one of your flagship franchises after something that routinely destroys the neighborhood, but we still like the way "Carolina Hurricanes" hits the ear.
22. New England Patriots
Yes, everybody hates them as an actual team, but that doesn't dilute their achievement in the mascot realm. Patriots and Boston? Perfect. Patriots and the spirit of battle and competition? Perfect. And is it unique? Absolutely.
21. Las Vegas Raiders
Does any mascot or imagery make you think of ferocity and adrenaline-pumping action like the Raiders? This list doesn't take colors into account, but it's impossible to ignore the silver and black. The name doesn't really correlate to the geography, but it is oozing with football attitude.
20. Tampa Bay Lightning
Lightning is a cool phenomena. And a superb name for a team in an area with lots of storms.
19. Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia and the founding of America go hand-in-hand, making this among the best local tie-ins. Plus, the rarity of the nomenclature makes it stand out.
18. Oklahoma City Thunder
Thunder with a slight edge over lightning. Afer all, Thor is the god of thunder, not lightning.
17. Buffalo Sabres
The inspiration for the name isn't immediately obvious, but it was another borne out of a name-the-team contest. It's in reference to the sabres used in sword fighting and was a favorite of the original owners. As a local representation, it's a stretch, but it is distinct and sets a tone.
16. Minnesota Wild
How does a team go bigger and better than all the cat, dog, and other living creature mascots? Pick the place that encapsulates all of them. This was the perfect choice for Minnesotans after the North Stars left for Dallas, as it evokes thoughts of the northern Minnesota's vast wilderness.
15. New Orleans Saints
Sure, it's not the mythos of Warriors or Raiders or Spartans, but it is unparalleled and a tremendous credit to the iconic New Orleans jazz music scene; "When the Saints Go Marching In" is a longtime favorite of the city's street jazz bands.
14. Tennessee Titans
Insert that Coach Boone speech from Remember the Titans.
13. Milwaukee Brewers
In the beer capital of America, the name Brewers can't be beat.
12. Colorado Avalanche
Colorado has a lot of snow; snow creates avalanches; avalanches are a frightening force of nature. Simple, direct, perfect for inspiring intensity and energy.
11. New York Knicks
If they would just go by Knickerbockers full time, the sports world would be better off. The term Knickerbocker was popularized by author Washington Irving as a term for the area's original Dutch settlers. I'm not sure what that has to do with basketball, but the localization is exceptional.
10. Los Angeles Chargers
What's not to like about the entire Chargers brand? The name is wonderful, the lightning bolt logo is wonderful, and the powder blue and yellow uniforms might be the best in the NFL. Despite all the evidence to the contrary, the name has nothing to do with electricity, but rather the original owner liking how fans yelled "charge" during other sporting events. Nonetheless, it's still one of the coolest names in the game.
9. Nashville Predators
An underrated name for an underrated franchise, the Predators just ooze everything that make sports great. The name is ferocious, the logo is fearsome in the best way, and there's no way fans are confusing Predators with anything else. The franchise announced the amazing saber-toothed tiger (a skeleton was once found in Nashville) logo first and then held a "name the team" contest. The fans chose right.
8. New York Yankees
Love 'em or hate 'em, the New York Yankees are probably the biggest brand in American sports. The Yankee hat has transcended sports and is now a symbol of the city, if not the USA as a whole. At its core, the name is a fantastic representation of patriotism and New York's role in the country. When you say Yankees, you're only talking about one team.
7. Detroit Pistons
Few industries mean more to their cities than the automobile industry and Detroit. Leaning into this was a brilliant move by the franchise and intrinsically connects them to the fanbase.
6. Detroit Red Wings
Back-to-back slam drunks for the Motor City. The Red Wings story isn't as cut and dry as the Pistons, but it's still an homage to the workers who built the city. It's hockey's best--and most iconic--moniker.
5. Green Bay Packers
Few teams get it right the first time and have the name last more than a century. The homespun, folk tale-esque origins of the Packers nickname is classic Americana. On its own, "Packers" is not an intimidating phrase, but it's become so entrenched in American culture that it essentially represents all of Wisconsin and football.
4. Boston Celtics
Is there an ethnic group more associated with a city than Boston and the Irish? For that reason, this is the perfect mascot, even though we all collectively pronounce it wrong.
3. Portland Trail Blazers
This name is the total package. It is has a certain sizzle factor, relates to the history of the Oregon Trail and is absolutely one-of-a-kind. Not many mascots work as the full name and shortened version, but Trail Blazers or simply Blazers are both fantastic.
2. Dallas Mavericks
Maverick is just the perfect sports word. It evokes excitement, intensity, and free spirit. Sure, it's not explicitly a Dallas link, but the name "Dallas Mavericks" sounds exquisite.
1. Pittsburgh Steelers
An exceptional mascot should evoke the pride and history of its city or region. It should connect to its people and unite them behind a common banner. No mascot does that better than the Steelers. Pittsburgh is fiercely and rightfully proud of its hardworking, blue collar history; the city has an unbreakable bond to its football team and the city's mentality permeates the franchise.