There are a total of 4 NFL teams that have a bird as their mascot. The first team is the Baltimore Ravens, which are named after the famous poem by Edgar Allan Poe. The second team is the Atlanta Falcons, known for their fast and agile play on the field. The third team is the Philadelphia Eagles, symbolizing strength and pride. Finally, there are the Seattle Seahawks, recognized for their powerful and fierce presence. These teams with bird mascots bring a unique energy and identity to the NFL.
What Birds Are NFL Teams Named After?
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I’ve been watching birds rush, tackle, and pass all weekend. Well, NFL players whose teams bear the name of a bird. Baltimore Ravens. Atlanta Falcons. Today the Seattle Seahawks face the Chicago Bears. The football frenzy has got me wondering what species these avian ambassadors might be.
Photo: US FWS
The Baltimore Ravens, who suffered a close loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers yesterday, is probably the common raven. Don’t be fooled by the “common”—ravens are corvids and among the smartest birds.
Photo: US FWS
As for the Seattle Seahawks, I’m guessing it’s an osprey. This fish-eating bird is one of the largest birds of prey in North America, and is found on every continent except Antarctica.
Photo: US FWS
Arizona Cardinals: northern cardinal. (A much closer match than the Angry Bird that resembles a cardinal.) These eye-catching birds don’t migrate, so their bright-red plumage stands out against snow-covered landscapes in the winter. In the spring, it’s not unusual to spot a cardinal fiercely attacking its reflection in a window or car mirror—they’re protecting their territory from intruders.
Photo: US FWS
Philadelphia Eagles: bald eagle. Our national emblem, the bald eagle came close to extinction in the lower 48 states because of DDT poisoning. They’ve bounced back, and were taken off the endangered species list in 2007.
| Photo: US FWS |
But what about the Atlanta Falcons? Perhaps a Peregrine falcon or merlin? They both winter in Georgia. American kestrel (above) might be a better guess, given that it lives in Georgia year-round and has reddish-orange markings. (The Falcons were trounced Green Bay Packers yesterday…which made me wonder what, exactly, is a Packer? According to Wikipedia, team founder Curly Lambeau received funds for the uniforms from his employer—the Indian Packing Company—on the condition that the team be named for its sponsor. Hence the nickname.)
Finally, for those bird lovers who also love football, it turns out there’s a gift that marries those two passions: NFL-themed bird feeders. Birdseed not included.
NFL: Cat Teams vs. Bird Teams
One of the underrated NFL rivalries of all time is waged between cat teams & bird teams. The Bengals, Panthers, Lions, & Jaguars share a common bond as fellow cat teams of the NFL. Their team logos are represented by a particular species of cat, and their mascots are cats too. The Cardinals, Ravens, Eagles, Falcons & Seahawks are known as the bird teams of the NFL. Taima, the Seahawks live bird mascot, does a great job of representing the spirit of bird teams. Let’s take a look at the current season’s series history between these groups of iconic contenders.
By the Numbers
- Bird teams (7-4) lead the season series vs. cat teams
- The Bengals are a cat team best 1-0 vs. bird teams
- The Eagles are a bird team best 2-0 vs. cat teams
- The Jaguars are a cat team worst 0-3 vs. bird teams
- The Cardinals are a bird team worst 1-2 vs. cat teams
Takeaways
It’s surprising that the bird teams are winning this season’s series, given that their combined record is only 35-33. Cat teams have an abysmal 17-38 combined record though, which is mostly due to the Jaguars & Lions being awful teams. Cat teams have outscored the NFL’s best bird team (Cardinals) 83-53 in head-to-head games too, which is pretty impressive. Meanwhile, the Eagles have outscored the Panthers & Lions by 41 points (65-24) head-to-head!
- Ravens @ Bengals (Week 16)
- Lions @ Falcons (Week 16)
- Lions @ Seahawks (Week 17)
The Bottom Line
What’s the meaning behind this analysis? The truth is that there isn’t really any meaning behind it, but this was a fun little exercise nonetheless. I will say though that the cat-bird team matchup between the Bengals & Ravens this coming weekend could decide the AFC North. Tough draw for the Lions too, as their season ends with road games against the Falcons & Seahawks (both bird teams) before playing the Packers. Several cat teams are in position for a top pick in this year’s draft, including the Lions & Jaguars competing for the 1st overall selection. Meanwhile, a few bird teams (Cardinals, Ravens, Eagles) are in this year’s playoff conversation.
How many NFL teams have a bird as a mascot?
In the National Football League, there are five clubs who have some kind of bird as their mascot: the Eagles, Ravens, Falcons, Cardinals, and Seahawks.
And, in the same vein, how many NFL football teams have been named after birds?
There are five clubs in the National Football League that have mascots that are images of birds. The Seattle Seahawks, the Baltimore Ravens, the Arizona Cardinals, the Philadelphia Eagles, and the Atlanta Falcons are the five clubs in question.
What are the names of the five NFL clubs that are named after birds, as well?
Team names based on birds include the Philadelphia Eagles, Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, and Seattle Seahawks.
Isn’t it true that every NFL club has its own mascot?
All but the New York Jets, the Green Bay Packers, the New York Giants, and the Washington Redskins do not have official team mascots; the other 28 teams all have at least one mascot.
What is the significance of so many NFL clubs having bird names?
They were originally from St. Louis, where they have been known as the Cardinals since 1900, when the club was founded as a baseball franchise. Obviously, when they acquired a new club, the name Colts had already been used, so they turned to another element of Baltimore history and named the team after a famous poem written by Baltimore native Edgar Allan Poe.
Which NFL franchises are no longer in existence?
There are 19 NFL franchises that have never relocated or changed their team name, in case you didn’t see yours listed above. Those teams are as follows: The Atlanta Falcons are a professional football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Baltimore Ravens and the Buffalo Bills are both in the NFC East. The Carolina Panthers are a professional football team based in North Carolina. The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. NFL teams: Cleveland Browns*, Dallas Cowboys*, and Denver Broncos
What is the significance of the Browns’ orange uniforms?
The Browns bought orange helmets and put a single white stripe down the middle of the helmets, eliminating the need for a facemask. That all changed in 1955 when Coach Brown developed a facemask for his injured quarterback Otto Graham, who had broken his jaw but had since recovered from his injuries.
What is the storey behind each NFL team’s moniker?
BUFFALO BILLS, TO BE EXACT. It was proposed as part of a fan contest in 1947 to rename Buffalo’s All-America Football Conference club, which was formerly known as the Bisons. The Bills moniker was chosen as the winning entry. Wilson sought suggestions from fans for potential nicknames for his new team, ultimately settling on Bills as a nod to the city’s defunct American Football Conference team.
What is the significance of the name Browns?
The Browns were created in 1946 and were called after its first head coach, Paul Brown, as a result of a fan contest to choose their namesake. Brown was already a well-known personality in Ohio after leading the Ohio State University to a national college football title.
What is the significance of the bird names given to Atlanta teams?
Bert Bell and Lud Wray bought the squad in 1933, and the rest is history. The club was given its name by the new owners, who were supporters of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal and were inspired by the National Recovery Act’s eagle emblem.
What is the origin of the nickname “Packers”?
The Green Bay Packers are named after the corporation that founded them. The football team was given its name when Curly Lambeau, a shipping clerk for the firm, was successful in his request to the company’s owner, Frank Peck, for money to purchase jerseys and use of the company’s sports field in 1919, and received the funds.
What teams in the NFL are represented by birds?
In case you weren’t aware, there are five clubs in the National Football League who have birds as their mascots. The Seattle Seahawks, Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, and Philadelphia Eagles are the only birdbrains in the National Football Conference, while the Baltimore Ravens are the only birdbrains in the American Football Conference.
What is the reason behind the Browns’ lack of a logo?
Unfortunately for Brownie enthusiasts, it was despised by the restaurant’s owner, Art Modell. He purchased the team in 1961 and had the mascot removed by 1969. He was a successful businessman. In 1970, the Browns adopted a logo that included their football helmet, which has remained essentially intact (though it has undergone minor, practically indiscernible alterations over the years).
What does an NFL mascot earn in a year?
According to a December 2013 post on TheRichest website, NFL mascots earn anything from $23,000 to $65,000 per year, whereas the “Chicago Tribune” website reports that NFL mascots earn an average of roughly $25,000 per year.
Who is the best mascot in the National Football League?
Ragnar the Viking is number one on the list (Minnesota Vikings) Ragnar the Viking easily wins the award for greatest mascot in the NFL for blurring the barriers between fantasy and reality more than any other character.
Is there a meaning to the G on the Packers’ helmet?
While everyone believes the “G” in the oval logo stands for “Green Bay,” it is really an abbreviation for “Greatness.” The Packers have a trademark on the logo, which was designed by equipment manager George Braisher in 1961 and has been in use since since.
What sports teams do not have mascots?
There is no mascot. Five clubs in the National Football League (NFL) do not have an official mascot at all. The clubs in question include the New York Jets, the Oakland Raiders, the Green Bay Packers, the New York Giants, and the Washington Redskins, among others.
Is there a mascot for the Raiders?
The Oakland Raiders are rumoured to have a new mascot, dubbed “The Raider Rusher,” to represent the team. On Sunday, ESPN analyst Darren Rovell tweeted out a picture of what seems to be the team’s newest mascot. CBS Sports blasted it as “perhaps the most inept-looking mascot the world [has] ever seen” after only a few minutes.
Is there a mascot for the Pittsburgh Steelers?
Steely McBeam is a fictional character created by author Stephen King in the novel Steely McBeam.
These teams with bird mascots bring a unique energy and identity to the NFL..
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Reviews for "On the Wings of Victory: A Closer Look at the NFL Teams with Bird Mascots"
1. Name: Tom
Rating: 1/5
Review: I was really disappointed with "How many nfl teams have a bird as their mascot". The title was misleading as the book didn't offer any insights into the specific number of NFL teams with bird mascots. Instead, it was filled with unrelated anecdotes and irrelevant facts. The information presented was scattered and lacked clarity. I expected a concise and informative read, but all I got was confusion and frustration.
2. Name: Sarah
Rating: 2/5
Review: Although "How many nfl teams have a bird as their mascot" touched upon an interesting topic, I found the book to be poorly executed. The writing style was lackluster, and the content didn't flow smoothly. Moreover, the book didn't provide a comprehensive answer to the question posed in the title. I was left wanting more detailed information about the NFL teams with bird mascots rather than the filler content that dominated the pages. Overall, this book fell short of my expectations.