For the Love of Logos - The NFL: Part I

Written by Zeke Perez Jr.

I’ve written previously in For the Love of Logos about how my love for sports team emblems blossomed when I stumbled upon a book of historical sports logos in my local library as a kid. But even prior to diving headfirst into that book and all sorts of team identities throughout sports history, I had a background in NFL logos.
 
I was six when the Denver Broncos changed their color scheme and redesigned their logo. I vividly remember the hullabaloo that move caused amongst my family members who had grown attached to the classic Broncos D logo that had been on the team’s helmets and merchandise for 26 years. Observing their reactions, I learned how much of an impact a logo change can have on a fanbase. People have very strong opinions regarding their favorite team’s identity.
 
My family’s yearning to keep the classic Broncos D shaped my affinity for throwback logos. I’m sure a few trinkets around my childhood home subconsciously added to that, too. The basement window had 1970’s NFL curtains up, remnants of the playroom my mom and uncles used when they were kids. My parents also brought home a pool table light with NFL logos from the late 80’s and early 90’s. While we lacked a pool table and thus never used the light for its intended purpose, I would examine it and select my favorite (and least favorite) logos from it every time I passed by.   
 
The NFL has had some great logos in its history, and I absolutely love it when those are brought back permanently or at least featured in throwback games. In this NFL edition of For the Love of Logos, I’ll showcase some of the outstanding and wacky logos that have graced the gridiron over the years. Here in part one, I will look at trends and show how logos have changed over time. Then, in part two, I will highlight some of my favorites, as well as some flops and forgotten logos. Without further ado, here are some trends in NFL logos, with all logos courtesy of the wonderful sportslogos.net! 

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Part One: The Trends

​Animals play a big role as sports mascots. In fact, half of the 32 NFL teams are named after animals and/or use an animal as their logo. While creatures representing teams have been a constant, their look has evolved over time, typically becoming edgier and more stylized. Originally, animal logos tended to be either super realistic or cartoonish, fun, and silly. Today they fit neatly somewhere within that spectrum, appearing sleek and modernized. Here are before and after pictures to show off some of those transformations. There are some very stark differences between the logos of the 1940’s and 50’s and those of today.

​While some teams morphed the look of their animal, others dropped them from their primary logo altogether. The Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, and the Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts have historically featured actual animals in their logos. Now, the teams are represented by a wishbone ‘C’, a tiger-striped ‘B’, and a horseshoe, respectively. Those three teams are now the only ones with animal nicknames but no animal in their primary logo.

​Teams have commonly adopted identities related to professions and other identifiers, with names like Cowboys, Saints, Texans, and Packers serving as just a few examples. Human mascots aren’t exempt from the changes that their animal counterparts have gone through. For a period of time, teams visualized these names through primary logos which were often a little cartoonish or corny. The designs used in the 1960’s definitely wouldn’t fly today.  As you can see, the early Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Oilers, Denver Broncos, and Dallas Texans logos were cut from the same cloth. 

​Shields, crests, and wordmarks are once-common forms of logo that have fallen by the wayside. More commonly found in the 1940’s, 50’s, and early 60’s, these gave teams a more official or serious look.  While teams today do use wordmarks in many capacities, none use them as a primary logo. 

People instantly recognize brands. The Coca-Cola font, the golden arches, or Google’s colors all immediately strike a chord when they are seen. Team names, jerseys, helmets, and logos are no different. Fans come to know and love the look of their favorite team. However, those haven’t always remained as steady as they seem. Even the most iconic of franchise logos are not what they once started out as. Hopefully you’ve seen some new designs and learned a little about the history of the NFL here in part one. Stay tuned for part two to see some of the NFL’s favorites, flops, and forgotten logos!