Logo of a college football team that plays in the Big Sky Conference, the Sacramento State Hornets. The school began play in 1954 and has been a member of various leagues over the years, and has amassed 7 conference titles. Notable former Hornets who have played pro football include Lorenzo Lynch, Todd Davis, John Gesek, Daimon Shelton, Ken O’Brien, Lonnie Paxton and current players DeAndre Carter and DaRon Bland.
Logo of a pro football team that played in the old NFL Europe league, the Rhein Fire. Based in Dusseldorf, Germany, they were one of the league’s most successful franchises, reaching the World Bowl championship 5 times and winning twice. Some of their notable players included Fred Jackson, Gino Torretta, James Harrison, Drew Henson, Danny Wuerffel, Nick Ferguson and actor Terry Crews.
Logo of a college football team that plays in the Sooner Athletic Conference, the Langston University Lions. A historically black college, Langston plays at the NAIA level. The school has an impressive list of players who have enjoyed careers in pro football, including Chad Johnson, Maurice Bassett, Matthew Hatchette, Thomas Henderson, Gene Howard, Ken Payne and Odell Lawson.
Not a team logo, but with Thanksgiving being this week we’ll feature a logo dedicated to the man associated with Thanksgiving NFL football, John Madden. Following up a successful Hall of Fame coaching career with the Oakland Raiders, he transitioned to a broadcasting career with CBS and Fox, partnering with Pat Summerall. Madden was almost the main attraction of some of the games, awarding star players with turkey legs afterwards and introducing America to the turducken, a Thanksgiving feast that was a duck inside a chicken inside a turkey.
Used from 1976 until 1981, this is a vintage logo of a college football team that resides in the Mountain West Conference, the Fresno State Bulldogs. They played their initial season in 1921 and have amassed 29 conference championships while bouncing between 6 different leagues. The Bulldogs will move again in 2026, to the Pac 12. The list of Fresno alumni who have played pro football is long, and includes James Williams, Ryan Wendell, Davante Adams, Omar Stoutmire, Michael Stewart, Bryan Robinson, James Sanders, Steven Baker, Sonny Bishop, Derek Carr, David Carr, Aaron Craver, Henry Ellard, Trent Dilfer, David Grayson, Logan Mankins, Richard Marshall, Lorenzo Neal, Stephone Paige, Michael Pittman, Bear Pascoe and Marquez Pope.
Logo of a defunct college football team, used from 1991 until 2007, that played in the MEAC conference, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks. The school was known as Maryland State college from 1946 until 1970, and the gridiron program was discontinued in 1980. For a small school, they produced an impressive list of players who went on to pro careers, a list that includes Johnny Sample, Art Shell, Carl Hairston, Mack Alston, Emerson Boozer, Bill Thompson, Sherman Plunkett, Gerald Irons, Roger Brown, Bill Belk and Charlie Stukes.
Logo of a college football team that plays in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference, the University of Findlay Oilers. The school has won 4 NAIA national championships in their history. Former Oilers who have gone on to play pro football include Odell Barry, Jason Moore, Andrew Ogletree, Tony King, Harold Jones-Quartey and current Seattle Seahawk Michael Jerrell.
Logo of a college football program that began play in 1896 and disbanded in 1992, the Santa Clara University Broncos. The school was a Division II independent and had an overall .587 winning percentage over the years, while compiling a 3-0 bowl game record. Their list of alumni who played pro football is a long one, and includes Brent Jones, Dan Pastorini, Gern Nagler, Lee Artoe, Visco Grgich, Frank Cope, Bryan Barker, Doug Cosbie, Ted Connolly and Hall of Famer Tom Fears.
Used from 1961 until 1984, this is the logo of a defunct college football team, the Long Beach State 49ers. They began play in 1955 and disbanded the football program in 1991. The 49ers competed as both an independent program and as members of the Big West Conference, where they claimed 3 conference titles. Former players and coaches who went on to pro careers include George Allen, Jim Fassel, Willie Brown, Terrell Davis, Russ Bolinger, Mike Horan, Les Shy, Ben Rudolph, Billy Parks, Terry Metcalf, Dan Bunz and Jeff Severson.
Logo of a pro football team that played a single season in the now defunct World Football League, the Jacksonville Sharks. They were one of the original franchises when the league began play in 1974, but folded before their first season ended. The Sharks lost 4 of their first 6 games which led to the firing of coach Bud Asher, who had actually lent the owner of the team money to meet payroll. The team’s roster was sprinkled with some veterans with pro experience like John Stofa, Ike Lassiter, Drew Buie and Larry Gagner.