Not a team logo, but the logo of the NFL’s old “Playoff Bowl”, officially known as the Bert Bell Benefit Bowl. Played each year from 1960 until 1969 at Miami’s Orange Bowl, the game was played between the two second place teams in each conference. The game was named for Bell, the NFL commissioner until his untimely death in 1959, and the proceeds of it went toward the Bert Bell Players’ Pension Fund. Over the decade it was played, over a million dollars was raised for the fund.
Logo of an Arena League football team, the Philadelphia Soul, who have played in three AFL championship games in their existence, winning the title in 2008. They are one of the few Arena League franchises that have had staying power, and are known mostly for their celebrity owners. They were once owned by rocker Jon Bon Jovi, with bandmate Richie Sambora as a minority owner. Today, former NFL player and current ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski owns the club, with the minority owners including Dick Vermeil and NFL players Jahri Evans and Marques Colston.
Logo of a college football team, the University of North Carolina Tar Heels, used from 1954 until 1967. The school plays in the Atlantic Coast Conference, and fielded their first team in 1888. The Tar Heels are not a football power, as the school is known mostly for it’s basketball dominance, but has sent many players to the NFL, including Lawrence Taylor, Chris Hanburger, Harris Barton, Jeff Saturday, Willie Parker, Ken Willard and Julius Peppers.
Logo of a team that plays in the Arena Football League, the New Orleans Voodoo, which has officially ceased operations in the league but may return in 2016 if a new ownership group can be found. This franchise was originally founded by NFL Saints owner Tom Benson. They played some home games in the Superdome, but mostly played at the indoor Smoothie King Center, affectionately known by the team’s fans as “The Graveyard”.
Logo of a college football team, the University of Nevada Wolf Pack, that plays in the Mountain West Conference. The school’s program started back in 1896, and is currently coached by Brian Polian, son of former NFL front office giant Bill Polian. Wolf Pack alumni who have gone on to play in the NFL include Hall of Famer Marion Motley, Charles Mann, Brock Marion, Tony Zendejas, Nate Burleson and current players Duke Williams and Colin Kaepernick.
Logo of a major college football team that plays in the Pacific Twelve Conference, the California Golden Bears. Their program is a long and storied one, having played their first season in 1886. They have claimed 5 national championships and 14 conference titles over the years. The school has provided a treasure trove of players to the NFL, including current stars Aaron Rodgers, Marshawn Lynch, Keenan Allen, Wesley Walker and Desean Jackson, while former NFL players who were Cal alumni include Les Richter, Steve Bartkowski, Tony Gonzalez, Sean Dawkins, Ed White and Matt Hazeltine.
Logo of a college football team, the Columbia University Lions, used from 1936 until 1956. The school, located in Manhattan, fielded it’s first football team in 1870 and is one of the oldest programs in the country. The Lions play in the prestigious Ivy League, which is not exactly a gridiron powerhouse but plays competitive football. The Lions are remembered mostly for their long losing streaks, one of which set an NCAA record for futility, but they’ve sent a few players on to the NFL, including Marcellus Wiley, George Starke and Hall of Famer Sid Luckman. A few other former Lion players went on to become famous in careers other than football – baseball great Lou Gehrig, actor Brian Dennehy and writer Jack Kerouac.
Logo of an old World Football League team, the Charlotte Hornets, who played in the league in 1974 and ’75. This was a sorry franchise that began play in New York but relocated mid-season to Charlotte. Shortly after relocating, however, their uniforms were impounded due to an unpaid laundry bill in New York. They eventually got their uniforms back and, coached by former AFL star quarterback Babe Parilli, qualified for the USFL playoffs. The team was so poorly funded, however, that they suspended operations and were replaced in the playoffs by the Philadelphia Bell.
Logo of a pro football team that existed for only a single season, in 1974, in the old World Football League, the Detroit Wheels. The team was severely underfinanced, even though they had a list of investors that totaled 33, including Motown great Marvin Gaye. They had little money to pay players, and wound up with a weak roster that won only one game. Their best player was probably quarterback Bubba Wyche, brother of former Cincinnati Bengal coach Sam Wyche. When the WFL made plans for its’ second season in 1975, the Wheels were the only team that didn’t have its’ franchise reissued, so the team faded into history.
Logo of the Hamburg Sea Devils, a pro football team that played in NFL Europe from 2005 until 2007. The team came into existence as a direct replacement for the Scottish Claymore franchise, as the struggling league disbanded that team in favor of locating in the more lucrative German market. The Sea Devils won the World Bowl championship in their final game in 2007, and the league folded up shortly after that. Their most famous alumni is current Miami Dolphin cornerback Brent Grimes.