Logo of a long-forgotten team that played in the old World League of American Football, the Ohio Glory. The club played only one season in the WLAF (later to be called NFL Europe) and won only one game in that season in 1992. They were coached by former Miami Dolphin Hall of Fame lineman Larry Little, and played their home games at Ohio State University’s stadium. Their roster included a few players who spent time in the NFL, including Babe Laufenberg, George Koonce and punter Tom Rouen.
This is the memorial logo being worn by the Buffalo Bills in 2014 in honor of their late founder and owner Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Wilson was one of the original eight owners who founded the American Football League, which began play in 1960. He was the last survivor of that group, known collectively as “The Foolish Club” for having the audacity to challenge the established NFL. He also played an important behind-the-scenes role in helping to bring about the merger between the AFL and NFL which produced the thriving entity the league has become today.
Logo of a small college football program, the Holy Cross Crusaders, used from 1966 until 1998. The team plays in the Patriot League, a Football Championship Sub-division conference (formerly known as Division I-AA). Former Crusaders who’ve played pro football in either the AFL or NFL include Hall of Famer George Connor, Bob Dee, Doug Cosbie , Vince Promuto and Jon Morris.
Today’s logo is another example of the great cartoon art featured on the American Football League’s game day programs in the 1960s. This program was from a pre-season game played on August 14, 1964 between the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs, and shows the “Buffalo Bill” logo that was used on many of the Bills’ programs at the time, dousing the campfire of a pretty sorry-looking Chief.
On the left is the iconic logo of the National Football League, unofficially known as “The Shield”, and on the right is the same logo as it appeared when first introduced in 1960. Obviously, it’s not a “team” logo, but the NFL itself, in the early years under commissioner Pete Rozelle, became somewhat of a team as the team owners, under Rozelle’s guidance, incorporated as one and negotiated huge television contracts that called for revenue sharing and ensured even the small market franchises could remain solvent and competitive. It was a brilliant strategy that helped grow the game into the media giant that it is today.
Logo of the University of Hawaii Rainbow Warriors, a college football team that plays in the Mountain West Conference. They had a run of success in the late 1990s into the 2000s, under coach June Jones, including a major bowl appearance in 2008, when they lost to Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. Former Hawaii players who have spent time in the NFL include Colt Brennan, Larry Cole, Golden Richards, Jason Elam, Jesse Sapolu, Davone Bess and Mark Tuinei.
Logo of a college football team, the University of Louisville Cardinals, used from 1980 until 2000. The program has existed since 1912, and currently the team plays in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Although never mentioned as one of the nation’s gridiron powerhouse schools, the Cardinals have sent many players on to the NFL, including John Unitas, Lenny Lyles, Doug Buffone, Tom Jackson, Ted Washington, Joe Jacoby, Otis Wilson, Ernest Givens, Frank Minnifield and Ernie Green. There are many current Louisville alumni in the league also, including Deion Branch, Eric Wood, Preston Brown, Teddy Bridgewater, David Akers, Elvis Dumervil, Harry Douglas and William Gay.
This is a logo of a major college football team, the University of Cincinnati Bearcats, used from 1959 until 1968. They play in the American Athletic Conference since last season, after stints as an independent program and in six other conferences over the years, including the Missouri Valley Conference, the Big East and Conference USA. They are one of the oldest programs in the country, having fielded a team since 1885. When they met Miami of Ohio in 1888, it was the first intercollegiate football game held in the state of Ohio. Former Bearcats who went on to play in the NFL include Ron Kostelnik, Brig Owens, Greg Cook and current stars Connor Barwin, Trent Cole and Brent Celek.
Logo of a Division III college football program, the Occidental Tigers, who compete in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC). The Tigers have won a pair of Division III national titles, in 2006 and 2008. Former NFL coach Jim Mora is an Occidental graduate, along with former pro football players Vance Mueller and Jack Kemp, who was a long-time Congressman and former candidate for Vice President for the Republican Party.
Logo of a small college football program, the Florida A&M University Rattlers. One of the top historically black college programs, the Rattlers have existed since 1907 and won 12 Black College national championships over the years. They have been a great provider of talent to pro football, with their alumni including the late Willie Galimore, Billy Joe, Bob Hayes, Ken Riley and Nate Newton.