This menacing-looking creature is the logo of a long defunct college football program, the Morris Brown College Wolverines. Their gridiron program was discontinued in 2003. The historically black college had a good football pedigree during the time it was active, sending a good amount of players to the pros for a school that size. Those alumni include Ezra Johnson, Alfred Jenkins, George Atkinson, Charlie Bivins, Tommy Hart, Nick Ferguson and Donte Curry.
Used from 1933 until 1936, this is the logo of a franchise from the National Football League’s bygone days, the Boston Redskins. The team entered the NFL in 1932 as the Boston Braves but changed their name the following year. Owner George Preston Marshall moved the team to Washington in 1937 and won the league championship that year. Their first coach, William “Lone Star” Dietz, claimed to be part Sioux. Players on the roster from the Boston years include Turk Edwards, Wayne Millner, Rick Concannon, Jim Musick and Hall of Famer Cliff Battles.
Logo of the University of California at Santa Barbara Gauchos, a school that has had a football program twice in it’s existence. Although they haven’t fielded a gridiron team since 1969, the Gauchos have had some representation in the pro ranks, as former players Johnny Morris, Dave Chapple, Sam Cathcart and coach Mike Martz have spent time in the NFL.
Logo of a small college football team that plays in the Sun Belt Conference, the Old Dominion Monarchs. The school began play in 1930 but dropped football and restarted the program in 2009. They also competed in 2 other leagues before joining the Sun Belt Conference in 2022. Former Monarchs who have enjoyed pro football careers include Taylor Heinicke, Travis Fulgham, Zach Pascal and Rick Lovato.
Logo of an FCS college football team that plays in the Missouri Valley Conference, the North Dakota Fighting Hawks. The school played its’ first season in 1894, and from 1973 until 2008 competed in Division III, winning the national championship at that level in 2001. Fighting Hawk alumni who have enjoyed careers in pro football include Jim Kleinsasser, Erroll Mann, Kenny Golliday, Jim LeClair, Chris Kuper and Dave Osborn.
Not an official logo of the team, this was a logo used on the 1968 and 1969 set of Topps football cards of Buffalo Bills’ players. Being that the NFL and AFL had agreed to a merger by then, the set included cards of players from both leagues. The Bills fell on hard times at this point after being a top club in earlier AFL years, and the fact that all other teams had their regular logos used on their cards was just another sign of disrespect Buffalo’s team had to endure.
Logo of a Canadian minor hockey team of the past, the Moose Jaw Canucks. They were founding members of the Western Canada Junior Hockey League, beginning play in 1966. The franchise disbanded when the Winnipeg Warriors moved to Moose Jaw in 1984. Notable former Moose Jaw alumni include Larry Popein, Al Rollins, Willie DesJardins, Fred Sasakamoose and Chris Chelios.
This is the iconic logo of an original six National Hockey League team, the Chicago Blackhawks. Founded in 1926, the franchise has won a total of 6 Stanley Cup championships over the years, with half of those coming in a 5 year span from 2010 to 2015. The Hawks boast an amazing 51 Hall of Fame inductees, including such luminaries as Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita, Tony Esposito, Glenn Hall, Chris Chelios, Denis Savard and Marion Hossa.
Hardly a “classic” logo, this is the official logo of the newly re-branded Washington Commanders, a team that plays in the National Football League and was formerly known as the Redskins and the unimaginative “Football Team”. The franchise played in Boston in the early NFL years, then moved to Washington in 1937, winning the league championship that year. They also were champs in 1942 and have won 3 Super Bowls in 5 appearances in the title game. There are 32 former Washington players, coaches and management people in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, 20 of which had most of their accomplishments playing in the nation’s capital.
Logo of a small college football team that plays in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, the Fayetteville State Broncos. The school won a pair of CIAA championships in 2002 and 2003. The Broncos have only sent one player to the pros, former Oakland Raider Blenda Gay, but their alumni include former major league pitcher Jim Bibby and pro wrestler Junkyard Dog.