Ranking the 50 Best Logos in Sports
A team's logo and colors won't make it better or be the difference between a championship or first-runner-up finish, but it doesn't hurt if the team's players and fans at leastย feelย like winners when decked out head-to-toe in symbols and images that scream, "This isย myย team."
Some teams feature a logo that is a legitimate piece of sports historyโinstantly recognizable to both fans and non-fans alike. Others borrowed the best elements from the classics to create something familiar but unequivocally a part of their identity.
A bold few have bucked the tried and true to offer something completely new and unique, setting the new standard for future teams and franchises, or those looking to shake things up.ย What's obvious is that not all logos are created equal; even among the best, some just simply transcend the sport itself.ย
Here are the top 50 logos in sports.ย
50. Georgia Tech
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Georgia Techโs grinning Yellow Jacket logo is cartoonishly cool, which is a marked departure from the creepily lifelike bees they favored prior to 1978โnot a good look. Since the dramatic shift, itโs been one of the better mascots in college. ย
49. Chicago Cubs
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The Cubs missed an awful lot before they finally hit on their current logo, which was adopted in 1979. Itโs definitely classic, if not a little bit boring. Their alternate logos with the bear cub are always a welcome addition.ย
48. New York Knicks
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The Knicks logo is one of the few in sports that have slowly evolved over time, each time for the better. Although itโs not particularly creative, itโs classic and in no way excessive.
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47. Pittsburgh Penguins
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Like so many teams in the NHL, the Penguins logo suffered a very unfortunate corporate-looking redesign in the early '90s, which lasted an entire decade. Thankfully they saw the error of their ways in Pittsburgh and switched back to the classic penguin in 2002.ย
Although the colors are a bit more subdued than logos past, the current penguin is exactly the same design as the one adopted by the team in 1968.ย
46. South Carolina
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The first time I saw South Carolinaโs logo, I distinctly remember asking what the hell it was. A โgamecockโ is just a chicken, which they somehow manage to dress up like something legitimately intimidating.
And making that something garnet and black? Just perfect. The fact that it doesnโt seem like it would work in any colors is a testament to that.ย
45. Minnesota Lynx
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The WNBAโs Minnesota Lynx logo is actually a slightly better version of the Timberwolves logo, which is surrounded by too many trees to look truly ferocious. Itโs pretty much the only passable logo in the league, which is dominated by cheap knockoffs of the menโs team in the same city.ย
44. Indianapolis Colts
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As annoying as it is when Colts owner Jim Irsay says things like,โeverythingโs about the horseshoe,โ at least we know what heโs talking about. The Colts are one of the teams most easily identified by their unchanging logo. It was a very smart design decision because of its timelessness.
They couldโve gotten cutesy with the baby horse thing, which they wouldโve just had to change anyway.ย
43. Oregon
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Oregonโs logo might not be nearly as noteworthy if its football team didnโt accentuate it with its weekly spectacle of a uniform, courtesy of Nike. Then again, itโs hard to even remember a world before Oregon teamed up with Nike.ย
42. New York Rangers
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Like the rest of the NHLโs Original Six teams, the Rangers have made almost no changes to their logo over the yearsโwhich is good, because itโs been the most consistently good part of the team for decades.ย
41. Atlanta Hawks
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Unlike the team it represents, the Hawks logo doesnโt disappoint. Well, at least it hasnโt since the mid-'90s, when they finally found something that wasnโt stunningly ridiculousโlike a crudely drawn sketch of a hawk playing basketball.ย
They barely edged out another Atlanta birdโthe Falconsโfor a place on this list.ย
40. DC United
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By and large, MLS logos are, in a word, terrible. Way too many of them took inspiration from abroad, adopting weird crests and shields. The one possible exception is the D.C. United logo.ย
Although it isย modeled in the same crest style, it still stands out as distinctive. The bold colors, the embellished eagle and the font all really work together.ย
39. Butler University
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There are, approximately, a bazillion college teams with a Bulldog as their mascot. Of those bazillion teams, Butlerโs logo is the most simplistic of the bunch. There were no photos available of the actual logo, so here's an amazing photo of the team's mascot instead.ย
38. New York Giants
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The Giants logo, like the Giants themselves, is solid and dependable. Itโs not too fancy, but thereโs just enough of a pop to turn heads.ย
37. University of North Carolina
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There are countlessย logosย that are nothing more than interlocked initials, but UNC's is one that manages to really stand out. Maybe itโs because of that funky shade of blue, which is the perfect antidote to what Duke has going on.ย
36. Maine Red Claws
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Maybe itโs because the NBA D-Leagueโs Maine Red Clawsโ official logo is too hot to handle, but for some reason none of the teamโs uniforms seem to prominently feature the amazing lobster thatโs the centerpiece of its amazing logo.ย
35. Edmonton Oilers
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The Edmonton Oilers actually have a really great logo, which is largely hindered by some rather unfortunate team colors. Not incorporating black in the leaky oil seems like a real missed opportunity.ย
34. Clemson
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Clemson did itself and its fans a real service by adopting the classic tiger paw logo in 1976, because the school is already taking enough chances with that unpleasant shade of orange. The ridiculous tiger Clemson had prior to that was an absolute disaster, making this one even better by comparison.ย
33. Golden State Warriorsย
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The Warriors took a very weird path to get to theย logoย they have today, especially since they got it right on their second try in 1969 with a minimalist design featuring the Bay Bridge between San Francisco and Oakland. After a lot of ugly misfires, they finally went back to what works in 2010.ย
32. Los Angeles Dodgers
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The Dodgers have just two vastly different logos in team history, which have been used together since 1958. Theyโre both simplistic and classic without being boring, and we already know red, white and blue look mighty fine together.ย
31. West Virginia University
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Speaking as someone whoโs been there many times, the WVU campus in Morgantown, W.Va., is about as subtle as a sledgehammer. The university logo, on the other hand, is very understated. The โWVโ obviously represents the school, but it also mimics the mountains the state is famous for.ย
30. UCLA
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UCLA sometimes throws in its classic bear logo to remind people what a bruin is, but for the most part it sticks to the winning look adopted in 1973. The universityโs colors work very well together, and the Bruins are one of very few sports teams to use cursive in their logoโand they do it a lot better than Pac-12 rival Cal.ย
29. Buffalo Sabres
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Apparently the Sabres logo originated from a name-the-team contest prior to the club's first season in the NHL in 1970. Though the design is very literal, itโs also very cool.ย
28. Arsenal FC
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Arsenal F.C. of the Premier League first introduced a cannon as part of their logo in 1949. Itโs a very literal interpretation of the team name, and thereโs nothing wrong with that. They are one of the few international soccer teams easily identified by their logo.ย
The various incarnations of the logo over the years havenโt all been winnersโuntil recently it looked too much like a flag or family crest. Arsenal really hit the nail on the head in 2012 when this no-nonsense, streamlined version debuted.ย
27. New Orleans Saints
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New Orleans is the Saints, and the Saints are New Orleans. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, city and sport became linked in an entirely different way. The fleur-de-lis represents the Saints as well as the cityโs rich French heritage.ย
It's the only logo the team has ever had and the only one it'll ever have in the future.ย
26. St. Louis Cardinals
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Unlike many teams that started off with a cartoonish logo and then turned serious, the Cardinals have favored a realistic rendering of the cardinal since making it a part of their logo in 1922. Theyโve been through several iterations at this point, but the current one, which was adopted in 1998, is easily the best yet.ย
25. University of Florida
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Florida's logo somehow manages to be menacing and cartoonish at onceโmuch like the state of Florida itself! Itโs bold, easily identified and utilizes the color orange in one of the least offensive ways in all of sports.ย
24. San Antonio Spurs
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The Spurs organization went down an ugly road with itsย logo in 1989, switching to a weird pastel version that inexplicably lasted over a decade. Thankfully, the teamย really got it right with the redesign in 2002โyou really canโt go wrong with silver and black.ย
23. Baltimore Orioles
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The Orioles have done a lot more tinkering with their logo than has ever been necessary. The cartoonish versions of the bird they started off with were pretty solidโmuch better than the various realistic renderings adopted over the years.
The Oโs got back to basics with their logo in 2012, which is exactly what works best in baseball. Itโs nostalgic and fun, just like the sport itself.ย
22. Iowa
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Prior to 1979, the Iowa Hawkeyes logo was all kinds of terrible. It started off as a goofy cartoon and then transitioned to something more realistic in 1971โboth of which were not at all good. By contrast, the current logo is so cool that it kinda reminds me of the ThunderCats logo. ย
21. Toronto Raptors
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The Raptors logoย might be a controversial choice, given the history behind the rest of the logos on this listโthe team has only been in existence since 1995. Some may argue that the logo is not deserving because itโs going out its way to be ridiculousโwhich it is.ย
Thatโs exactly why it's here. Sports are too often treated as deadly serious stuff, when in reality they are anything but. Until recently, the Raptors have been comically bad for most of their existence. But thanks to that fantastically goofy logo, it always felt like they were in on the joke.ย
20. Oakland Raiders
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Is there a logo in professional sports that is more representative of a teamโs fanbase than that of the Oakland Raiders? It has been virtually unchanged since 1984 for a reasonโitโs classic and timeless in silver and black.ย
Itโs also needlessly tough and sorta confrontationalโkinda like Raiders fans themselves.ย
19. Chicago Blackhawks
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Unlike, for instance, say the Washington Redskins, the Blackhawks logo has not been subject to the same type of widespread criticism. Perhaps because it seems more like an homage of sorts rather than an offensive slur directed at Native Americans.ย
That being said, without taking a side on that debate one way or the other, thereโs no question itโs a pretty great logo. Whether or not it's offensive is something that they're still trying to work out locally.ย
18. Kansas City Chiefs
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The Chiefs logo is classic in design and brilliant in its simplicity. The arrowhead shape is a reference to their earth-shaking stadium as well as a nod to the areaโs Native American history. The โKCโ is bright and distinctive, without being the least bit garish.ย
17. Penn State
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Penn Stateโs logo and colors are streamlined and timeless. The initial Nittany Lion logo, adopted in 1983, is an excellent example of why thinking outside the box pays. In 2001 they regressed to a more lifelike cat, which was an inexplicably bad idea.ย
It only lasted three years before they moved back to the original logo, dropping โPenn Stateโ and opting for a slightly darker shade of blue. Itโs hard to imagine theyโll ever abandon such a good thing and make the same mistake twice.ย
16. Toronto Maple Leafs
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The Maple Leafs logo is iconic, not only in that it easily identifies the most popular team in the most popular sport in the most populated city in Canada, but also because of the significance of the maple leaf itself in the country.
For those of you unawares (and please say there aren't many) the maple leaf is also featured on the Canadian flag.ย
15. Michigan State
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Sure to attract the ire of the Michigan faithful, Michigan Stateโs Spartan logo is just better than the gold block โMโ of its in-state rival. While thereโs nothing understated about an actual Spartan, Michigan State stripped it down without losing any of the impact.
14. Philadelphia Flyers
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On one hand, the Flyers logo is actually pretty aggressive in its uglinessโthe weird โPโ and that eye-sore orange arenโt classically attractive. Neither is Philadelphia, though. But much like the city itself, the logo is distinctive, gritty and memorable.ย
13. Boston Celtics
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What's great about the Celtics logo is that, for as goofy as it is, itโs actually pretty sophisticated compared to what they started out with back in the '50s and '60s, which looked more like a trouble-making court jester than a leprechaun.ย
Lucky the Leprechaun is a playful nod to the Irish heritage the city of Boston is best known for.ย
12. Pittsburgh Steelers
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The Steelers logo is as classic and no-frills as the team itself. Adopted by the franchise in 1969, the logo is based on โthe Steelmark logo belonging to the American Iron and Steel Institute,โ which was created by U.S. Steel Corp, according to Steelers.com.
Pittsburgh has been a city in transition for decades now, with the Steelers and their logo serving as an anchor to the past and a symbol of the promise of the future.ย
11.University of Texas
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Texasโ logo hasnโt changed once since it was introduced in 1961โand why should it? The longhorn steer is perfectly representative of Texasโand itโs not just a logo, itโs also a rallying cry. Hook 'em horns, anyone?
10. Chicago Bulls
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The Bulls logo is great example of how to do an animal logo rightโitโs tough, representative and visually appealing. Compare that to the absurdity of the New Orleans Pelicans or Nashville Predators, both of which are exaggerated and weird.ย
9. Green Bay Packers
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Logos that are nothing more than a letter arenโt usually anything to write home aboutโthe Packers โGโ is one of the few exceptions. With only one slight change since it was adopted in 1961, itโs hard to explain why, but the Green Bay logo just works.ย
It's probably for the same reason an NFL football team can be so successful in a โcityโ of just over 100,000 people. ย
8. Detroit Red Wings
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The Red Wings logo is a pretty literal interpretation, with the tire representing the motor in the Motor City and the wing making the whole thing fly.ย Except for the shading and dimensions, Detroitโs logo hasnโt changed one bit since they came into existence as one of the NHLโs Original Six.ย
7. University of Miami
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Miami adopted the bi-colored U logo in 1971, which was a substantial step up from its two previous incarnationsโparticularly the first one, which looked like an angry version of the Vlasic pickles bird.ย
The logo is also used to identify the university by its many high-profile alumni. On Monday Night Football, it seems like at least one player each week proudly proclaims โThe Uโ during the opening drive.ย
6. Boston Red Sox
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The Red Sox logos have bounced back and forth between a pair of actual red socks and the uppercase, embellished B.Though theyโve changed it up far more often than the hated division-rival Yankees, the Red Sox have remained remarkably consistent through the years.ย
5. Los Angeles Lakers
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The Lakers logo is as flashy as the team that wears it and the city that lays claim to it. Purple and gold arenโt colors most of us would ever pair together, but together they make sense for this team.ย
They say purple is the color of royaltyโthey wear purple on their backs and gold on their heads and around their necks. They may be going through a rough stretch at the moment, but the Lakers are, without question, the royalty of the NBA.ย
4. Notre Dame
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Iconic, classic, and equal parts beloved and bemoaned, Notre Dameโs various logos are just all kinds of great. The interlocked โND,โ the fantastic fighting leprechaun and anything with a shamrock are all instantly recognized as distinctively Irish.ย
3. Dallas Cowboys
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As the second-most valuable franchise in American sportsโsecond only to the Yankees, according to Forbesโthe Cowboys know better than to mess with a winning formulaโat least when it comes to branding.
And like the Yanks, the Cowboys havenโt made a single change to their logo since 1964, which was nothing more than the slightest of tweaks. You don't mess with perfection.ย
2. Montreal Canadiens
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Perhaps the most enduring, unchanged logo in sports, the Canadiens jerseys have looked almost the same since 1917. Perfect in its simplicity, the H in the logo stands for hockey and the C for club.ย
As one of the NHLโs Original Six teams, I suppose they didnโt feel the need to differentiate themselves any further.ย
1. New York Yankees
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The Yankees boast what is arguably the most classically sophisticated logo in all of professional sports. The interlocking "NY" is the perfect fit with pinstripes, which are synonymous with this team.ย
Even the jazzier bat with a top-hat logo, which didnโt come about until 1947, works well when the Yanks opt for more standout signage.ย
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