How to Become an NFL Mascot

How to Become an NFL Mascot. The mascot for a professional sports team is instantly recognizable. Fans young and old see the mascot as representing the NFL, its ideals and the sport of football overall. Those who want to become an NFL mascot need to train hard, be able to follow the game and wow the crowds.

How much does an NFL Mascot make?

According to CareerTrend, an NFL mascot makes between $25,000 and $65,000 a year.

1. Handle the physical requirements

Have acrobatic, cheerleader or mascot training under your belt before applying for NFL mascot job openings. Employers want to know that you can handle the demanding physical requirements of the job before they hire you as a mascot.

2. Know the rules of football

Become well versed in the rules of football if you do not have prior knowledge. As a mascot for a football team, it is important to be able to accurately follow the game so you can help the fans cheer on their team. Watch old games to study how the mascots act as well.

3. In college? Try out to be your school's mascot.

If you were the mascot at your college, you're going to have a major advantage over everyone else. If you're currently in college, try out to be your school's mascot as soon as possible.

4. Go to Mascot School

Go to Pro Mascot School. This school, based in Texas, will teach you absolutely everything you need to know to become an NFL mascot.

Search the NFL.com Career Center for job listings. Mascot positions, as like other positions within the organization, tend to become available at the end of the football season.

5. Update your resume

Update your resume to emphasize any prior job experience that is related to becoming a mascot. This could include acting roles or other positions that you have held where you worked in the public eye, in addition to your athletic background.

6. Craft your cover letter

Craft a cover letter that, in addition to marketing your academic or athletic strengths, explains why you want to become the mascot for this specific team. Perhaps you have been a fan since childhood or grew up in that region of the country. The person reading your letter needs to have an idea why you, out of all the other applicants, should be given a chance.

7. Find insights about your team

Learn everything you can about the structure of the NFL as an employer and more specifically, the team for which you are applying to be the mascot. Interviewers like to see that you have done your homework and have some knowledge of the organization.

8. Prepare for your audition

Prepare for auditioning your mascot abilities as well as attending an interview. Brush up on your signature routine so that you can show your prospective employers that you are right for this job.

A List of NFL Mascots

• Baltimore Ravens: Poe, a raven, is named after Edgar Allan Poe.
• Buffalo Bills: Billy Buffalo is an 8-foot tall buffalo.
• Cincinnati Bengals: Who Dey is an orange Bengal tiger-like figure
• Cleveland Browns: Chomps is a dog-like figure
• Denver Broncos: Miles is a white horse-like anthropomorphic figure wearing an orange jersey
• Houston Texans: Toro is a dark blue bull-like figure
• Indianapolis Colts: Blue is a blue, horse-like figure
• Jacksonville Jaguars: Jaxson de Ville is a jaguar-like figure
• Kansas City Chiefs: K.C. Wolf is a grey-colored wolf-like figure
• Los Vegas Raiders: Raider Rusher is a giant head wearing a spiked Raiders helmet
• Los Angeles Chargers: do not have an official mascot
• Miami Dolphins: T.D. is a dolphin-like figure
• New England Patriots: Pat Patriot is a caricature of a patriot from the American Revolution
• New York Jets: do not have an official mascot
• Pittsburgh Steelers: Steely McBeam is a burly steelworker with a jutting chin
• Tennessee Titans: T-Rac is a raccoon, the state animal of Tennessee.
• Arizona Cardinals: Big Red is a red cardinal-like figure
• Atlanta Falcons: Freddie Falcon is a caricature of a falcon
• Carolina Panthers: Sir Purr is a black panther-like figure
• Chicago Bears: Staley Da Bear is a bear-like figure named after the team's original name
• Dallas Cowboys: Rowdy is a caricature of a cowboy
• Detroit Lions: Roary is a lion-like figure
• Green Bay Packers: do not have an official mascot
• Los Angeles Rams: Rampage is a ram-like figure
• Minnesota Vikings: Viktor is a smiling Viking caricature
• New Orleans Saints: Gumbo is a dog-like figure
• New York Giants: do not have an official mascot
• Philadelphia Eagles: Swoop is an eagle-like figure
• San Francisco 49ers: Sourdough Sam is a caricature of an 1849 California gold prospector
• Seattle Seahawks: Blitz and Boom are large blue anthropomorphic birds
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Captain Fear is a caricature of a pirate
• Washington Commanders: do not have an official mascot