a Yourlist ranking · the crowd decides the order
From snarling animals to sleek monograms, these are the sports logos fans tattoo on their bodies. Vote for the ones that nail identity, memorability, and design in one shot.
What counts: Ranking blends design distinctiveness, cultural iconicity, longevity, and adaptability across merchandise. Debut years and design-era details are approximate and sourced from general franchise history.
Chicago Bulls
That snarling red bull head, drawn in 1966, became the visual shorthand for the Jordan dynasty and global 90s basketball culture. It's arguably the most bootlegged logo in sports history, printed on everything from Bulls jerseys to unrelated streetwear.
Logo Debut: 1966Sport: Basketball (NBA)Design Style: Mascot/Animal headCoolness: 9.5/10Major Redesigns: 0
added by IJRin 7 rankings
Los Angeles Raiders/Oakland Raiders Shield
The pirate skull crossed with swords under a silver-and-black shield became the emblem of outlaw football fandom, embraced by gangs, rappers, and rebels alike. Its menace has made it a perennial top seller for decades.
Logo Debut: 1963Sport: Football (NFL)Design Style: Emblem/MascotCoolness: 9.3/10Major Redesigns: 2
added by IJR
New York Yankees Interlocking NY
Designed in 1909 by Tiffany & Co. for a police medal, the simple interlocking letters became baseball's ultimate symbol of tradition and winning. Its restraint is the point — no mascot, no color explosion, just quiet dominance.
Logo Debut: 1909Sport: Baseball (MLB)Design Style: MonogramCoolness: 9.2/10Major Redesigns: 0
added by IJR
Detroit Red Wings Winged Wheel
A literal winged wheel nodding to Detroit's Motor City identity, this logo has barely changed since 1932 and radiates old-school hockey toughness. Its clean geometry looks as sharp on a jersey as it does branded on a car hood.
Logo Debut: 1932Sport: Hockey (NHL)Design Style: EmblemCoolness: 9/10Major Redesigns: 1
added by IJR
Los Angeles Dodgers Script
The flowing blue cursive with its trailing swoosh under the 'D' has represented Brooklyn-then-LA baseball since the 1930s, becoming a streetwear and hip-hop staple far beyond baseball. It's proof a script wordmark can be just as cool as any mascot.
Logo Debut: 1938Sport: Baseball (MLB)Design Style: Script wordmarkCoolness: 9/10Major Redesigns: 1
added by IJR
Pittsburgh Penguins Skating Penguin
A cartoonish yet sleek penguin mid-stride captures speed and personality rare among hockey logos, which often lean into fierce animals instead. The triangle-shaped bird silhouette has made it instantly recognizable since 1992's redesign.
Logo Debut: 1992Sport: Hockey (NHL)Design Style: MascotCoolness: 8.7/10Major Redesigns: 3
added by IJR
Miami Dolphins Sunburst Logo (Classic)
The original 1966 leaping dolphin wearing a football helmet in front of an orange sun perfectly captured retro Florida beach vibes. Its cartoonish charm made it a favorite of throwback jersey collectors even after the team modernized in 2013.
Logo Debut: 1966Sport: Football (NFL)Design Style: MascotCoolness: 8.6/10Major Redesigns: 2
added by IJR
A shark literally biting through a hockey stick is as aggressive and on-the-nose as sports branding gets, and it worked instantly upon the franchise's 1991 debut. Teal became a defining 90s color trend partly because of this logo's popularity.
Logo Debut: 1991Sport: Hockey (NHL)Design Style: MascotCoolness: 8.5/10Major Redesigns: 1
added by IJRSan Jose Sharks
Green Bay Packers 'G'
A single oval green-and-gold 'G' has represented small-town, blue-collar football glory since 1961, tied inseparably to Lombardi-era dynasties. Its simplicity is deceptive — few logos convey heritage with so little visual information.
Logo Debut: 1961Sport: Football (NFL)Design Style: MonogramCoolness: 8.4/10Major Redesigns: 0
added by IJR
Toronto Raptors (Original Cartoon Dinosaur)
The 1995 purple, snarling basketball-dribbling dinosaur was pure 90s maximalism, dripping with Jurassic Park-era pop culture energy. Though replaced by a sleeker beast in 2015, the original remains a beloved nostalgia icon.
Logo Debut: 1995Sport: Basketball (NBA)Design Style: MascotCoolness: 8.3/10Major Redesigns: 2
added by IJR
Manchester United Red Devil Crest
Topped by a devil brandishing a trident, this crest built around the city's ship-and-devil heritage has flown over one of football's most successful clubs since the 1970s. It's globally recognized shorthand for footballing glamour and controversy alike.
Logo Debut: 1970Sport: SoccerDesign Style: CrestCoolness: 8.7/10Major Redesigns: 3
added by IJR
Arizona Coyotes/Phoenix Coyotes 'Kachina' Logo
Designed with Southwestern Native art influences, the howling coyote kachina mask was praised by design critics as one of the most artistically ambitious sports logos ever made. It's a cult favorite among hockey logo aficionados despite the franchise's instability.
Logo Debut: 1996Sport: Hockey (NHL)Design Style: Mascot/Cultural artCoolness: 8.6/10Major Redesigns: 2
added by IJR
A vividly colored Native American chief head in profile is considered one of the most detailed and painterly logos in sports, despite ongoing controversy over its imagery. Its craftsmanship keeps it on best-logo lists even as its future is debated.
Logo Debut: 1955Sport: Hockey (NHL)Design Style: Portrait/MascotCoolness: 8.8/10Major Redesigns: 1
added by IJRin 3 rankingsChicago Blackhawks
Boston Celtics Leprechaun
A pipe-smoking, basketball-twirling leprechaun perched on a shamrock has embodied Celtic pride and playful swagger since the 1950s. It stands out as one of the few genuinely whimsical logos among the NBA's mostly serious wordmarks and mascots.
Logo Debut: 1950Sport: Basketball (NBA)Design Style: MascotCoolness: 8.2/10Major Redesigns: 1
added by IJR
Cleveland Browns (Wordmark, No Logo)
Famous for having no helmet logo at all since 1946, the Browns turned absence into identity — plain orange helmets that scream old-school toughness. It's the ultimate contrarian pick in any 'coolest logos' argument, precisely because there isn't one.
Logo Debut: 1946Sport: Football (NFL)Design Style: No logo/WordmarkCoolness: 7.5/10Major Redesigns: 0
added by IJR
A gold-and-steel-gray knight helmet with a sword-through-'V' motif launched in 2017 and instantly felt like a decades-old brand, aided by the team's improbable inaugural playoff run. It's a rare modern expansion logo widely praised by design critics.
Logo Debut: 2017Sport: Hockey (NHL)Design Style: EmblemCoolness: 8.4/10Major Redesigns: 0
added by IJRin 4 rankingsVegas Golden Knights
Baltimore Ravens (Raven Head)
Named for Edgar Allan Poe, the fierce purple raven head introduced in 1999 gave Baltimore's new franchise instant gothic menace and local literary flavor. It replaced a shield logo and quickly became one of the more respected 2000s-era redesigns.
Logo Debut: 1999Sport: Football (NFL)Design Style: MascotCoolness: 8.1/10Major Redesigns: 1
added by IJR
St. Louis Blues Musical Note
A hockey stick crossed like a musical note pays tribute to the city's jazz and blues heritage in a clever, understated way rare among sports emblems. It's a favorite among design purists for turning a city's culture directly into iconography.
Logo Debut: 1967Sport: Hockey (NHL)Design Style: EmblemCoolness: 7.9/10Major Redesigns: 1
added by IJR
Anaheim Mighty Ducks (Original)
Born from a Disney movie, the goalie mask duck logo was pure 90s cartoon energy and became a merchandising phenomenon far beyond hockey fandom. Its unapologetic silliness makes it a nostalgic cult classic even after the franchise rebranded in 2006.
Logo Debut: 1993Sport: Hockey (NHL)Design Style: MascotCoolness: 8/10Major Redesigns: 2
added by IJR
Denver Broncos (Classic 'D' Bronco)
The bucking orange horse bursting through a blue 'D' defined Broncos football from 1968 to 1996, a dynamic, almost cartoonish energy replaced by a sleeker modern horse. Old-school fans still consider the original the more charismatic design.
Logo Debut: 1968Sport: Football (NFL)Design Style: MascotCoolness: 7.8/10Major Redesigns: 2
added by IJR
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