{"id":38456,"date":"2024-04-08T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-04-08T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/blog\/?p=38456"},"modified":"2024-03-08T09:37:16","modified_gmt":"2024-03-08T15:37:16","slug":"nfl-mascot-salary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/blog\/nfl-mascot-salary\/","title":{"rendered":"Unmasking The NFL: How Much Do NFL Mascots Make?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Every football fan knows players and coaches make mega money, but how much do NFL mascots get paid? The average NFL mascot salary was $60,000 in 2023, but there are a few exceptions, like the Dallas Cowboys\u2019 Rowdy, who makes $65,000. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep reading to discover the other highest-paid mascots, and what it takes to make it as the person behind the suit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>The Highest-Paid NFL Mascots<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rowdy (Dallas Cowboys) – $65,000 annual salary<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Being the mascot of \u201cAmerica\u2019s Team\u201d comes with lots of perks. You get to perform in front of 80,000 people at every home game, you get to take part in lots of community events, and you get paid the joint most of any mascot in the NFL<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rowdy\u2019s $65,000 annual salary works out to $50\/hour, which can\u2019t be beaten by any other mascot in the league.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fun facts:<\/strong> Rowdy has 73K followers on Instagram and was named “Most Hated NFL Mascot” by Sports Illustrated in 2015.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pat Patriot (New England Patriots) – $65,000 annual salary<\/h3>\n\n\n
\n
\"New
Image of Pat Patriot mascot (credit: Christian Newton\/Flickr, CC BY 2.0<\/em>)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The joint highest NFL mascot salary is Pat Patriot of the New England Patriots, who also earns $65,000 per year ($50\/hour). Pat has become one of the most recognizable NFL mascots in the modern era, thanks to his appearances at eleven Super Bowls over the last 25 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pat can usually be found at Gillette Stadium for Patriots home games, where he entertains the crowd, signs autographs, and poses for pictures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fun facts: <\/strong>Pat was created by cartoonist Phil Bissell in 1960 and was originally based on an American Revolutionary soldier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Average NFL Mascot Salary<\/h2>\n\n\n
\n
\"Viktor,
Image of Minnesota Vikings mascot (credit: David Jones\/Flickr, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0<\/em>)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The average NFL mascot salary is $60,000 per year, or $45\/hour. Only Rowdy and Pat Patriot earn more than this, and their additional salary is probably down to the scale of their respective franchises. The Cowboys and Patriots are two of the most famous teams in the league, and their mascots have been a recognizable part of the game-day experience for decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s a list of some reported NFL mascot salaries for the 2023 season:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mascot<\/strong><\/td>Team<\/strong><\/td>Hourly salary<\/strong><\/td>Annual salary<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Rowdy<\/td>Dallas Cowboys<\/td>$50<\/td>$65,000<\/td><\/tr>
Pat Patriot<\/td>New England Patriots<\/td>$50<\/td>$65,000<\/td><\/tr>
Sourdough Sam<\/td>San Francisco 49ers<\/td>$45<\/td>$60,000<\/td><\/tr>
Toro<\/td>Houston Texans<\/td>$45<\/td>$60,000<\/td><\/tr>
Staley Da Bear<\/td>Chicago Bears<\/td>$45<\/td>$60,000<\/td><\/tr>
Swoop<\/td>Philadelphia Eagles<\/td>$45<\/td>$60,000<\/td><\/tr>
Miles<\/td>Denver Broncos<\/td>$45<\/td>$60,000<\/td><\/tr>
Poe<\/td>Baltimore Ravens<\/td>$45<\/td>$60,000<\/td><\/tr>
Steely McBeam<\/td>Pittsburgh Steelers<\/td>$45<\/td>$60,000<\/td><\/tr>
Blue<\/td>Indianapolis Colts<\/td>$40<\/td>$50,000<\/td><\/tr>
Blitz<\/td>Seattle Seahawks<\/td>$40<\/td>$50,000<\/td><\/tr>
Freddie Falcon<\/td>Atlanta Falcons<\/td>$40<\/td>$50,000<\/td><\/tr>
Viktor<\/td>Minnesota Vikings<\/td>$40<\/td>$50,000<\/td><\/tr>
Sir Purr<\/td>Carolina Panthers<\/td>$40<\/td>$50,000<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Extra Appearances<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Like NFL players and cheerleaders, mascots are required to do lots of extra work, separate to what is seen on game day. For example, Sourdough Sam, the mascot of the San Francisco 49ers, attends youth camps and schools where he spreads messages about the importance of healthy eating and exercise.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Sourdough
Image of Sourdough Sam mascot (credit: San Jos\u00e9 Public Library\/Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

These extra responsibilities would be part of the mascot\u2019s contract with the franchise, and each would vary slightly. However, for additional events, there are likely bonus earnings available for mascots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, it\u2019s possible to book Sourdough Sam for private, corporate events which would cost $1,050 for just two hours, with the performer taking a healthy hourly wage for the appearance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Most Popular NFL Mascots<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rowdy and Pat Patriot are the highest-paid mascots in the NFL, but it doesn\u2019t mean they are the most popular. Since 2016, there has been an NFL Mascot of the Year award and Blue, the mascot of the Indianapolis Colts, has won it a record three times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2023, Blue also won Social Media of the Year and Anchor in the Community, showing his presence both online and in the Indianapolis area. Blue also boasts a massive 254K followers on Instagram, which is more than any other NFL mascot.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Blue
Image of Blue mascot (credit: bluecoltsmascot\/Instagram<\/em>)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Other NFL mascots with a big following on Instagram include Blitz the Sea Hawk (104K) mascot of the Seattle Sea Hawks, and Toro (184K), mascot of the Houston Texans. Clearly, though, online popularity, reach, and awards don\u2019t necessarily equate to higher pay for NFL mascots. Despite having hundreds of thousands of followers collectively, Blue and Blitz both earn $15,000 less than Rowdy and Pat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Challenges Of Being An NFL Mascot<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Being an NFL mascot isn\u2019t just fun and games, so before you consider applying for the next vacancy in the league, you might want to consider some of the downsides. Here are some of the big challenges NFL mascots have to overcome:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Extreme Weather<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Across the 32 NFL teams, mascots have to deal with some extreme weather. Whether it\u2019s running around the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami in 70-degree heat, or risking catching frostbite in -13 at Lambeau Field<\/a>, dealing with extreme weather would be a genuine headache for many NFL mascots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Hard Work<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Throwing on an oversized costume and dancing in front of thousands of people might seem easy, but to be an NFL mascot, you have to be seriously committed. Mascot responsibilities don\u2019t start and end when the game does; a lot of preparation and performances away from the stadium are required. The Colts mascot, Blue, reportedly makes up to 300 performances each year<\/a> and plans all his own skits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Delivering Every Time<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Being a mascot is a performance role, and every time an NFL mascot puts on their costume, they have to give it 100%. And we’re not just talking about NFL games. The same energy and enthusiasm are needed at every school, charity, and corporate event the mascot attends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mascots also deal with a lot of drunk fans who may overstep the mark. Every now and then, things don\u2019t go to plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n\n\n<\/span>