America's favorite sports mascots are revealed - is yours on the list?
Blue was the most followed sports mascot with around 633,000 Instagram followers. Benny the Bull came second with around 574,000 Instagram followers, whilst Gritty ranked third with around 482,000 Instagram followers. Toro and the Phillie Phanatic ranked fourth and fifth, respectively.
When attending sports fixtures across the U.S., there are few things that are as much fun as the mascots. Seeing a jovial animal parading around the ground and supporting your team is as much a part of the day as watching the game.
With this in mind, a new study has found that Benny the Bull, of the Chicago Bulls, is the most followed sports mascot in America.
Experts LSR analyzed the Instagram follower counts for every team mascot in the MLB, NBA, NFL, and NHL to determine which had the largest following. Any mascots without official Instagram accounts were excluded from the findings, resulting in a total of 92 entries across the four sporting leagues.
Blue topped the rankings with around 633,000 Instagram followers. Depicted as an anthropomorphic blue horse in a white team jersey, Blue has been the mascot of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts since 2006. His Instagram handle @bluecoltsmascot features him completing challenges, playing pranks, and travelling the world.
Benny the Bull was the second-most followed sports mascot in the study, with around 574,000 Instagram followers. He has been the mascot of the NBA’s Chicago Bulls since 1969 and is largely known for his impressive stunts, like dunking tricks and aerobatic flips. His Instagram handle @bennythebull highlights some of his popular gameday appearances.
Gritty ranked third with around 482,000 Instagram followers. He has been the mascot of the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers since 2018 and is depicted as a tall, furry orange creature wearing his team’s apparel. His Instagram handle @grittynhl shows him interacting with his team, alongside his gameday appearances.
Rampage took fourth place, with 332,000 followers. Initially joining the St. Louis Rams in 1995, Rampage stayed with the Rams franchise throughout its move to its new home in Los Angeles. Depicted as a traditional Ram, his Instagram, @rampagenfl, shows him interacting with players and the local community.
Toro came fifth with around 331,000 Instagram followers. The anthropomorphic black bull has been the mascot for the NFL’s Houston Texans since 2001. His Instagram handle @texanstoro1 features highlight reels of his stunts, pranks, and interactions with his team.
The Phillie Phanatic ranked sixth with around 242,000 Instagram followers. He has been the mascot of the MLB’s Philadelphia Phillies since 1978 and is depicted as a large, furry, green flightless bird. His Instagram handle @philliephanatic shows his appearances at major games and interactions with his fans.
Taking seventh is Blooper from the Atlanta Braves, with 140,000 followers on Instagram. Debuting in 2018, he has achieved an impressive following on his account, @blooperbraves. His antics include attending Speedway events, hyping up the crowds, and serving the community.
Eighth place goes to Blitz from the Seattle Seahawks, who has accrued 115,000 followers on his account, @blitztheseahawk. The account mainly focuses on interactions with players, cheerleaders and fans.
Ninth overall is Coyote from the San Antonio Spurs, who has amassed a following of 113,000 fans on his account @spurscoyote. Followers of the account see Coyote running about the court whilst also partaking in off-court activities, including running through a forest in a ghillie suit to celebrate Earth Day.
Rounding out the top ten is a mascot pairing from the New York Mets. Mr Met has 78,100, whilst Mrs Met has 13,400, making a total of 91,500 between the pair. Across their accounts, they can be seen donating to food banks, walking the red carpet, and attending baseball games.
Top 10 most followed American sports mascots on Instagram
| Rank | Sport | Team | Mascot Name | Instagram Followers |
| 1 | NFL | Indianapolis Colts | Blue | 633,000 |
| 2 | NBA | Chicago Bulls | Benny the Bull | 574,000 |
| 3 | NHL | Philadelphia Flyers | Gritty | 482,000 |
| 4 | NFL | Los Angeles Rams | Rampage | 332,000 |
| 5 | NFL | Houston Texans | Toro | 331,000 |
| 6 | MLB | Philadelphia Phillies | Phillie Phanatic | 242,000 |
| 7 | MLB | Atlanta Braves | Blooper | 140,000 |
| 8 | NFL | Seattle Seahawks | Blitz | 115,000 |
| 9 | NBA | San Antonio Spurs | Coyote | 113,000 |
| 10 | MLB | New York Mets | Mr. Met and Mrs. Met | 91,500 |
Brad Szalach, a spokesperson for LSR, commented on the findings: “The mascots who represent America’s major sports teams have their own important role as stand-out characters that fans can rally behind to support their team and see in person at their games. It is understandable that many of them would have gained a significant online following, especially on Instagram where they often post clips of their antics during games.
“However, it should be noted that the most successful mascots also use their following to share positive messages and have more personal interactions with the fans, like Benny the Bull promoting literacy to local schools and making public appearances around Chicago. This shows the extent to which sports mascots can impact their local community beyond just hyping up fans during games.”