The many faces of NFL logos – A SuperBowl Related Post
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In Honor of the Superbowl we talk today about the NFL and its team logos.
The NFL is a ground breaking organization in many ways, but its record in taking what some would call a primitive sport and turning it to the most popular team sport in the world is impressive. One of the ways in which the NFL was able to achieve this popularity is through the branding of its various teams. The visual language used in the initial development of team logos and then in their evolution over the years is emblematic of how graphic design in general and sports merchandising in particular have changed over the 50 years in which the NFL has existed. Here are several case studies in how NFL logos have evolved:
We start with the storied NFL franchise, the Chicago Bears, here are 3 evolutions of the logo, the last one is the one used today. It is worth noting for the typography buffs in the crowd that many NFL teams relay on typography for their logo. And typography as we know evolves over time. It is, thus, often easy to see the time frame in which a logo was create because of its form.
The case of the New England Patriots logo is a study in how to turn a not so contemporary logo ןמto something that is contemporary and in-line with the “manly-ness” of טםור brand. The original “Pat Patriot” logo (featured in the image below) was retired in 1992, but some of it’s characteristics where retained.
Unlike the Chicago Bears the Patriots have had only two versions to their logo, the 2nd one is well in lined with the the look of may new team logos around the league. The logo is flowing / moving and at the same time it is forceful and impaction.
The Denver Broncos
The new logo design for the The Denver Broncos (introduced in 1997) and the new logo design for The New England Patriots share many of the same characteristics. Here the older, more 2D look has been replaced with a logo that is almost 3D, forceful yet graceful. Where the old logo did not spell out the name “Broncos”, the new logo has the name spelled out in what seems to be Insignia, a very distinct font popular in the early 1990′s.
As with the Bears, the NY Giants (or as they are often called: The New York Football Giants) have based their logo on typography alone. Over the years The Giants have replaced their logo 3 times, each time basing their logo on type that seemed current to the era it was created in. It is worth noting that as with many NFL logos the final logo has a Blue on White, Red on White and White or Red and Blue versions.
The Huston Oiler have had a logo journey that is tied directly to a geographical journey. In the Mid 90′s the team moved from Huston to Tennessee and changed it’s name to the Tennessee Titans. With such a change a new logo was in order, and that new logo was re-designed down the road as well. If you feel that new logo has something to do with other new NFL logos, you are not alone.
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4 Responsesto “The many faces of NFL logos – A SuperBowl Related Post”
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I found your Blog when I was searching for insignia and I need to say, you do a really good job. You article helps me a lot! Thanks.
Hello! Your post The many faces of NFL logos – A SuperBowl does so well that I would like to translate it into French, publish on my french blog and link to you. You have something against it? Regards
Please make sure to give us credit, otherwise go ahead and translate.