One is a powerful, super-rich empire that rules the land with famous brand names. The other is, well, the exact same thing. When you think of it that way, a team-up between Disney—home of Marvel, Pixar, Lucasfilm, and more—and the National Football League—home of the Cowboys, Chiefs, Steelers, and others—makes sense. But how, exactly? And why?
Earlier this year, Disney and the NFL announced an upcoming collaboration in which each team would be assigned a Disney character for a future line of merchandise. This week, the full lineup was revealed, and it is fascinating, confusing, and everything in between.
Some of them make sense. Thor for the Minnesota Vikings? Great. The Lion King, Simba, for the Detroit Lions? Sure. Others are equally logical, but maybe less marketable. Stinky Pete the prospector for the San Francisco 49ers? Sure, but, really? Maximus the horse for the Denver Broncos? Yes, that’s a “bronco,” but most people would probably have to look up which movie he’s even from (It’s Tangled).
Then there are a few that just kind of defy explanation; they either half-make sense or are just plain weird. The Millennium Falcon for the Atlanta Falcons? We get it, but why? Chewbacca for the Green Bay Packers? What? Darth Vader for the Las Vegas Raiders? They do know there are actual Raiders in Star Wars, right?
Here are just a few of the logos and, below, we’ll have a list of them all, including the Disney-approved explanations.
AFC EAST
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Buffalo Bills’ Fan pick is Disney’s Beast: Raw strength and duality—intensity with a loyal edge.
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Miami Dolphins’ Fan pick is Disney’s King Triton: Ruler of the seas and a symbol of strength, King Triton is a natural fit for Miami. His oceanic roots and regal presence reflect the franchise’s enduring legacy.
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New England Patriots’ Fan pick is Marvel’s Captain America: Heritage and heroism—a modern take on an enduring symbol of leadership and patriotism.
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New York Jets’ Fan pick is Disney and Pixar’s Buzz Lightyear: Speed, flight, and confidence—anchored in aviation roots.
AFC NORTH
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Baltimore Ravens’ Fan pick is Disney’s Diaval and Maleficent: Mysterious, methodical and intimidating, this powerful duo captures the Ravens’ relentless presence and purple-and-black identity.
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Cincinnati Bengals’ Fan pick is Disney’s Shere Khan: Stripes, swagger and apex-predator energy.
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Cleveland Browns’ Fan pick is Disney’s Pluto: Loyal and always ready to tussle when necessary, much like the Dawg Pound.
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Pittsburgh Steelers’ Fan pick is Disney’s Pete: Blue-collar, tough and unapologetically physical. Pete embodies the smash-mouth mentality Steelers fans embrace.
AFC SOUTH
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Houston Texans’ Fan pick is Disney and Pixar’s Jessie: The fearless Toy Story favorite captures the Lone Star spirit, grit and determination synonymous with Texas football.
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Indianapolis Colts’ Fan pick is Disney’s Horace Horsecollar: A classic workhorse representing one of the NFL’s most storied franchises and the hardworking Midwest ethos.
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Jacksonville Jaguars’ Fan pick is Disney and Pixar’s Pepita: The legendary jaguar spirit guide whose courage and strength mirror the Jaguars’ identity.
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Tennessee Titans’ Fan pick is Marvel’s Thanos: The Titan. Singularly focused, relentlessly determined and impossible to ignore.
AFC WEST
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Denver Broncos’ Fan pick is Disney’s Maximus: A powerful, unbridled horse whose toughness, grit & pioneering spirit perfectly complement the Broncos’ identity.
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Kansas City Chiefs’ Fan pick is Disney’s Big Bad Wolf: An unstoppable force capable of commanding attention wherever he goes, matching the passion and energy surrounding Chiefs Kingdom.
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Las Vegas Raiders’ Fan pick is Star Wars’ Darth Vader: A legacy of edge and mystique, a natural alignment of power and presence.
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Los Angeles Chargers’ Fan pick is Disney’s Hercules and Pegasus: Horsepower charged by lightning, legendary strength, and a glorious head of hair.
NFC EAST
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Dallas Cowboys’ Fan pick is Disney and Pixar’s Woody: Character, confidence, and timeless appeal—rooted in classic cowboy iconography.
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New York Giants’ Fan pick is Disney’s Wreck-It Ralph: Big, bold, and unstoppable—strength balanced with heart.
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Philadelphia Eagles’ Fan pick is Marvel’s Doctor Doom: An intimidating, relentless force clad in silver and green, Doctor Doom mirrors the Eagles’ intimidating presence and ability to dominate opponents in every phase of the game. In action poses with his cape, Doctor Doom looks like a striking bird of prey.
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Washington Commanders’ Fan pick is Disney and Pixar’s Hamm: Grounded strength—a tribute to “The Hogs”.
NFC NORTH
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Chicago Bears’ Fan pick is Disney’s Baloo: A bear’s bear. Fun-loving, loyal, and always up for the good times, Baloo feels right at home in Chicago.
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Detroit Lions’ Fan pick is Disney’s Simba: The NFL’s iconic lion paired with the king of Pride Rock. A symbol of pride, strength and loyalty, and always on a mission.
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Green Bay Packers’ Fan pick is Star Wars’ Chewbacca: Loyal to the cause in the cold, snow, sleet, and rain. Whether it’s Hoth or Lambeau, Chewbacca stays until the job is done.
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Minnesota Vikings’ Fan pick is Marvel’s Thor: An age-old symbol of power and strength. SKOL!
NFC SOUTH
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Atlanta Falcons’ Fan pick is Star Wars’ Millennium Falcon: The Millennium Falcon isn’t just iconic, it’s a fan favorite. Much like Falcons fans, it has built a passionate and cross-generational following that sticks with it through every twist, turn, and unexpected journey.
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Carolina Panthers’ Fan pick is Disney’s Bagheera: Tough, disciplined, and relentless, Bagheera reflects the Panthers’ black-and-blue identity and controlled grit.
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New Orleans Saints’ Fan pick is Disney’s Louis: Louis is a trumpet-playing New Orleans local with the same unbridled enthusiasm as Saints fans and the city they represent.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Fan pick is Disney’s Captain Hook: Pirate legacy with attitude—expressive and unmistakable.
NFC WEST
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Arizona Cardinals’ Fan pick is Disney’s Jafar and Iago: A desert-dwelling duo led by the menacing Jafar and the unmistakably red-feathered Iago.
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Los Angeles Rams’ Fan pick is Disney and Pixar’s Sulley: Big character, big team, big city. Sulley’s enormous presence echoes the Rams’ dominant championship-era defenses.
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San Francisco 49ers’ Fan pick is Disney and Pixar’s Stinky Pete the Prospector: Pete’s persistence in the pursuit of treasure mirrors the Gold Rush heritage and 49ers trophy-rush history.
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Seattle Seahawks’ Fan pick is Disney and Pixar’s “Mine, Mine, Mine” Seagulls: A playful nod to the Pacific Northwest “locals” and one of Disney’s most memorable flocks, always ready to claim what’s theirs.
Look, there are some wild ones there (the Finding Nemo seagulls? Doctor Doom?), and we could probably do 300-400 words on each one. But we’ll let you take over in the comments below.
Different shirts, sweatshirts, and more for all of these teams are now available at NFLShop.com, Fanatics.com, and DisneyStore.com. Do you have a favorite for any specific reason?
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
