The Cleveland Browns are mourning the death of the team’s five-year-old Bullmastiff mascot Swagger Jr. this week. The team announced the news of SJ’s passing on Tuesday via a post on social media.
Cleveland is one of four NFL teams with live mascots. Swagger Jr. joined the Ravens’ Rise and Conquer, Thunder III, the Broncos’ Arabian horse, and Taima, the Seahawks’ live hawk in 2019. Other NFL teams have employed live mascots in the past, including the Chiefs’ pinto horse, named Warpaint, as well as Flipper, a dolphin, whom fans could see in Miami in the ’60s.
“We are sad to announce the passing of our beloved mascot, SJ,” the team shared. “We are so grateful for his many years of loyal support and cherish all of the wonderful memories he helped create for fans young and old.”
SJ was the son of the Browns’ first live mascot, Swagger, who had the job from 2014 through 2019. The team revealed that Swagger passed away in 2020 after a battle with cancer. It’s unclear whether the Browns will choose to employ a new live mascot following SJ’s death.
NFL rejects Lions’ request for live mascot
Though it’s easiest for teams to have live mascots if they’re dogs, horses, or birds, one NFL head coach is hoping the league will budge on other options. Detroit head coach Dan Campbell has been rejected since taking over the team in his request for a live lion.
In an interview with Pardon My Take last August, Campbell said he approached Lions owner Sheila Ford Hamp about getting a lion to prowl the sideline, and she was on board. Though he got the thumbs up from the owner, the league was another story.
“Sheila, she had no problem with it, but the league apparently frowns upon those types of things,” Campbell said. “I’m not gonna point out Roger (Goodell) on this. I’m just gonna say that the league frowns on that. Let’s just say that.”
