Sports mascots have become more than just game day entertainers, they’re now fully fledged digital personalities with massive online followings. While the average U.S. sports mascot earns around $60,000 a year, this figure doesn’t include potential income from social media, leaving sports fans wondering how much these sports mascots could potentially earn on social media.
Keen to find out which US mascots are earning the most on Instagram, the experts at SeatPick analysed data from the biggest names in American sport – including the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL. Using influencer marketing tools, they estimated how much each mascot could earn if they posted once a day for a year, based on their followers, engagement, and potential earnings per post.
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Key findings:
- Blue, the mascot of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts, tops the list as the highest Instagram earning mascot in US sports earning an estimated $1,386,270 yearly on Instagram based on daily posts.
- Benny the Bull, the mascot of Chicago Bulls is NBA’s mascot potentially earning the most on Instagram (over $1 million)
- Some of America’s most famous mascots could potentially be pocketing hundreds of thousands – or even over a million dollars a year, rivaling the salaries of highly skilled professionals.
The US sport mascots making the most on Instagram
| Mascot name | Team | Sport | State | Instagram followers | Average likes per post | Top estimated earnings per Instagram post | Estimated annual earnings (One post per day) | |
| 1 | Blue | Indianapolis Colts | NFL | Indiana | 795,655 | 19,561 | $3,798 | $1,386,270 |
| 2 | Benny the Bull | Chicago Bulls | NBA | Illinois | 578,866 | 8,258 | $2,761 | $1,007,765 |
| 3 | Gritty | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | Pennsylvania | 488,907 | 24,741 | $2,344 | $855,560 |
| 4 | Rampage | Los Angeles Rams | NFL | California | 376,512 | 2,833 | $1,795 | $655,175 |
| 5 | Toro | Houston Texans | NFL | Texas | 350,944 | 4,569 | $1,674 | $611,010 |
| 6 | Phillie Phanatic | Philadelphia Phillies | MLB | Pennsylvania | 257,009 | 18,310 | $1,246 | $454,790 |
| 7 | Blooper | Atlanta Braves | MLB | Georgia | 140,733 | 1,606 | $671 | $244,915 |
| 8 | Blitz | Seattle Seahawks | NFL | Washington | 124,776 | 1,017 | $595 | $217,175 |
| 9 | Coyote | San Antonio Spurs | NBA | Texas | 112,220 | 2,132 | $536 | $195,640 |
| 10 | Rowdy | Dallas Cowboys | NFL | Texas | 83,279 | 1,398 | $530 | $193,450 |
Indianapolis Colts’ mascot Blue is the mascot estimated to make the most on Instagram
SeatPick can reveal that Blue, the mascot of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts, tops the list as the highest earning mascot in US sports, with an estimated annual income of almost $1.4 million ($1,386,270) based on one post per day. Considering the average NFL player earns $3.2 million, Blue’s estimated Instagram earnings represent approximately 43% of a player’s salary, highlighting the significant earning potential for mascots in the NFL. With 795,655 followers and an average of 19,561 likes per post, Blue has become a cultural icon, engaging fans not only during games but online, through humorous engagements, game day highlights, and interactive content.
Following closely behind is Benny the Bull, the iconic mascot of the NBA’s Chicago Bulls, with estimated annual Instagram earnings of $1,007,765 based on one post per day. With 578,866 followers and an average of 8,258 likes per post, known for his high energy stunts, humorous antics, and viral videos, Benny has become one of the most recognizable mascots in professional sports. While Coyote of the San Antonio Spurs ranks lower in the top 10, with estimated annual Instagram earnings of $195,640, the mascot still shows how NBA mascots can turn playful antics into a solid social media presence, earning roughly one fifth of Benny the Bull’s estimated Instagram earnings.
Gritty, the Philadelphia Flyers’ famously wild mascot, ranks third on the list with estimated annual Instagram earnings of $855,560 if posting daily. With 488,907 followers and an average of 24,741 likes per post, Gritty’s quirky personality has made him a viral sensation far beyond the NHL. Famous for humorous interactions with fans, Gritty has turned his eccentric image into a social media powerhouse, proving that even hockey mascots can rival the online influence of those in the NFL and NBA.
Dallas Cowboys’ mascot Rowdy rounds off the top 10
Rounding off the top 10 is Rowdy, the Dallas Cowboys’ energetic mascot, with estimated annual Instagram earnings of $193,450 based on daily posts for a year. While lower than Blue or Benny the Bull, Rowdy’s Instagram earnings still surpasses the average annual salary of many highly skilled U.S. professions, such as a registered nurse earning roughly $82,750 or a software developer in their early career earning $128,350. From viral stunts to fan interactions, mascots show that they are no longer just sideline entertainers, they’re becoming major digital personalities capable of generating substantial income both on and off the field.
