Lions Wanted Real Lion On Sidelines, NFL Said No

Dan Campbell wants a real lion on the sidelines, but the NFL won’t allow it—despite other teams using live animals as mascots.

NFL Teams With Live Mascots

There are several NFL teams that utilize live animals as mascots. The Denver Broncos have a white horse named Thunder, the Baltimore Ravens have live ravens named Rise and Conquer, the Indianapolis Colts have a live horse, the Seattle Seahawks have a live osprey, but these all seem safe for the teams and fans.

There are a few NFL teams that have live animal mascots that are dangerous for players and fans like the Cincinnati Bengals live Bengal tiger, and the Carolina Panthers live panther. If either of these were to get loose during a game, you can only imagine the chaos and harm they could bring.

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Dan Campbell’s Wild Dream: A Real Lion on the Sidelinet

According to Essentially Sports, Lions head coach Dan Campbell has been trying to get a live lion as a team mascot since becoming the coach. Campbell spoke with Lions owner Sheila Ford's office and she had no problem with it. Campbell envisioned the lion as a pet on a big chain hanging with him at the team's practices but didn't think groups like PETA would support it.

The Lions did have a live lion on the field during the 1983 NFC Championship game, but it was a one-time event. As for getting a live lion mascot in today's world, the NFL thought the idea was outrageous so Campbell will have to stick with their current costumed mascot Roary which is probably a lot safer at Ford Field.

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If the Lions were to win the Super Bowl, maybe a live lion in a cage during the victory parade would be cool, but it's a little cold in February for a wild lion in Detroit.

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