What happened: The Indianapolis Colts' mascot, Blue, was officially named the 2026 NFL Mascot of the Year on Tuesday. The award was decided by a vote of peers at the annual NFL Mascot Summit, recognizing excellence in game-day performance and community engagement.
Why it matters: This victory marks Blue's fifth Mascot of the Year title since the award's inception in 2016, following previous wins in 2019, 2023, and 2025. The program is widely recognized for its 'Choose Love' mental health campaign and its significant impact on the franchise's brand identity.
By the numbers: Blue has secured five of the 11 total Mascot of the Year awards handed out by the league since 2016. The character currently leads all professional sports mascots on social media with million followers on TikTok.
What to watch: Blue will continue his community outreach tours throughout the 2026 NFL offseason before returning to Lucas Oil Stadium for the upcoming season.