Vikings rank among worst-paying NFL franchises for mascots

The Minnesota Vikings may have one of the highest payrolls in the NFL — $175 million, the fifth-highest in 2022, according to Spotrac — but they are one of the cheapest teams in terms of paying their mascots.

According to a report from Y.105-FM in Rochester, Minnesota, the Vikings are one of the league’s five cheapest teams in terms of mascot pay. Viktor, Minnesota’s mascot, joins Blue, (Indianapolis Colts), Blitz (Seattle Seahawks), Freddie Falcon (Atlanta Falcons) and Sir Purr (Carolina Panthers) as the lowest-paid mascots in the NFL, earning $40 per hour or $50,000 per year.

Rowdy (Dallas Cowboys) and Pat Patriot (New England Patriots) are the highest-paid mascots in the NFL, earning $50 per hour or $65,000 per year, while Sourdough Sam (San Francisco 49ers) ranks third, earning $45 per hour or $60,000 per year.

Five teams — the New York Jets, Las Vegas Raiders, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants and Washington Commanders— don’t have a mascot.

Compared to other professional sports, the NFL has relatively low wages for mascots. Although, the NFL has just 17 regular-season games and three preseason games, while the NBA plays an 82-game regular-season schedule and MLB plays 162 games.

The highest-paid mascot in the NBA works for the Denver Nuggets. Rocky the Mountain Lion brings home a $625,000 annual salary, while the Atlanta Hawks mascot, Harry the Eagle, earns $600,000 per year. Others in the six figures include Benny The Bull (Chicago Bulls) at $400,000 per year, Go the Gorilla (Phoenix Suns) at $200,000 per year and Hugo The Hornet (Charlotte Hornets) at $100,000 per year.