Two Great Logos to Face Off in Super Bowl
Like them or not, the Bears and the Colts are two NFL teams that have a lot of history. And one thing that these two teams have in common is their rich tradition and lasting loyalty. Not to mention they both have great logos.
Both the Bears’ and the Colts’ logos are tried and true. They have passed the test of time, not needing a major overhaul to still look great–a true indicator of lasting, good design (Think Ford, GE, Coca-Cola; their logos have hardly changed in a hundred years). Here’s a bit of history on each team’s logo.
Chicago Bears
The Bears are one of the oldest teams in the NFL. After a one year stint in 1920, the Decantur Staleys–as they were then known–moved to Chicago to become the Chicago Staleys. George Halas then bought sole rights to the team for $100, and a year later, when the team moved to Wrigley Field, the name was changed from Staleys to Bears to keep a theme with the Chicago Cubs (Cubs, Bears).
The Bear’s classic ‘C’ logo made its first appearance in 1962 when teams began putting a logo on player’s helmets. Ten years later, color was added to the logo, with blue and orange being added. It’s unknown who designed the logo or how much the designer was paid for his/her work (hopefully more than the $35 Caroline Davidson was paid for designing the Nike Swoosh). The logo has gone unchanged for 35 years but is, in my opinion, still one of the best in the league.
Indianapolis Colts
The Colts started their NFL journey in 1953 in Baltimore, but in ‘84 the team moved to Indianapolis. The Colts were made famous and popular when Johnny Unitas led the team to an NFL Championship in 1958 in what has become known as the Greatest Game Ever Played. They were the first team to use cheerleaders (take that Dallas!) and unlike any other team in the league, their logo has never been changed in the team’s 54 year history.
Though sometimes criticized for being too boring and passive, the Colts’ logo has become a staple for the team. It’s a clean and simple mark that few other NFL teams, or corporations for that matter, have been able to match. May it never change.
February 20th, 2007
I am really glad you posted this story. I was sorely disappointed to see that so many of the readers of the blog gave the Bears and Colts logos such bad marks. These logos prove the truth of what this website preaches: that a simple, to-the-point but still unique logo is the best way to present.
Think about how many places each of these logos is used, with all the colleges, high schools, and junior league teams competing, they have the time-tested, unchanged to rely on.
Who needs complex fad logos that are popular nowadays. They may be cool for a season, but when that season is over, these will remain a staple.
Power on oh classic ones!