Hilarious Game Day Signs
It's somewhat of a tradition in sports for fans to bring a big sign to the game in the hopes that they'll be immortalized by TV cameras. Of course, most of these signs are pretty bland — but some of them are seriously clever, even if they do sometimes cross the boundaries of good taste.
These fans have a take-no-prisoners approach to cheering for their favorite team (or booing their most hated team). While these signs were made by amateurs, they just might be funny enough to be considered professional.
THE Ohio State burn
Ohio State catches a lot of flak for its perceived sense of superiority (insisting that everyone call it THE Ohio State University certainly doesn't help). That's why rival fans always enjoy knocking the Buckeyes down a peg.
Does Ohio State — sorry, The Ohio State — really print their diplomas on toilet paper? It seems kind of doubtful, but these Notre Dame fans are suggesting otherwise.
Biebs slander
Syracuse basketball fans pack the biggest college basketball arena in the country throughout basketball season, and their sign game is almost always on point. In this instance, Justin Bieber is catching strays at the expense of Duke University.
Bieber is not a Duke fan in real life — his favorite team is the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs — but that doesn't lessen the impact of this sign.
Shots fired in all directions
The Cincinnati Bengals have nearby rivals everywhere they look: Cleveland to the north, Baltimore and Pittsburgh to the east, the Chiefs to the west, and (arguably) the Saints to the south, if only because Cincy ripped off New Orleans' "Who dat/who dey" taunt.
This Bengals fan wants to call out all available rivals in one sign, and she's done so successfully. Who dey think they gonna beat dem Bengals?
They mixed it up at the end
It would seem like Wisconsinites would eventually grow tired of all of the cheese-related jokes and references thrown their way, but you'd better (cheddar?) believe that they never do.
This fan (dressed like Will Ferrell in Elf) points out that elves really like cheese products, as well as beer. Maybe this is just a thing for elves in Wisconsin.
The stakes are clear
The Kansas City Chiefs have been football royalty for the better part of a decade now thanks to the magic of Patrick Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid. But things haven't always been so optimistic in Kansas City.
This fan is channeling her Chiefs fandom (and frustration) into a Halloween vibe by repeating a classic rhyme while insisting that her Chiefs finally give her a win.
That thousand-yard stare
Back before the Houston Texans found their franchise quarterback, things at the QB position were in a dire state in H-Town. This sign dates back from those dark times.
Like Cleveland Browns fans, Houston Texans fans became incredibly weary as they watched QB after QB try and fail to turn their team into a contender. It truly becomes old after awhile.
I like those odds
These Georgia Tech fans are firing an insult at their in-state rivals, the Georgia Bulldogs. When a more academically-minded school is overmatched against an athletic powerhouse, this is a common trope.
This sign is just a joke, of course — but given Georgia's track record with developing elite football talent, this sign probably has a 100 percent chance of getting a scholarship if it can follow a football playbook.
Take that, Miami
The Miami Hurricanes have a great brand, and oftentimes, great teams to match. It stands to reason that fans of opposing schools have an axe to grind with the Canes, and this sign effectively cuts to the chase.
While a hurricane might be one of the most intimidating things in nature, a tropical depression is simply a hurricane that couldn't quite reach hurricane status. It's quite an indictment of the Canes' basketball program.
Hey, at least it's secure
These Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets fans have brought their sign game to a home game against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
Obviously that sign is intended as a burn, because just about everyone can agree that two-factor authentication can be a pain. But you know what's not a joke? Data leaks. Even if Pitt does like 2FA, maybe it's just because they're aware of the importance of cybersecurity.
When the Orange go red and green
Devoid of context, this sign would be a little bit confusing — why, you might ask, do fans of Syracuse Orange basketball celebrate Christmas every day?
The answer lies in the fact that, at the time, power forward Rakeem Christmas starred in the Orange frontcourt. The world-weary expression on his face in this pic suggests that he might be getting a little bit tired of all the Christmas puns.
Self-awareness is a good thing
Boise State University, home of the Broncos, is known for a few things: It's in Idaho, it has a blue football field, and — despite its name — Boise is not, in fact, a state.
Fortunately, these fans are fully aware of this fact. They're calling out not just their alma mater, but also Fresno State, San Diego State, Kent State, and all of the other 'state' colleges that aren't actually named after a specific state.
J.J. loves his sweets
J.J. Watt was one of the most ferocious defensive ends in football history, but is he also a sweetheart with a sweet tooth? That's what this woman is betting on.
She brought a sign to the game to advertise her availability to Watt, pointing out that she's sweet and can bake sweets as well. No word on whether J.J. ever got back to her.
Crosby catching strays
Sidney Crosby has been perhaps the most well-known hockey player in the world ever since making his NHL debut two decades ago. As such, he's bound to attract attention wherever he goes.
These fans brought an array of hilarious, but safe for work, signs to troll Crosby during pregame warmups at a game at Madison Square Garden.
They're making their intentions known
David Beckham transcended the world of soccer to become a celebrity with global appeal in the late '90s and extending into the new millennium. He's also been known as a bit of a heart throb.
Perhaps that's why these women brought these signs to a match that Becks played in. They're putting a decidedly NSFW spin on the title of a movie that was intended to be family-friendly.
This Gasol slander will not stand
Pau Gasol enjoyed a long NBA career, and — along with his brother Marc — is one of the best basketball players ever to come out of Spain.
Gasol is known not just for his heroics on the court, but also — apparently — his resemblance to a llama. Looking at this sign, it seems like the comparison is fair — but it's still a little bit mean. He can't control how he looks.
Truer words have never been spoken
At College Gameday broadcasts, thousands of rambunctious college students wake up early with their refreshments of choice, all for a chance to appear in the background of the rowdy broadcast.
It stands to reason that there's a full array of clever and creative signs at these broadcasts. There are also signs that distinctly capture what the sign-writer was thinking. In this case, they truly had nothing.
Let's hope they win
Whether this is a guilt trip to add extra pressure to her partner, a good luck talisman, or just an attempt to be funny, it presents an engaging spectacle.
While some fans might just put "Go Royals" on a sign and be done with it, this sign is tantalizing because there's a clear backstory, and it outlines the stakes that are on the line — for this one couple, at least.
No way the refs can read that
If a coach or player implies that an official needs glasses — or, even worse, holds up a pair of glasses — they're generally ejected from the game with no hesitation.
Fortunately for fans, it's very rare to see an official directly kick out someone who's sitting in the crowd. That means that this sign is probably above board. That said, if the refs already have poor eyesight, they'll really have to squint to see this one.
Called out
Here's an example of a sign that isn't being waved by a fan, but was actually installed by the team to shame fans who sneak a view for free.
While it might be intended as a soft deterrent, it doesn't seem to be working. This guy has no qualms about standing directly above the sign, which means the arrows are pointing directly at him.
A compelling argument
It's hard to imagine anyone on the Texas Rangers, all of whom make millions of dollars, care that much about winning the contents of some kid's piggy bank. But they might care about having a target to hit.
It would be interesting to see where this one goes. Like, if this kid's brother isn't hit by a ball but instead catches it like a pro, should he be awarded the piggy bank instead?
Truer words have never been spoken
The signs that spectators bring to sporting events tend to be full of hyperbole, with comparisons to superheroes, boasts that aren't realistic, and jokes that have no bearing on reality.
But this sign is perhaps the truest sign you could bring to any sporting event. As long as you're holding it up and there are people seated behind you, it will never be factually incorrect.
Looks like he got one at least
On one hand, it's kind of sad that this dude's bachelor party involved a visit to the decrepit Oakland Coliseum rather than a nicer venue. It's also a shame that he's being called out by his friends.
That said, he seems to be in good spirits — and if you look at his left hand, he already has a ball. If he can snag another one, the sign on the right will have done its job.
Hey Chicago, what do you say?
The Chicago Cubs went from lovable losers, failing to win a World Series for over a century, to a team that actually competed for — and won — baseball's biggest prize.
It was an accomplishment that nobody ever expected to see from such a hapless franchise, and the postseason drama was positively electrifying. Given the long odds of them ever winning, perhaps there was some divine intervention involved.
Dark days in Seattle
In the early 2000s, the Seattle Mariners were one of the best teams in baseball, fuelled by the heroics of Ichiro Suzuki. At the same time, the NFL's Seattle Seahawks were a sad sack of a franchise, playing out of a college stadium while they waited for a proper stadium to be constructed.
This photo harkens back to those dark times. With no stars playing for the Seahawks, fans wondered if the remarkable Ichiro could strap on some football pads.
No bad blood here
The Travis Kelce/Taylor Swift romance was one of the biggest stories of the 2023 football season, not to mention gossip pages and tabloids everywhere.
While football fans might not have been drawn to T-Swift's music, it did turn a lot of her devoted fans into football watchers. Of course, they weren't particularly interested in what was going on on the field — it was really just about catching a glimpse of Taylor's new squeeze.
Unring that Bell
In 2018, when Le'Veon Bell of the Pittsburgh Steelers held out due to a contract dispute, the Steelers turned to backup running back James Conner.
Conner did more than anyone ever could have imagined and filled in ably for Bell, leading fans to create this clever sign. Sometimes, the replacement is just as good or better than the original.
Meet Green Bay's bikini girls
These women go to Green Bay Packers games, rain or shine, in freezing weather, wearing nothing more than bikinis. This is really saying something given Green Bay's notoriously harsh climate.
This wish list starts out with a fairly humble request — that their beloved Packers make the playoffs — and then gets incredibly ambitious. Of course, given the Packers' historic success, their fans have come to expect this.
Things took a turn
Green Bay's bikini girls are ride or die, so they'll go to games even when things aren't going so well for the green and gold. This pic was taken after franchise quarterback Aaron Rodgers was ruled out of the lineup with an injury.
No fan feels comfortable when their star QB is on the shelf and they have to rely on their backup, but at least the bikini girls are having some fun with it.
They have to use that exit
In the wake of the New England Patriots' Deflategate ball-deflating scandal, they attracted scorn and criticism from fans of every other team in the league. Signs like this were the norm for a time.
The genius of this sign is the fact that it's set up right next to the tunnel that the Pats use to get on and off the field. That means, even if they don't view themselves as cheaters, they're forced to run past the 'Cheaters exit here' sign.
Maybe that's why they moved to Vegas
We've seen this joke on several signs over the years (ever since Biggest Loser became a thing, really), but that doesn't make it any less funny. In this case, Broncos fans are clowning on their hated rival, the Oakland Raiders.
Of course, the Raiders left the East Bay for Las Vegas and have seen a few ups and downs since this pic was taken. Whatever the circumstances, it's safe to say that Broncos fans still hate them.
Sounds like a great honeymoon
What does your dream honeymoon look like? Would you put a big foam wedge of cheese on your head, pay hundreds of dollars for a ticket, then sit on freezing cold bleachers at Lambeau Field in November?
No? Well, judging by this sign, some people would consider this a perfect honeymoon. It's been awhile since this pic was taken, so it's easy to wonder if this couple even stayed married.
Praise with a taunt
This is an intriguing sign being held up by a Philadelphia Eagles sign. It's designed to taunt Tom Brady, implying that the Eagles' defensive line will eat up the legendary quarterback for dinner.
At the same time, the sign isn't really an example of Brady hate. It fully acknowledges that he's the greatest of all time. It's just saying that the Eagles will eat him up regardless. Do eagles even eat goats?
Life in Believeland
With no World Series titles since the 1940s and no Super Bowls, period, the people of Cleveland truly need to believe — because failure is part of the identity of several of the city's teams.
These Cleveland Browns faithful are tired of losing. They're so tired, in fact, that they're shifting allegiances to the Baltimore Ravens. In a cruel twist, the original Browns moved to Baltimore to become the Ravens, and found Super Bowl success soon after.
That's tough but fair
Football fans in the nation's capital haven't had much to cheer about for the past few years — or the past few decades, really. They can't fill their stadium, which is oversized, outdated, and sits in an inconvenient location, and there's been little on-field success.
That helps explain not just why these fans look so demoralized, but also why they're holding up this simple and straightforward sign. There is not a word of a lie on it.
At least she's having fun
Sometimes you see personal taunts on fans' signs that have nothing to do with either of the teams competing on the field. This young woman evidently had a bad breakup, and is using football therapy to feel better about things.
The best part of this sign is that it almost looks like she referred to the guy as her boyfriend, then had to go back with a red marker to clarify that he's actually her ex-boyfriend.
The Carolina Kitties
Philly fans always seem to have the best taunts, regardless of the sport, and here's another great example from fans of Gang Green. Here, they're making fun of the Carolina Panthers before a big game.
Of course, Panthers are ferocious animals, and the Carolina Panthers have a ferocious logo to match. But something about calling them the kitties and putting a lethargic house cat on the logo just takes away all of the ferocity.
That's called football weather
The NFL season starts during the balmy late summer months, progresses through the crisp days of autumn, and ends in the frigid grasp of winter. Some fans prefer to watch in the comfort of their own homes, while others have to go to every game.
This couple is part of the latter category, but it looks like they're starting to rethink their devotion. If your biggest takeaway from a football game is that you can't feel your face, maybe it's worth staying home.
A little local humor
It's a little hard to make out, but the image on the sign before "adelphia" shows a groundhog. It isn't just any groundhog, though — it's Punxsutawney Phil, the pride of Pennsylvania and probably the most famous groundhog in the world (he featured prominently with Bill Murray in Groundhog Day).
With this context, the sign essentially reads "Predicting a [Phil]-adelphia win." It isn't saying anything groundbreaking, but the local reference is good.
That's a lot to cover
The boast on this sign about legendary cornerback/safety Charles Woodson is obviously hyperbole — but the base message is absolutely on point. Woodson had an incredible 18-year career in the NFL and covered a crazy amount of ground downfield for the Raiders and then the Packers.
This Raiders fan is giving props to Woodson with a clever sign. It's like a secular version of the "Jesus saves but [player] intercepts" saying.
So you don't believe in the Lions?
The Detroit Lions are a genuine championship contender in the current NFL — words that have probably not been spoken in at least 60 years. Yes, even though the Lions look dangerous nowadays, they need to overcome decades of futility.
This sign was clearly made during the dark days. Maybe this person is saying that they dare to believe in something that everyone else has given up on — or maybe they're saying that the Lions' playoff hopes are about as real as Saint Nick.
It's true!
Returning to the hapless fans of Washington, this fan's sign has a pointed message directed at the younger (or young-ish) fans of the team. While the team hasn't been good in years, there was a time, believe it or not, when they were good.
This is a familiar refrain to any aging fan of a sad-sack franchise. When the whole world is clowning on your team, it feels almost impossible that they were ever good.
The other side of Deflategate
While NFL fans thoroughly enjoyed the scrutiny and criticism directed at the New England Patriots during the Deflategate scandal, that doesn't mean that Pats fans were going to take the abuse sitting down.
This sign doesn't really talk about the scandal at all. It points out that Tom Brady's the greatest of all time (pretty much true), while NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is a joke (this could be debated). The messaging is clear and concise.
They don't like the team up north
The Michigan-Ohio State college football rivalry may be the most heated rivalry in all of pro sports, with Ohio State fans refusing to even say the word 'Michigan' to refer to their rivals.
This fan is capitalizing on the fact that Ohio State had seen significant success in the early 2000s while Michigan was largely dormant. Of course, the Wolverines were later able to rectify this, and put this fan in their place, with a long-awaited national championship.
The Michigan hate continues
Wolverines are no doubt fierce little critters, and this ferocity no doubt led the University of Michigan to adopt the name as their official mascot. That said, they're not as big or intimidating as bears, sharks, or wildcats.
This sign is technically accurate. 'Michigan Weasels' just doesn't sound right. That said, the Ohio State Buckeyes are named after a flower. In a head-to-head matchup, I'll take the large weasel over the flower any day.
Time for a little Harbaugh hate
Jim Harbaugh has been a divisive figure as head coach, first in college, then in the NFL, then back in college, then back to the NFL. This sign was made by an Ohio State fan while Harbaugh was coaching the Michigan Wolverines.
It's an effective sign because it capitalizes on current events — or, more specifically, current events that quickly became dated. There's no better burn than to tell someone that they're way behind the times.
Well, that's a nice sentiment
Sports fandom is a tribalistic affair, with fans screaming insults at each other and even getting into physical confrontations, all based on the laundry that they support.
With this in mind, it's nice to see someone turn down the temperature with a supportive sign that doesn't pick sides. Chances are good that this fan does have a favorite team, but it's clear that their main priority is fun.
Almost Heaven
The West Virginia Mountaineers play in Morgantown, which is kind of located in the backwoods of West Virginia. College fans love to make fun of rival states, and this sign takes direct aim at the good people of West Virginia.
There's nothing wrong with being close to your family and loving them, but this Iowa State fan is alleging that West Virginians occasionally get a little too close with their kin.
This took coordination
Traditional North American sports like American football, basketball, and baseball all tend to rely on smallish signs with a direct message — usually one saying that an opposing player smells or some such thing.
But fan coordination when it comes to soccer (or football if you want to be European about it) is on another level. This massive pair of signs was actually spotted at an MLS game in Canada, but it shows that North American soccer fans have been paying attention to their European counterparts.
Yes!
What is it about sports that draws fans in? If you're a sports fan, can you truly articulate what it is about these athletic endeavours that keeps you watching? It's a complex question that demands a nuanced answer.
Of course, the inner monologue of many sports fans is essentially what's written on this sign. If you think of sports and picture a big sign reading 'Sports!' in your head, you just might be this fan.
Well, that isn't very nice
We've seen signs that say 'the guy behind me can't see,' but this sign offers a slightly more aggressive and antagonistic variant of the same formula.
Maybe this guy's a fan of the visiting team who just wants to get one over on the hometown faithful. Maybe he's a fan of the home team and just hates everyone. Whatever his motivations are, we do know that the people behind him can't see the action on the field.
I see the resemblance
German basketball legend Dirk Nowitzki rose out of obscurity to become one of the best NBA players of the past few decades. He attracted legions of fans along the way, including this guy who alleges that he's Dirk's brother.
While this familial link might need a DNA test to definitively prove, it's hard not to see a little bit of resemblance between this goofy fan and the Mavs legend.
Boomer sooner
The Oklahoma Sooners are named for 'Sooners' — the pioneers who raced out to claim land when the state was originally settled by Europeans. As such, one of the school's signature setpieces is a covered wagon, the Boomer Schooner, which races onto the field before every football game.
This sign is deeply clever, as it calls out the Schooner for what it essentially is — a bandwagon — while also implying that Sooners fans are fickle and only care when the team is good.
Sorry, Iowa
As a sports fan, it's important to find ways to rationalize things when events on the field or court don't go your way. Oftentimes, this comes in the form of denigrating the other team.
It looks like this team hasn't lost to Iowa just yet, but if they do, the fan is definitely prepared. A win is great, but even if they lose, they can take solace in the fact that they don't live in Iowa.
What could be more important?
You can tell this is an older picture simply because it's been many years since the Los Angeles Angels played any meaningful baseball games. That doesn't mean they've never played in big games, though, and when they do, the fans come out in droves.
This fan wasn't going to miss the big game for any reason — work, school, or the birth of his child. He's willing to leave the game when his wife's water breaks, at least.
Did the sign have to do a redshirt season?
Some colleges are incredibly competitive in one sport while cultivating a poor reputation in other sports, and Kansas is one of those schools. The Jayhawks have historically been one of the best teams in college basketball, while their football team has often been an afterthought.
That's the basis of this sign, which implies that anybody and anything, even inanimate objects, can get a Jayhawks football scholarship. At least the team's gotten a little better in recent years.
Big time CBS fan
One of the most time-honored traditions in fan signs is signs like this that spell out the name of the network broadcasting the game. Usually, they'll have a message that's specific to the game — "Can't Beat Seattle" for CBS, for instance.
This fan has taken the traditional setup and turned it on its head. He's spelling out CBS with his sign, but it's a very literal sign.
Tough times in Oregon
The Oregon Ducks, flush with money from Nike founder and Oregon alum Phil Knight, became a college football powerhouse in the late '90s and early 2000s. One of the most notable things about the program was their endless uniform combinations.
While it's hard to find examples of Oregon wearing the same uniform twice, it's even harder to find examples of Oregon winning any college football national championships. That's because they haven't won any.
He's just some guy
Aaron Rodgers hasn't played for the Packers in a couple of years, but signs like this show just how the people of Green Bay felt about their iconic QB during his time with the Pack.
This woman is making her intentions very clear: She wants to marry Aaron Rodgers, and even though she's clearly at the game with this guy, he doesn't really matter.
Learn something new, Trojans
Some college teams love their fight songs, to the point that the band will play the same song so many times during a game that it becomes permanently stuck in your head. The USC Trojans' marching band is one such school.
This sign takes the unusual approach of not calling out the players, coaches, or locale of the rival team, but the marching band. Despite this constructive criticism, USC's band still plays the same stuff on repeat.
Opposites attract
It's safe to say that the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos don't like each other very much, as these divisional rivals have faced off in tons of impactful games over their long histories.
However, love is love, and sometimes it can blossom in the most unexpected places — such as between die-hard Broncos and Chiefs fans. It's hard to know what these two see in each other, but at least they seem happy.
Blue bedeviled
The Duke Blue Devils might just be the most storied team in college basketball. They're also, beyond a shadow of a doubt, the most hated team in college basketball — the school where everyone else can find common ground in their shared hatred.
That's why it's so gratifying for fans of any school that isn't Duke when the Blue Devils have a bad game or a bad year.
Her sign tells a story
World Series tickets cost a pretty penny. Engagement rings cost a pretty penny as well. It stands to reason that any money-conscious person would probably choose just one of these two expensive options.
That's evidently what happened here. Fortunately, judging by the smile on her face, this isn't a story of love gone wrong. It's really more of a story of baseball fandom gone right.
Remember Tebowmania?
It's easy to forget just how culturally relevant Tim Tebow was when the quarterback was leading the Florida Gators to college football glory in the 2000s.
Tebow's pro career didn't amount to much, and his baseball career was even worse, but that didn't stop the Gators faithful in Gainesville from treating him like a god.
It would be a light sentence
The joke here is that 'hooking' is a penalty in hockey, doled out when the ref feels a player has used their stick to illegally impede an opponent. It isn't a big deal, and as a minor penalty, the player only has to sit in the penalty box for two minutes.
This woman made a clever sign based off of this hockey knowledge. We'll leave it entirely up to your imagination to figure out what she's referring to here.
Enough already, Brett
Brett Favre tarnished an elite career by retiring and unretiring repeatedly, then getting caught up in a scandal where he texted unsolicited explicit texts to a female reporter (and we're not even getting into his more recent scandals).
We tell you this just so you have some context for the sign that these ladies are holding up. It's a valuable lesson to anyone who's ever thought of sending one of these inappropriate pics.
I didn't even know Jesus played in Seattle
Russell Wilson was a truly elite quarterback in his prime. He was named to nine Pro Bowls during his time in Seattle and will go down as the best quarterback the Seahawks have ever had — if for no other reason than helping the team win their first Super Bowl.
This sign was made during the peak of Wilsonmania in Seattle. It might seem blasphemous to some people, but you have to admit that he was pretty good at the time.
Deflategate just keeps on giving
Will Tom Brady ever hear the end of the Deflategate jokes? NFL fans have long memories and live for the drama, so the likely answer here is 'No.'
Of course, the Buffalo Bills have been victimized many times by Brady, as they play in a division with the Patriots and had to play the legend twice a year. That's why the Deflategate saga must have been extra satisfying for this beleaguered fanbase.
Fly Eagles fly?
The Philadelphia Eagles have had plenty of ups and downs in their history, and now have a Super Bowl victory to their name. Does this mean that the Eagles jokes have stopped forever?
No, of course that isn't what this means. Fans in Philly have high standards for their teams, and when they're not playing up to par, it's a safe bet that they'll be called out for it.
It's what we're all thinking
It really isn't fair that referees and other sports officials get so much hate. The game moves so fast at the highest level, and the facts are that these officials are the best in the world at what they do.
This knowledge isn't enough to keep fans from getting heated when a call goes against them. This fan brought the perfect sign to place next to the ref's head anytime he came into the area.
The ref slander goes on
The best part of this sign is that there's no way it was made up at the game. This one was prepared in advance, long before the opening puck drop.
That means that this fan had the foresight to know that the ref would make bad calls against her team even before the game started. It's an unusually prescient move for a hockey fan to make.