Let’s get ready to cuddle!
Puppy Bowl 2021 kicks off Sunday ahead of this year’s (likely) snoozer of a human Super Bowl 2021. Tom Brady, Gronk, Antonio Brown? Who are they even? The real players to watch this year are Aaron Pawdgers, George Kibble, a two-legged pooch named Jett and the many other adorable faces of this year’s puppy players.
The big game, now in its 17th year, is dedicated to inspiring and adoptable dogs of all shapes, sizes, breeds and personalities. Speaking of dogs, Snoop Dogg and his best pal Martha Stewart will be hosting this year.
The event will see teams Ruff and Fluff go paw-to-paw in a fur-filled melee for the “Lombarky” trophy. Last year, it was Team Fluff, making Team Ruff the real underdogs this year.
The big game will be led by ESPN’s Monday Night Football announcer Steve Levy and SportsCenter host Sage Steele, with help from animal advocates Kristen Bell, Valerie Bertinelli and Food Network star Duff Goldman. “Rufferee” Dan Schachner will be joining the game for the 10th year in a row. Plus, a crew of cuddly kitties will entertain viewers with paw-some performances.
Before that, a pregame show featuring fans’ favorite sports correspondents, Rodt Weiler, James Hound, Sheena Inu and field reporters Brittany Spaniel and Herman Shepard, will share Puppy Bowl insights that only a dog could deliver.
The ulti-“mutt” pregame show airs at 1 p.m. EST/10 a.m. PST, but the real “ruff” housing begins at 2 p.m. EST/11 a.m. PST on Sunday, Feb. 7. Fur-tunately there are two ways to watch — on the Discovery+ app and the Animal Planet network.
Here are some of the standout good boys and girls, plus the rest of the pack, in the starting lineup of Puppy Bowl 2021.
Team Fluff
Aaron Pawdgers
Aaron Pawgers, Team FluffAnimal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
This treeing walker coonhound/American Staffordshire terrier mix from Last Chance Animal Rescue will hopefully live up to his name.
Aubrey
Aubrey, Team FluffAnimal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
You can tell just by looking at her: This American Staffordshire terrier/Australian terrier mix from Danbury Animal Welfare Society is in it to win it.
Bananaberry
Bananaberry, Team FluffAnimal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
What wonder is a Bananaberry? In this case, it’s an Australian cattle dog/golden retriever from Operation Paws for Homes.
Chunky Monkey
Chunky Monkey, Team FluffAnimal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Chunky Monkey, a chow chow/Irish red and white setter mix has built-in padding, perfect for a game-winning tackle. The Chunk comes from Green Dogs Unleashed.
Foxy Cleopatra
Foxy Cleopatra, Team FluffAnimal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
And she’s a whole lotta dog! This Russell terrier/bichon frisé from the Sato Project looks quick as a fox.
Jett
Jett, Team FluffAnimal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Meet Jett, a double front amputee Labrador mix from Pets With Disabilities in Maryland, who is prepping for the big game with regular jaunts along the countryside with his fellow special needs cat and dog companions.
Marshall
Marshall, Team FluffAnimal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Another one of the special needs pooches in the game, this Boston terrier from Green Dogs Unleashed is training to be a therapy dog, where at a local hospital, he will provide a group of COVID emergency room nurses with a much-needed mental break in the midst of the pandemic.
Fozzie
Fozzie, Team FluffAnimal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
This Foster Dogs Inc. Norwegian elkhound got his first ever grooming from Harlem Doggie Day Spa in advance of the big game.
Here’s the rest of Team Fluff’s lineup
Yogi, Team Fluff Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Tucker, Team Fluff Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Tony, Team Fluff Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Ray, Team Fluff Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Sasha, Team Fluff Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Sonic, Team Fluff Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Theodore, Team Fluff Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Pippa, Team Fluff Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Pacific, Team Fluff Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Moo, Team Fluff Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Minnie, Team Fluff Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Mary Anne, Team Fluff Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Michael, Team Fluff Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Milky Way, Team Fluff Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Jiffy, Team Fluff Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Jay, Team Fluff Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
James, Team Fluff Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Hanson, Team Fluff Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Hank, Team Fluff Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Glimmer, Team Fluff Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Oliver, Team Fluff Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Ginkgo, Team Fluff Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Erica, Team Fluff Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Chip, Team Fluff Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Beliveau, Team Fluff Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Ariel, Team Fluff Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Aubrey, Team Fluff Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
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Team Ruff
Argos
Argos, Team RuffAnimal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
You just know this Belgian Malinois/American Staffordshire terrier from Rescue Dogs Rock is bringing his A-game.
Cosmo
Cosmo, Team RuffAnimal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
This Australian cattle dog from Charlie’s Crusaders Pet Rescue loves the feeling of wind in his ears.
Eclipse
Eclipse, Team RuffAnimal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Clear eyes, full heart, can’t lose. This Siberian Husky/Shar-Pei from MatchDog Rescue has a vision for winning.
Fletcher
Fletcher, Team RuffAnimal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
This American Staffordshire terrier/beagle may look sleepy but… they give awards for that too at the Puppy Bowl.
Gus
Gus, Team RuffAnimal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Gus may be just a little guy, but this beagle/cocker spaniel from Danbury Animal Welfare Society brings a big swagger to his game.
Lucy
Lucy, Team RuffAnimal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
This beagle/bluetick coonhound looks like she’s about to pull a fast one. Watch out!
Spaulding
Spaulding, Team RuffAnimal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
This hairless terrier from Dog Star Rescue passes the vibe check.
Check out the rest of the Team Ruff lineup
Xena, Team Ruff Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Vinnie, Team Ruff Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Todd Furly, Team Ruff Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Tina, Team Ruff Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Peaches, Team Ruff Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Rumor, Team Ruff Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Stitch, Team Ruff Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Tank, Team Ruff Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Paulie, Team Ruff Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Patrick, Team Ruff Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Nutty Coconut, Team Ruff Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Muffin / George Kibble, Team Ruff Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Hope, Team Ruff Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Hunter, Team Ruff Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Lee, Team Ruff Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Lionel, Team Ruff Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Gizmo, Team Ruff Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Duke, Team Ruff Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Duke, Team Ruff Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Cream, Team Ruff Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Bluey, Team Ruff Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Coltrane, Team Ruff Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Comet, Team Ruff Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Athena, Team Ruff Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Archer, Team Ruff Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
Apollo, Team Ruff Animal Planet / Elias Weiss Frie
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