From boosting team spirit at your school to showcasing team achievements, there are so many great ways to use custom banners for football teams. These can even be used to engage the crowd and create energy with your team mascot running up and down the sidelines.

But the key to a great football banner comes down to what you put on it. This is where so many of our customers get caught up. So, we’ve decided to provide some inspiration to get those creative wheels turning with this list of football banner ideas.

Whether you’re looking for banners with motivational team spirit messaging or game day and rivalry themes, we’ve got you covered. We’ll also share some advice on what to write on a football banner if the goal is to highlight players or the team as a whole, along with ways to incorporate sponsorship and fundraising information.

No matter the intent behind the banner, Printmoz is your trusted choice for custom sports banners crafted with precision and built to last. Showcase your team in the right light by creating high-quality banners today!

The Basics of Football Banners

Although they may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about the big game, banners make a big difference. They’re a staple at every level of the game, from high-school rivalries to NFL stadiums.

They can serve a variety of purposes, from bringing energy to the stadium to celebrating star players, helping teams connect to their fans, and even garnering sponsorship support.

At any given football game there are a number of banners being used at once. Whether it’s a banner hanging in the end zone, draped over the bleachers, or held up by the student section, each does something different.

The biggest challenge? Knowing what to put on them. A strong football banner requires capturing the right message for the right audience, and ensuring it’s designed in a way that captivates the viewer.

If you’re creating a banner for a rivalry game, the tone will be different from one recognizing a player’s final season. If you’re printing something to hang in the stadium all year, it needs to stand out while holding meaning beyond a single game.

Don’t worry - we’ve got you covered with some of the best football banner ideas below!

Football Banner Ideas: What to Write on Football Banner

So what should you put on a football banner? Ultimately, it comes down to the goal with the banner. You may find yourself designing a few different banners to serve different purposes.

But no matter the reason you’re here looking for football banner ideas, we’ve got some inspiration for you below to help you set out on the right foot. Let’s start with some classic motivational banner ideas to stir up the hype for your team.

Motivational and Team Spirit Messages

Maybe you want to create some banners to hang in the locker room or around practice facilities to motivate players and remind them why they push through every drill or rep, or to give them that extra edge in competition when they look up and see the banner. Here are some ideas:

“Hustle, Hit, Never Quit”

“All Gas, No Brakes”

“One Team, One Dream”

“Earn It Every Play”

“The Harder the Battle, the Sweeter the Victory”

Or, fire up both players and fans with quotes from some of the most legendary names in football history. Here are just a few of our own personal favorites if you’re not sure where to start:

“It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.” - Vince Lombardi

“Success isn’t owned. It’s leased. And rent is due every day.” - J.J. Watt

“The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.” - Jerry Rice

Game Day and Rivalry Themes

Nothing gets the team, student body, and fans excited like the thrill of game day and the hype that leads up to it. Whether it’s a homecoming game, a playoff battle, or a cross-town rivalry, these occasions call for their own banners.

This is where we can’t provide too much guidance since we don’t know the specific slogans your team uses or the team you’re competing against. In general, though, keep it short, sweet, and to the point. Use fewer words to make a more impactful statement. Here are some ideas:

“Tonight, the [Mascot Name] Become House Pets” - Perfect for when the opposing team is an animal mascot.

“You Can’t Win If You Can’t Breathe – [Team Name] Defense” - If your team is known for suffocating defense and constant sacks, let the opposing offensive line know they’re in for a long night!

“Welcome to [Stadium Name] – Where [Opponent Mascot] Seasons End” - We’ve seen this type of style used for big playoff games where a team feels confident they’re going to advance and send the other team packing for the season.

“14-0. 28-3. 35-10. What’s Tonight’s Score Gonna Be?” - The specific scores should be changed to align with the actual history of your rivalry, but when your team gets the better end of the other team on a regular basis, let it be known!

Personalized Player Recognition Banners

While there’s no “I” in team, it’s the individuals that make up the team that make it special. It’s important that your school or organization consistently shows appreciation for top players and banners are an excellent way to do just that.

Senior night and farewell banners are some of our favorite to design because it’s all about highlighting accomplishments and celebrating the end of an era, and the beginning of a new chapter. Include the player’s:

• Name, jersey number, and position
• Action shots from key moments in their career
• A thank-you message from coaches, teammates, and/or family

Or, you can simply highlight star players or those in a leadership position every so often. You can foster team morale and motivate players by making it a ritual to have a few banners at every game, highlighting new players week after week.

“MVP in the Making – #5 Anthony Cruz, 1,200 Rushing Yards!”

“QB1: Leading the Charge – James Carter, 22 TD Passes This Season”

“Captain Strong – No. 55 Holds the Line”

There are so many directions you can take this. Whether it’s a custom graduation banner or just congrats on breaking a school or conference record, make sure your players feel seen!

Sponsor and Fundraising Messaging

Any sports organization would fail without the help of sponsors and community support, so it’s always important to give thanks to those who keep your team thriving. What better way than with banners displayed proudly at games?

You don’t have to reinvent the wheel for these types of football banner ideas. Keep it short and sweet, showcasing logos with little messages like:

“Thank You to Our Proud Sponsors: [Business Names & Logos]”

“This Season is Brought to You By [Sponsor Name]”

“Support Those Who Support Us – Shop Local!”

Or if you’re still struggling to come up with sponsors, try using banners as a way to fundraise. These can help grab the crowd’s attention, as there are probably local business owners watching who would love to provide assistance in some way:

“Help Us Get to State! Donate Today!”

“Concessions & Merch Sales Fund the Future – Buy Now!”

“Scan Here to Support [Team Name]” (with a QR code for online donations)

Fan and Cheer Squad Banner Ideas

Football isn’t football without the fans. From student sections to parents, everyone wants a way to show their excitement. Banners can be a powerful way to encourage participation. Here are some simple pep rally football banner ideas:

“Louder Than Ever”

“We Run This House”

“Rise Up, [Team Name]!”

These are pretty generic, though, and the best football banner ideas are those that resonate with your fanbase or student body. Get more creative in the wording and slogans you use, ideally, tying them back to your team name or mascot.

Key Design Elements for a Great Football Banner

Even after narrowing down the content of your banner with these football banner ideas, there are a few moving pieces to consider. The right design choices determine whether it actually makes an impact or gets ignored. Here are your next steps.

Choosing the Right Size and Placement

Think about where you’re going to put the banner to determine how big it should be. For instance, a massive sideline banner meant to be seen from the stands should be much bigger than a locker room sign or a handheld fan banner. Here are some different recommendations:

• Stadium & Sideline Banners (8-20 feet wide)
• Locker Room & Indoor Banners (3-6 feet wide)
• Handheld or Fan Banners (2-4 feet wide)
• Sponsor & Fundraising Banners (Varies by number of sponsors)

No matter the size, placement affects readability. A banner behind a goalpost or buried in a crowded area won’t do much good. You’re paying good money and putting a lot of effort into this banner, so it better have a clear, unobstructed view.

Balancing Text and Graphics

One of the biggest mistakes we see made in designing banners is trying to cram too much text into the design. Less is more, as we said earlier in our list of football banner ideas. A five-word slogan hits harder than a long-winded sentence.

The text font you use matters, too. Block fonts or bold sans-serif styles are easier to read from a distance. While small decorative fonts look fancy, the purpose is defeated if it can’t be read across the field.

As for the graphics, we’ve found that action shots work better than posed photos since they bring a dynamic energy to the banner. If a mascot is included in the design it needs to be large enough to be recognizable.

Of course, any logos or images added need to be ultra high-resolution to avoid pixelation. We recommend a resolution of 300 dpi at full scale.

Using High-Contrast Colors for Maximum Impact

You might already have an idea of the color scheme you’ll use for your banner, as your team probably has colors it’s characterized by. But make sure that any text used on the banner pops. Dark text on a light background (or vice versa) is easiest to read.

You should think about the environment you’re placing the banner in too. A green banner might disappear against a grass field, just like a blue banner might get lost in the stands if most fans wear blue. Contrast is everything. Here are some combinations we’ve seen work wonderfully:

• Black & Yellow - One of the highest-visibility color pairings.
• White & Navy Blue - Clean and sharp, especially at night.
• Red & White - Bold, classic, and easy to read.
• Purple & Gold - Eye-catching with a premium feel.

One final tip here - avoid deep blues or dark greens without contrast if the banner needs to be seen at night. These can get washed out under stadium lighting.

Adding Custom Elements for a Unique Look

A great football banner should feel like it belongs to your team, and your team only. Custom details make all the difference between a generic sign and something players, fans, and coaches connect with.

While we’ve shared a lot of great generic football banner ideas for you, make sure the banner is customized to your team specifically with:

• Player Names & Jersey Numbers - Personalize senior banners or MVP recognition signs.
• Game-Specific Messages - If it’s for a rivalry, make sure the opponent’s name is included.
• Hashtags or Team Mottos - Helps fans spread the message on social media.
• QR Codes for Donations or Merch - Functional design that also drives engagement.

The Importance of Print Quality

Even the best design won’t matter if the print job is blurry, faded, or weak against weather conditions. Partner with a professional that can show you a track record of not just meeting, but exceeding expectations. They should use:

• 1000 DPI printing for crisp, professional-quality images. Anything lower and you risk pixelation.
• UV-resistant ink so colors won’t fade in the sun, especially for outdoor banners.
• Heavy-duty vinyl that can withstand rain, wind, and wear and tear from frequent handling.

Unfortunately, we see so many teams cut corners on these factors because cost comes first. But you can enjoy the best of both worlds, quality and affordability, with custom sports banners at Printmoz.

Bring Your Football Banner Ideas to Life at Printmoz!

Whether you need game day hype banners, senior recognition signs, or sponsor displays, we print in stunning 1000 DPI resolution on durable, weather-resistant vinyl.

We’ve created an intuitive design tool so you can pick a template, upload graphics, adjust layouts, and get a real-time preview. Effortlessly choose your size to compare prices, and then place your order. We’ll create a banner you can hang proudly.

Need help along the way? Enjoy world-class customer service and design assistance every step of the way. From custom baseball banners to custom breakaway banners, this is the one-stop shop for any school looking to bolster team spirit or thank sponsors.

We’ve helped so many organizations over the past 20 years and we’re ready to do the same for you. So, take the next step at Printmoz today!

Final Words on Banner Ideas for Football

That does it for our list of banner ideas for football. We hope you feel inspired and ready to bring your own banner to life, whether it’s to boost team spirit, highlight accomplishments, or recognize sponsors.

Be sure to read our advice on how to hang a banner in our blog so you can make sure your banner is shown off the way it deserves. We also have soccer banner ideas and other event promotion ideas if you need more inspiration.

At this point, though, the only thing left to do is see for yourself what keeps organizations and schools coming back to Printmoz for all their sports banner needs. Start designing today!