Meet the Starting Lineup for Puppy Bowl XXI

While the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles gear up for Super Bowl LIX on Sunday evening a much fluffier bunch will be paw-paring for Puppy Bowl XXI.

Why It Matters

Over the years, Super Bowl Sunday has become more than just football, it’s a time when Americans gather around to eat, drink, judge TV commercials and halftime musical performances, and of course, watch the most adorable puppies play their own version of the big game with squeaky toys rather than pigskin.

The Puppy Bowl is not just for the puppies’ enjoyment and viewers’ entertainment but also promotes pet adoption by featuring rescue dogs.

What To Know

Puppy Bowl XXI kicks off Sunday afternoon with 142 rescue pups from 80 shelters across 40 states, and even two countries. Team Ruff and Team Fluff will compete for the coveted Lombarky Trophy in what Warner Bros. Discovery calls the “cutest competition of the year.”

There are 16 players in the starting lineup, including Dee-Bone Samuel from Team Ruff who won the title of “Most Pupular” in the voted-based Pupularity Playoffs ahead of the game.

Dee-Bone Samuel is a poodle mix from the Sacramento SPAC in California.

Speaking of his Puppy Bowl strategy, Discovery says, “He may start off a bit reserved, but when the ball rolls his way, watch out! This dog is always ready to make some big plays.”

Below is a list of the rest of the starting lineup.

Team Fluff

• Abigail: a Labrador retriever mix from Operation Paws for Homes in Alexandria, Virginia, who brings the zoomies to the big game.
• Smoosh: the first Pekingese to take the Puppy Bowl field. She is from the Florida Little Dog Rescue in Saint Cloud.
• Paws Allen: a Labrador Retriever mix from Buddy’s Second Chance Rescue in Buffalo, New York, who is a tug-of-war champ.
• Kiki: a Chihuahua mix from Florida Little Dog Rescue who is a great team player…when she’s not napping.
• Charlotte: a beloved American Cocker Spaniel from Humane Society of Missouri in St. Louis. She’s a team player like Kiki.
• Carl: a calm Bulldog mix from Louie’s Legacy Animal Rescue in New York City. As Discovery put it, “He may be blind, but that doesn’t stop Carl from keeping his eyes on the prize!”
• Alice: a Chihuahua mix from Florida Little Dog Rescue. She may start out shy but once she gets going on the field, nothing can stop her.
• Whoopie: a Great Pyrenees mix from Wags & Walks in Nashville, Tennessee. She is the kindest pup and ready to cheer on her team.

Team Ruff

• Trio: a Boston Terrier from Louie’s Legacy Animal Rescue. He might have a leg deformity, but he is one mighty pup.
• Maxx: a Doberman Pinscher from the Nevada SPCA in Las Vegas. As Discovery puts it, “Even with just three legs, he runs circles around the competition.”
• Foxtrot: a cheerful Border Collie mix from Pet Haven in Minneapolis who is always down for a good time.
• Mr. Pickles: a feisty Pug mix from Dallas Dog in Texas.
• Enrique: a miniature pinscher mix from The Sato Project in New York City. Watch out because Discovery says Enrique “is here to show you that the water bowl breaks can be just as wild and exciting as the gameplay on the field!”
• Demure: an energetic Cairn Terrier from Green Dogs Unleashed in Troy, Virginia. This pup “is always looking to make new friends. As long as they’re very cutesy and very mindful, of course,” Discovery says.
• Beethoven: a curious Great Pyrenees mix from Best Friends Animal Society in New York City.

For more on the 100-plus pups participating in the big game on Sunday, including their photos, visit discovery.com.

What People Are Saying

Animal Planet wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday, “Our pupletes are gameday ready and can’t wait to leave it all on the field!”

What Happens Next

Puppy Bowl XXI kickoff is at 2 p.m. ET on Animal Planet, Discovery, TBS and truTV. It will also be streamed on Max and discovery+.