The Best Sports Memes and Jokes
By
Dan Holmes
Contributor Updated: 24 December 2024
Dan Holmes Contributor
Dan Holmes, a content creator and sports betting enthusiast, brings over a decade of experience to Betting.US. His extensive writing background spans from the internet to prestigious roles at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Dan’s articles, featured on numerous websites, cover various sports, from bowling to disc golf.
The Best Sports Memes
Memes have become one of the most popular ways for fans to connect with sports. Whether poking fun at a dramatic loss, celebrating an epic comeback, or capturing a hilarious expression from a coach, sports memes have taken on a life of their own.
How Memes Increase Fan Engagement
The digital age has brought about an explosion of “sports memes funny” and “sports reaction memes” that make the world of sports more entertaining than ever before. From Twitter and Reddit to Facebook, these platforms have become meme factories where fans spin sports moments into comedy gold.
Memes don’t just make people laugh—they bring fans closer to the action and build a sense of community. When teams embrace meme culture, they show they’re in tune with what’s going on in their fan base. Whether it’s the official team account sharing the latest sports memes or retweeting some sports quotes memes made by fans, these interactions create a more dynamic and relatable image.
On platforms like Twitter, memes spread quickly. A funny image of a player’s reaction or a coach’s exaggerated expression can be retweeted thousands of times, giving it a life beyond the game itself. Reddit has its own way of engaging fans.
They create meme-heavy communities like r/nba or r/nfl, where user-created content sparks lengthy discussions and debates. Facebook may have a reputation for being where your Aunt Tootie shares cat videos, but it’s also home to countless sports pages where sports memes funny often get more engagement than traditional posts.
By turning memorable sports moments into memes, fans create a shared experience that makes everyone feel like part of the team—even if their only contribution is hitting the “like” button or sharing the meme with a snarky caption. Even if they are most interested in browsing the list of online sportsbooks.
Meme-Worthy Teams: NFL, NBA, MLB, and College Sports
Some teams just seem to lend themselves to meme culture. Whether it’s because of dramatic moments, consistent struggles, or high-profile players, certain teams consistently provide the internet with “meme-able” material.
NFL: The New York Jets
When it comes to the NFL, the New York Jets are often the butt of the joke. The team has struggled for years to find consistent success, and their frequent quarterback woes are meme material for days. From Mark Sanchez’s infamous “Butt Fumble” to the seemingly endless cycle of new head coaches, the Jets are a go-to subject for sports memes funny.
NBA: The Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are no strangers to sports reaction memes, thanks largely to the drama that always seems to surround them. Whether it’s the arrival of superstar LeBron James, the frustrations of a season gone wrong, or the countless facial expressions of the team’s legendary players (past and present), the Lakers are meme gold.
When LeBron stares down a teammate for a missed play, or a coach looks exasperated on the sidelines, the internet is quick to create some of the best sports memes. Even players like Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant have had their moments live on in meme form long after they’ve retired.
MLB: The Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs have had their share of highs and lows over the years, and fans have captured it all in meme form. There’s no escaping references to the team’s 108-year championship drought that finally ended in 2016.
The “Curse of the Billy Goat” became one of the most sports memes funny stories for decades, and Cubs fans on Reddit and Facebook continue to create memes that celebrate both their historic win and the pain that came before it. Whether it’s about heartbreak or triumph, the Cubs’ roller-coaster history makes for great meme content.
College Sports: University of Michigan Football
College football is a goldmine for meme-makers, and the University of Michigan Wolverines are often right in the middle of it. The team’s storied rivalry with Ohio State University has provided countless sports reaction memes over the years. Whenever Michigan suffers a tough loss or snags a thrilling win, you can bet the memes will follow.
Michael Jordan Crying Meme
The Michael Jordan crying meme, often called “Crying Jordan,” is one of the most famous sports memes in internet history. It has a place among the best sports memes of all time. It originates from Jordan’s emotional induction speech at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009.
During his speech, Jordan shed tears, expressing gratitude and reflecting on his illustrious career. The image of his teary face was soon turned into a viral meme, often used to represent disappointment, defeat, or failure in the sports world and beyond.
“Crying Jordan” quickly became a go-to sports memes funny template, appearing on countless social media platforms like Twitter and Reddit whenever a team lost or an athlete underperformed. It’s been photoshopped onto the faces of athletes, coaches, and even politicians, capturing the universal feeling of defeat with a humorous twist.
Famous Memes Around Big Sporting Events
While individual teams get plenty of the best sports memes attention, some of the most viral content revolves around major sporting events. The Super Bowl, World Series, March Madness, Stanley Cup, and NBA Finals are all meme-worthy in their own right, with moments that transcend the actual games.
The Super Bowl
Super Bowl memes are a must-have for any social media feed during February. The infamous “28-3” meme, referencing the Atlanta Falcons’ 25-point lead blown against the New England Patriots, is a classic. The annual spectacle of Super Bowl commercials also often becomes meme material, whether it’s from a clever ad or a bizarre halftime performance.
World Series Memes
The aforementioned Chicago Cubs’ victory in 2016 generated an explosion of memes celebrating the end of their long drought. The infamous “Bartman Incident” from the 2003 MLB Playoffs—when a fan’s interference cost the Cubs a game—has lived on as one of the most famous “sports quotes memes” moments in baseball lore.
Popular March Madness Memes
March Madness is practically built for meme culture. Whether it’s a Cinderella team upsetting a powerhouse or a coach’s bewildered reaction to a last-second loss, the NCAA Tournament generates tons of sports memes. From exploding brackets to wild buzzer-beaters, fans capture the madness and share their favorite moments across social media, making it a communal experience.
The Stanley Cup
Hockey may not be as popular as football or basketball in the U.S., but the Stanley Cup Playoffs never fail to deliver meme-worthy material. The tradition of players growing playoff beards, the drinking from Lord Stanley’s Cup, and the intensity of Game 7s make the NHL’s grand finale a goldmine for meme-makers.
The NBA Finals
The NBA Finals are known for their dramatic moments and personalities, from Michael Jordan’s famous “Flu Game” to LeBron James’ chasedown block in 2016. These historic events have produced some of the best sports memes that live on even after the champions are crowned. Social media users continue to share and remix clips and images from the Finals to poke fun at rival teams or celebrate victories.
Athletes and Coaches and Sports Memes
Athletes and coaches have their own take on meme culture. Future NBA Hall of Famer LeBron James, a frequent subject of memes himself, once said, “I’ve seen some funny stuff out there. If you can’t laugh at yourself, who can you laugh at?” His ability to embrace the jokes has made him a fan favorite both on and off the court.
NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers has a different perspective, stating, “Some of these memes… they can get out of hand. It’s all fun until someone gets hurt, right?” Rodgers’ remark reflects the reality that while memes are fun, they can sometimes take a harsher tone.
Memes Make Sports Better
From sports reaction memes during heartbreaking losses to sports quotes memes immortalizing the words of athletes and coaches, memes play a vital role in shaping how we experience sports. The internet’s creativity knows no bounds, and as long as there are games to be played, there will be memes to be made. Whether it’s on Twitter, Reddit, or Facebook, fans are sure to keep the laughs coming.
