Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest Athletics Introduces New Rushing Deacon Logo
9/18/2026 9:59:00 AM | Football
The Rushing Deacon football caricature represents the second phase of a broader sport-specific artwork initiative focused on licensed retail following the announcement earlier this year of the Swinging Deacon.
BRAND GUIDELINES | BUY RUSHING DEACON MERCHANDISE
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Following the unveiling earlier this year of the popular Swinging Deacon golf-themed Demon Deacon logo, Wake Forest Athletics has announced the addition of the football-themed Rushing Deacon. This logo expands on the University's licensed retail offerings with a sport-specific design that celebrates Wake Forest's football's rich tradition.
The mark complements Wake Forest's existing brand system while adding creativity and personality to licensed merchandise.
The Rushing Deacon will appear exclusively on apparel, headwear and football-specific merchandise with initial products produced by a select group of licensing partners. With that, fans who want to purchase the Rushing Deacon collection should visit WakeForestShop.com.
Wake Forest football is in the midst of its strongest run in program history, as the Demon Deacons are one of only six ACC programs to win 70 or more games since 2016. The Demon Deacons have also captured a pair of ACC Championships in 1970 and 2006 while also claiming the ACC Atlantic Division title in 2021 during an 11-win campaign that concluded with a dominating 38-10 victory over Rutgers in the Taxslayer Gator Bowl. Since 2016, Wake Forest has appeared in eight bowl games – winning six of those contests. Overall in program history, Wake Forest is 12-6 in bowl games. Numerous Wake Forest alumni have gone on to successful careers in the NFL as well, including 1974 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Bill George, three-time second-team All-Pro Jesse Bates, four-time Pro Bowler Norm Snead, three-time Pro Bowlers Billy Ray Barnes and Tony Mayberry, two-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl XXXV champion Michael McCrary, Super Bowl champions Billy Ard and Fred Robbins along with Brian Piccolo and Ricky Proehl among countless others.
The Rushing Deacon was designed in collaboration with University Marketing and Communications, ensuring alignment with Wake Forest's broader brand strategy while creating artwork tailored specifically for brand enhancement and awareness.
The Rushing Deacon football caricature represents the second phase of a broader sport-specific artwork initiative focused on licensed retail, with any future designs evaluated individually and guided by the same brand and licensing standards.
What They're Saying
Wake Forest University is known for its distinctive combination of world-class academics, unrivaled campus experience, intimate learning environment and Power 4 athletics in a top-growing metro market. A Charter member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Demon Deacons have won 60 conference titles and are one of nine ACC schools to win 11 or more national championships. Additionally, with 1.7 million people within 30 miles of campus, Wake Forest anchors the Winston-Salem and Triad market, which ranks as ESPN's seventh-best nationally from a viewership perspective. Wake Forest's comprehensive excellence includes its highly regarded school of medicine, business school, law school, innovative department of engineering and its nationally renowned Program for Leadership and Character, which prepares students to live with purpose, integrity and courage. Additionally, Wake Forest has campuses across Winston-Salem, Charlotte and Washington, D.C. – providing many academic offerings to students from across the nation and around the world.
Learn more about Wake Forest University at wfu.edu and at GoDeacs.com.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Following the unveiling earlier this year of the popular Swinging Deacon golf-themed Demon Deacon logo, Wake Forest Athletics has announced the addition of the football-themed Rushing Deacon. This logo expands on the University's licensed retail offerings with a sport-specific design that celebrates Wake Forest's football's rich tradition.
The mark complements Wake Forest's existing brand system while adding creativity and personality to licensed merchandise.
The Rushing Deacon will appear exclusively on apparel, headwear and football-specific merchandise with initial products produced by a select group of licensing partners. With that, fans who want to purchase the Rushing Deacon collection should visit WakeForestShop.com.
Wake Forest football is in the midst of its strongest run in program history, as the Demon Deacons are one of only six ACC programs to win 70 or more games since 2016. The Demon Deacons have also captured a pair of ACC Championships in 1970 and 2006 while also claiming the ACC Atlantic Division title in 2021 during an 11-win campaign that concluded with a dominating 38-10 victory over Rutgers in the Taxslayer Gator Bowl. Since 2016, Wake Forest has appeared in eight bowl games – winning six of those contests. Overall in program history, Wake Forest is 12-6 in bowl games. Numerous Wake Forest alumni have gone on to successful careers in the NFL as well, including 1974 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Bill George, three-time second-team All-Pro Jesse Bates, four-time Pro Bowler Norm Snead, three-time Pro Bowlers Billy Ray Barnes and Tony Mayberry, two-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl XXXV champion Michael McCrary, Super Bowl champions Billy Ard and Fred Robbins along with Brian Piccolo and Ricky Proehl among countless others.
The Rushing Deacon was designed in collaboration with University Marketing and Communications, ensuring alignment with Wake Forest's broader brand strategy while creating artwork tailored specifically for brand enhancement and awareness.
The Rushing Deacon football caricature represents the second phase of a broader sport-specific artwork initiative focused on licensed retail, with any future designs evaluated individually and guided by the same brand and licensing standards.
What They're Saying
- Associate Vice President for Marketing & Brand Experience Hayes Henderson:
- Following the incredible reception of our Swinging Deacon artwork for golf, we're excited to carry this brand evolution onto the football field. Our newest— the Rushing Deacon belongs to all of Deacon Nation, and providing our football program with its own dedicated character in the new lineage allows us to honor our deep ACC football roots while engaging fans, students, and alumni in a fresh, fun way."
- Director of Trademark Licensing & Brand Management Mary Caroline Osgood:
- "Nothing beats seeing Wake Forest football fans show their Demon Deacon pride, and the Rushing Deacon gives them a great new way to do it. The design is a product of the strong partnership between our licensing team and University Marketing and Communications, a partnership that's also helping our licensing program grow and our brand reach new communities. We're excited to keep finding new ways for fans to represent Wake Forest."
- Head Football Coach Jake Dickert:
- "We're fired up about the addition of the Rushing Deacon logo. This is a great opportunity for alumni, fans and students alike to connect with Wake Forest football and show their support."
Wake Forest University is known for its distinctive combination of world-class academics, unrivaled campus experience, intimate learning environment and Power 4 athletics in a top-growing metro market. A Charter member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Demon Deacons have won 60 conference titles and are one of nine ACC schools to win 11 or more national championships. Additionally, with 1.7 million people within 30 miles of campus, Wake Forest anchors the Winston-Salem and Triad market, which ranks as ESPN's seventh-best nationally from a viewership perspective. Wake Forest's comprehensive excellence includes its highly regarded school of medicine, business school, law school, innovative department of engineering and its nationally renowned Program for Leadership and Character, which prepares students to live with purpose, integrity and courage. Additionally, Wake Forest has campuses across Winston-Salem, Charlotte and Washington, D.C. – providing many academic offerings to students from across the nation and around the world.
Learn more about Wake Forest University at wfu.edu and at GoDeacs.com.
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