Puppy Bowl XXI is now a past event: it aired on February 9, 2025, and combined a three-hour Team Ruff-versus-Team Fluff football parody with adoption stories from 142 rescue puppies. The 2025 edition introduced a Puppy Combine, ended with Team Fluff’s 68–66 victory, and named Foxtrot its Most Valuable Puppy.
Puppy Bowl XXI aired on Sunday, February 9, 2025. The three-hour Animal Planet rescue-puppy special brought 142 puppies from 80 shelters and rescues across 40 states and two countries to a miniature football field. Team Fluff defeated Team Ruff 68–66, with Paws Allen scoring the winning touchdown as time expired.
The event was more than a parody football game. Its 2025 edition added a Puppy Combine and draft-style team selection, highlighted dogs with different abilities, and used player stories to direct viewers toward shelters, rescues, and adoption resources.
Puppy Bowl XXI at a glance
| Original broadcast | Sunday, February 9, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Main event | 2:00 p.m. Eastern / 11:00 a.m. Pacific |
| Pre-show | Puppy Bowl XXI Kickoff at 1:00 p.m. Eastern / 10:00 a.m. Pacific |
| Original distribution | Animal Planet, Discovery, TBS, truTV, Max, and discovery+ |
| Puppy players | 142 |
| Shelters and rescues represented | 80, from 40 states and two countries |
| Teams | Team Ruff and Team Fluff |
| Winner | Team Fluff, 68–66 |
| Most Valuable Puppy | Foxtrot, associated with Pet Haven in Minnesota |
| Decisive play | Paws Allen’s touchdown as time expired |
Important date note: Those were the original 2025 broadcast details, not a current upcoming schedule. Replay and catalog availability on Max or discovery+ can change, so check the platforms directly before planning a viewing.
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What was new in Puppy Bowl XXI?
The biggest format addition was the Puppy Bowl XXI Kickoff, a pre-show that introduced the Puppy Combine. Ten puppies took part in practice-drill-style challenges before a draft-style selection divided them between Team Ruff and Team Fluff. It gave the broadcast a more recognizable sports-show setup without changing its central appeal: watching rescue puppies play in a carefully staged, miniature game environment.
The field also included 11 special-needs athletes. Among the examples featured in the official preview were dogs participating with adaptations for mobility, vision, or hearing. The meaningful point is not to turn these puppies into props, but to show that rescue dogs with different abilities could take part in a playful setting while their shelters and stories received national exposure.
Other returning or expanded elements included the Walmart Lombarky trophy, the Most Valuable Puppy and Underdog awards, a Kitty Halftime Show, and breed-mix information supplied by Wisdom Panel. Breed-mix descriptions in the program should not be treated as definitive genetic certifications for every dog.
The puppies and storylines viewers noticed
The production used individual players to give the large field some personality. The official preview singled out several dogs:
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- Julep was described as the first St. Bernard mix to compete.
- Smoosh was the only Pekingese in the field.
- Mr. Pickles was a Pug-Chihuahua mix from Dallas.
- Tuani traveled from Nicaragua to participate.
- Jolene, an American Pit Bull Terrier mix, competed in a wheelchair.
- Sprinkle was identified as a blind and hearing-impaired Australian Shepherd mix.
- Trixie was sent by Little Traverse Bay Humane Society with support from BISSELL Pet Foundation.
The broadcast also connected the puppies to recognizable human-interest stories. Dan Smyers of Dan + Shay appeared with a rescue puppy backstage. Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi and his girlfriend, Nani, visited the Humane Society of Greater Kansas City and helped train Parsnip, a rescue pit bull mix.
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James Gunn and his rescue dog, Ozu, appeared in a Superman-related segment. Ozu was described as an inspiration for Krypto, and one player received the Krypto Super Play Award. That was a pop-culture feature within the 2025 broadcast—not a change to Puppy Bowl’s central adoption mission.
Who won Puppy Bowl XXI?
Team Fluff won 68–66. The finish was decided on the final play. Team Ruff had moved ahead 66–61 after Enrique’s late field goal, but Team Fluff answered when Paws Allen crossed the goal line as time expired.
Foxtrot was named Most Valuable Puppy. The young rescue dog, connected with Pet Haven in Minnesota, drew attention for speed and agility and scored a touchdown. Mercury received the Underdog Award.
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Why the adoption message matters more than the score
Puppy Bowl is built as an adoption-awareness television event as much as a sports parody. The players come through shelters, foster networks, and rescue organizations, giving those groups exposure that would be difficult to achieve on their own. The format also puts adoption in front of a large audience on a day traditionally dominated by sports programming.
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Warner Bros. Discovery reported that Puppy Bowl XXI reached 12.8 million viewers and was the number-one non-sports cable telecast on Sunday, February 9, 2025. That is a network-reported audience figure and should be understood as such, rather than as a universal independently audited count.
Best Friends Animal Society and BISSELL Pet Foundation were among the organizations highlighted in the 2025 adoption and partnership materials. The participating shelters and rescues remain the most relevant sources for information about individual animals.
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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Want to help? If one of the players caught your attention, look for the dog on the official Puppy Bowl adoption page and then confirm the animal’s status with the participating shelter or rescue. Adoption listings change quickly, and a featured puppy may already have found a home. If that specific dog is unavailable, ask about littermates, adult dogs, or other animals with similar needs—or support the organization that helped bring the player to the field.
Do not assume that all 142 puppies are still adoptable, that every featured dog can be obtained directly through the broadcast, or that an adoption is guaranteed. The shelter’s current listing is the appropriate source for availability, application requirements, location restrictions, and fees.
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Your own dog does not need to understand the rules to join the occasion. Keep snacks and decorations out of reach, provide a quiet place to retreat, and use only supervised play with toys. A generic dog football toy can turn the football theme into a short game of fetch or tug, provided the toy is appropriate for the dog’s size and chewing habits. It should not be described as official Puppy Bowl merchandise unless a current licensed listing has been verified.
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Some viewers may also be curious about their rescue dog’s breed mix. A pet DNA kit can offer optional breed estimates, but those results are not a substitute for veterinary care, behavioral assessment, or a shelter’s medical records. Wisdom Panel’s breed-mix information appeared in the Puppy Bowl XXI preview, but readers should verify current product availability before purchasing.
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For an outing rather than an at-home activity, Dogtopia was identified in partner materials as a dog wellness and play partner. Local services and event participation vary by location, so confirm details with the individual facility. Grounds & Hounds Coffee Co. was also identified as the event’s coffee sponsor, with a Puppy Bowl-themed blend described in partner materials; seasonal stock and any rescue-support claims should be checked before relying on them.
The lasting appeal of Puppy Bowl XXI
Puppy Bowl XXI worked because it combined three different kinds of television: a light sports parody, a rotating cast of memorable animals, and a practical invitation to learn about rescue. The Puppy Combine and draft added a new layer of game-show structure, while players such as Jolene and Sprinkle broadened the picture of which dogs can be represented and celebrated.
The final score supplied the television drama—Team Fluff’s 68–66 win on the last play—but the more durable outcome is the attention directed toward shelters and rescues. For viewers who want to respond to the show, checking current adoption listings or supporting participating organizations is more meaningful than assuming a particular on-screen puppy is still available.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Puppy Bowl XXI air?
Puppy Bowl XXI aired on Sunday, February 9, 2025. The main event began at 2:00 p.m. Eastern / 11:00 a.m. Pacific, following the Puppy Bowl XXI Kickoff pre-show at 1:00 p.m. Eastern / 10:00 a.m. Pacific.
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Who won Puppy Bowl XXI?
Team Fluff won Puppy Bowl XXI, defeating Team Ruff 68–66. Paws Allen scored the winning touchdown as time expired.
Who was the MVP of Puppy Bowl XXI?
Foxtrot, a rescue dog associated with Pet Haven in Minnesota, was named Most Valuable Puppy. Foxtrot was associated with Team Ruff; the team champion was Team Fluff.
Where can I watch Puppy Bowl XXI now?
The original broadcast was distributed through Animal Planet, Discovery, TBS, truTV, Max, and discovery+. Because catalog and replay rights change, confirm current availability directly with the platform you plan to use.
Are the Puppy Bowl XXI dogs still available for adoption?
Not necessarily. Adoption status changes quickly, and a puppy featured in the broadcast may already have been adopted. Check the official Puppy Bowl adoption information and confirm the current listing with the participating shelter or rescue.
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The short version: Puppy Bowl XXI aired on February 9, 2025, featured 142 rescue puppies from 80 organizations, introduced a Puppy Combine, and ended with Team Fluff beating Team Ruff 68–66. Foxtrot was the MVP, while Paws Allen scored the winning touchdown. Its adoption listings and streaming availability are historical and changeable, so verify both with the relevant shelter or platform.
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