Who won Puppy Bowl 2025? Highlights from the fluffiest competition before Super Bowl

The Puppy Bowl on Animal Planet, the cutest show before the kickoff of Super Bowl 59, lived up to the undeniable hype as the fluffiest game of the year. Its main purpose is to raise awareness and encourage the adoption of dogs from shelters and rescues.

The 21st annual Puppy Bowl was filled with playful energy, featuring 142 puppy athletes, including 11 dogs with special needs. These adorable pups came from 80 shelters and rescues across 40 states and two countries. Representing Team Ruff and Team Fluff, they joyfully raced toward the end zone, all in search of their forever homes, with the Lombarky Trophy toy being an exciting bonus.

Many of the puppies had fitting names for the big game, such as Saquon Barkley, the Australian Shepherd-Bernese Mountain Dog, and a pair of Pomeranian siblings named Jason and Travis, after the Kelce brothers. Dee-Bone Samuel, a poodle mix, has already added a trophy toy to their collection after being named this year's Popularity Playoffs champion.

The big question remains: Which team won? Was it Team Fluff, featuring the adorable Labrador retriever mix, Abigail, and Smoosh the Pekingese? Or was it Team Ruff, led by Mr. Pickles the pug mix and Demure the Cairn Terrier, who claimed back-to-back Puppy Bowls?

Here are the highlights and winner of the Most Valuable Puppy award.

Who won Puppy Bowl XXI?

Team Fluff wins the game!

• Underdog Award: Mercury

• Most Valuable Puppy Award: Foxtrot

Puppy Bowl 2025 highlights

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who won Puppy Bowl? Highlights from adorable pre-Super Bowl event