11 Athletic Puppies with Special Needs Are Part of the 2025 Puppy Bowl Lineup

Eleven dogs with special needs are part of Puppy Bowl 2025's record-breaking bunch.

Puppy Bowl XXI is set to have the most puppy players ever, with 142 dogs from 80 shelters and rescues participating in the year's most crucial game of canine football. All of the dogs will get time on the field during the big game on either Team Ruff or Team Fluff.

The annual canine competition, the longest-running call-to-adoption television event, now in its 21st year, has always opened its field to all types of rescue pups, including young dogs with special needs.

The 11 dogs with special needs competing in this year's Puppy Bowl are excited, athletic, and eager football stars ready to play hard and win the "Lombarky" trophy.

Get to know this talented group of pups before the game on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 9, by checking out their bios below. To see photos of all the puppies appearing at Puppy Bowl XXI, visit puppybowl.com.

Puppy Bowl returns on Sunday, Feb. 9 at 2:00 p.m. ET/ 11:00 a.m. PT and will be simulcast across Animal Planet, Discovery, TBS, truTV, Max, and discovery+.  

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Trio

Trio is on Team Ruff and has limb differences in his front legs. The dog also had to have one of his back legs amputated, but that hasn't stopped him from traveling from Louie's Legacy Animal Rescue in New York City to follow his Puppy Bowl dreams.

Winston

Phoenix Animal Rescue's pup player, Winston, is blind in one eye. He will play on Team Fluff, a good match for his luxurious fur.

Trevor

Trevor, who is deaf, took a break from his search for a forever home at Green Dogs Unleashed to play on Team Ruff in Puppy Bowl XXI.

Hunter

Like Trevor, Hunter is deaf and from Green Dogs Unleashed. The rescue puppy is also one of the visually impaired dogs on Team Fluff.

Mindy

Adorable Mindy is a visually impaired dog playing for Team Ruff. She is from the Brandywine Valley SPCA in Pennsylvania.

Hewett

Hewett from MatchDog Rescue in New Jersey is missing an eye. Look for him huddling up with Team Fluff during Puppy Bowl XXI.

Jolene

This Jolene, a wheelchair user from Ohio's Humane Society of Greater Dayton, is here to snag a Puppy Bowl win for Team Ruff, not take your man.

Carl

Carl is blind but has no problem playing football and is ready to impress on Team Fluff. He is from Louie's Legacy Animal Rescue in New York City.

Sprinkle

Sprinkle, an Australian shepherd mix who is blind and hearing impaired, will be cheered on by her friends from Danbury Animal Welfare Society as she plays for Team Ruff during the Puppy Bowl.

Rocky

Rocky, a pup born with limb differences, is prepared to bring home a win for Team Ruff and Pets with Disabilities, a rescue in Maryland.

Maxx

Maxx had to have his front leg amputated early in life, so he is ready to do on three legs things most dogs can only do on four paws. The talented canine is from the Nevada SPCA in Las Vegas.