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T.D. (forThe Dolphin, but also a pun because T.D. is short fortouchdown) is the officialmascot of theNational Football League'sMiami Dolphins. The Dolphins' official website jokingly states that T.D. was signed on April 18, 1997 by formerhead coachJimmy Johnson. The Dolphins conducted a "Name the Mascot" contest that drew over 13,000 entries, covering all 50 states and 22 countries. 528 names were suggested and the winning entry was announced at the annual Dolphins Awards Banquet on June 4, 1997. T.D. first appeared at a Dolphins home game on August 10, 1997 against theChicago Bears; his first Dolphins homeplayoff appearance was January 2, 1999 in a win against theBuffalo Bills. He was selected to thePro Bowl in 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, and was the first NFL mascot to participate in theHall of Fame Game inCanton, Ohio in 2001. He was invited toHong Kong to participate in the 2005Chinese New Year's Day Parade, and recently on May 2, 2015, T.D. was invited to participate at2015 NFL draft Town in Chicago, Illinois.