The Cleveland Browns’ beloved live mascot has passed away this week.
On Tuesday, the Browns announced that their bulldog mastiff mascot Swagger “SJ” Jr. has passed away. He was five years old.
“We are sad to announce the passing of our beloved mascot, SJ. We are so grateful for his many years of loyal support and cherish all of the wonderful memories he helped create for fans young and old,” the team said in a statement.
Fans have been taking to social media to offer their condolences to the cute dog:
“What an awful day. Such a cute boy,” one user wrote.
“RIP from every NFL fan. What an icon,” wrote another.
“Rest in peace to a great dog, very friendly to dogs of all sizes,” a third replied, sharing a photo of SJ alongside their own dog.
“Hang the flags at half mast today RIP Swagger Jr he was a 10/10 good boy,” a fourth said.
The bulldog has been a symbol of the Browns for decades and SJ was the son of former Browns live mascot Swagger, who served from 2014 to 2019 before passing away from a battle with cancer.
It’s not immediately clear what the Browns’ plans for replacing SJ as a live mascot.
Our hearts go out to all of Swagger Jr.’s loved ones and connections.
Related: NFL Mascot Reportedly Suffered A Season-Ending Injury