In 1934, the breakfast cereal Wheaties began the practice of including pictures of athletes on its packaging to coincide with its slogan, "The Breakfast of Champions." In its original form, athletes were depicted on the sides or back of the cereal box, though in 1958 Wheaties began placing the pictures on the front of the box. The tradition has included hundreds of athletes from many different sports, and also team depictions.
This article lists the athletes or teams depicted on Wheaties boxes, along with the year(s) of depiction and sport played. This list is not all-inclusive, and athletes may have been shown together with teams and groups, or on the sides, back, or front of the box. Most athletes appeared on the standard Wheaties box, while others appeared on the Honey Frosted Wheaties (HFW), Crispy Wheaties 'n' Raisins (CWR), Wheaties Energy Crunch (WEC), or Wheaties Fuel (WF) boxes.
Around 1990, General Mills did a promotion called "Picture Yourself on a Wheaties Box," in which, for a fee, they would make a custom Wheaties box from one's own photograph that was sealed in clear acrylic. Kristi Yamaguchi, among other athletes, was featured in advertising this campaign.
| Year | Athlete | Sport | Notes | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1934, 1992, 1999 | Baseball | First athlete depicted | [1] | ||
| 1934 | Baseball | ||||
| 1934 | Tennis | ||||
| 1934 | Aviator | First female depicted | |||
| 1934 | Aviators | First married couple depicted | |||
| 1935 | Baseball | ||||
| 1935 | Golf | First female athlete depicted | |||
| 1935 | Olympic diving | ||||
| 1935 | Football | Michigan New York Giants HOF | |||
| 1936 | Basketball | ||||
| 1936 | Jesse Owens | Track and Field | First African American athlete depicted[2] | ||
| 1936 | Speedskating | ||||
| 1936 | |||||
| 1937 | Baseball | ||||
| 1937 | Baseball | ||||
| 1937 | Baseball | ||||
| 1937 | Baseball | ||||
| 1937 | Baseball | ||||
| 1937 | Baseball | ||||
| 1938 | Baseball | ||||
| 1938 | Baseball | ||||
| 1938 | Baseball | ||||
| 1938 | Baseball | ||||
| 1938 | Baseball | ||||
| 1938 | Baseball | ||||
| 1939 | Baseball | ||||
| 1939 | Baseball | ||||
| 1939 | Football | Pro football's first kicking specialist | |||
| 1930s | Ice hockey | ||||
| 1947 | Baseball | ||||
| 1951 | Football | ||||
| 1951 | Football | ||||
| 1951 | Baseball | ||||
| 1951 | Baseball | ||||
| 1951 | Baseball | ||||
| 1951 | Football | ||||
| 1952 | Baseball | ||||
| 1952 | Football | ||||
| 1952 | Basketball | Minneapolis Lakers | |||
| 1952 | Baseball | ||||
| 1952 | Football | ||||
| 1956 | Basketball | ||||
| 1956 | Football | ||||
| 1956 | Baseball | ||||
| 1958 | Track and field (pole vault) | First athlete depicted on front of box | |||
| 1959 | |||||
| 1964 | Football | ||||
| 1964 | Baseball | ||||
| 1967 | Football | ||||
| 1967 | Baseball | ||||
| 1967 | Baseball | ||||
| 1967 | Running track | ||||
| 1967 | Baseball | ||||
| 1968 | Football | ||||
| 1976, 2012 | |||||
| 1983 | |||||
| 1984 | |||||
| 1984, 1999, 2012 | First gymnast (and female Gymnast) depicted | ||||
| 1985 | Baseball | ||||
| 1986, 2000 | Football | First African-American on front of package | |||
| 1987 | Tennis | ||||
| 1987 | Football | ||||
| 1988 | Sammy Chagolla | Wrestling | |||
| 1988 | Basketball | ||||
| 1988 | Basketball | Most depictions on box (18 total) | |||
| 1988 | Football | ||||
| 1989 | Baseball | ||||
| 1989 | Basketball | ||||
| 1989 | Basketball | ||||
| 1989 | Baseball | ||||
| 1990 | Baseball | ||||
| 1990 | Football | ||||
| 1991 | |||||
| 1991 | Ice hockey | ||||
| 1991 | Ice hockey | ||||
| 1991 | Ice hockey | ||||
| 1991 | Ice hockey | ||||
| 1991, 1992 | Ice hockey | ||||
| 1991, 1992 | Ice hockey | ||||
| 1991 | Ice hockey | ||||
| 1991 | Ice hockey | ||||
| 1991 | Ice hockey | ||||
| 1991 | Ice hockey | ||||
| 1991, 1992, 1993 | Basketball | ||||
| 1992, 1999 | Football | ||||
| 1992 | Baseball | ||||
| 1993 | Basketball | ||||
| 1993 | Football | ||||
| 1993 | Football | ||||
| 1993 | Basketball | ||||
| 1993 | Football | ||||
| 1995, 2001 | Baseball | ||||
| 1995 | Baseball | ||||
| 1995 | Football | ||||
| 1996 | U.S. Olympic gymnastics team box | ||||
| 1996 | U.S. Olympic gymnastics team box | ||||
| 1996 | U.S. Olympic gymnastics team box | ||||
| 1996 | Swimming | ||||
| 1996 | |||||
| 1996 | U.S. Olympic gymnastics team box | ||||
| 1996 | Gymnastics | U.S. Olympic gymnastics team box | |||
| 1996 | Track and field (decathlon) | ||||
| 1996 | Gymnastics | U.S. Olympic gymnastics team box | |||
| 1996 | Baseball | ||||
| 1996 | football | ||||
| 1996 | U.S. Olympic gymnastics team box | ||||
| 1996 | |||||
| 1996 | Football | (CWR) | |||
| 1996, 1999 | Football | ||||
| 1996, 2010 | NASCAR | ||||
| 1996–2000 | Baseball | ||||
| 1997 | |||||
| 1997 | Football | ||||
| 1997 | Football | (CWR) | |||
| 1997 | Football | ||||
| 1997, 2007 | Baseball | ||||
| 1998 | Football | ||||
| 1998 | |||||
| 1998 | Football | ||||
| 1998 | Ice hockey | ||||
| 1998 | Baseball | ||||
| 1998 | NASCAR | ||||
| 1999 | |||||
| 1999 | |||||
| 1999 | |||||
| 1999 | |||||
| 1999 | Soccer | ||||
| 1999 | Baseball | ||||
| 1999, 2012 | |||||
| 1999, 2000, 2001 | (CWR Reg.) (HFW) | ||||
| 2000 | |||||
| 2000 | Tennis | ||||
| 2001 | Baseball | ||||
| 2001 | Football | ||||
| 2001 | Tennis | ||||
| 2001 | Baseball | ||||
| 2001 | Track & Field, Football, Baseball | [3] [4] | |||
| 2001 | Baseball | ||||
| 2002 | Baseball | ||||
| 2002 | INDYCAR | ||||
| 2002 | Figure skating | ||||
| 2002 | |||||
| 2002 | Football | ||||
| 2002 | Baseball | ||||
| 2003 | |||||
| 2003 | Ice hockey | ||||
| 2003 | Baseball | ||||
| 2003 | College Football Coach (Penn State) | ||||
| 2003 | NASCAR | ||||
| 2004 | Tennis | ||||
| 2004 | Track & Field | ||||
| 2004 | |||||
| 2004 | Football | ||||
| 2004 | Baseball | ||||
| 2004 | Baseball | ||||
| 2004 | |||||
| 2004 | Basketball | ||||
| 2004 | Track & Field | ||||
| 2004, 2012, 2016 | |||||
| 2004 | Football | ||||
| 2005 | Baseball | ||||
| 2005 | Basketball | ||||
| 2005 | Baseball | ||||
| 2005 | Basketball | ||||
| 2005 | Baseball | ||||
| 2006 | Baseball | ||||
| 2006 | Basketball | ||||
| 2006 | Football | ||||
| 2006 | |||||
| 2006 | Baseball | ||||
| 2006 | Long Track Speedskating | ||||
| 2007 | Basketball | ||||
| 2008 | Triathlon | ||||
| 2008 | Triathlon | ||||
| 2008 | Decathlon | ||||
| 2008 | Gymnastics | ||||
| 2009 | Basketball | ||||
| 2010 | Alpine skiing | ||||
| 2010 | Snowboarding | ||||
| 2010 | Snowboard cross | ||||
| 2011 | Triathlon | (WF) | |||
| 2011, 2012 | Football | ||||
| 2012 | Football | (WF) | |||
| 2012 | Beach Volleyball | ||||
| 2012 | Football | First female Football player | |||
| 2013 | Football | ||||
| 2014 | Snowboarding | ||||
| 2014 | Alpine skiing | ||||
| 2014 | Mixed Martial Arts | ||||
| 2015 | Basketball | ||||
| 2016 | Motocross | ||||
| 2017 | Golf | ||||
| 2018 | Basketball | ||||
| 2018 | Football | [5] | |||
| 2019 | Tennis | ||||
| Basketball | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Soccer | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Basketball | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Basketball | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Boxing | |||||
| Tennis | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Basketball | |||||
| Marie Bartoletti | (WEC) | ||||
| Golf | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Golf | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Gymnastics | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Racing | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Soccer | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Tennis | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Ice hockey | |||||
| Football | |||||
| NASCAR | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Baseball broadcaster | |||||
| Basketball | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Basketball | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Basketball | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Basketball | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Basketball | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Boxing | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Alpine skiing | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Basketball | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Golf | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Basketball | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Basketball | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Doug Heir | Paralympics | ||||
| Football | |||||
| Auto racing | |||||
| Long-distance running | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Basketball | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Basketball | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Basketball | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Basketball | |||||
| Ice hockey | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Tennis | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Basketball | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Golf | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Basketball | |||||
| Football | (HFW) | ||||
| Whitewater canoeing | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Alpine skiing | |||||
| Basketball | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Golf | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Tennis | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Basketball | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| George Murray | Wheelchair Roadracer | ||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Basketball | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Golf | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Boxing | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Ice hockey | |||||
| Basketball | |||||
| NASCAR | |||||
| Football | |||||
| NASCAR | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Basketball | |||||
| Basketball | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Football | |||||
| College Football Coach (University of Georgia) | |||||
| Soccer | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Track and field (marathon) | |||||
| Basketball | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Swimming | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Baseball | (CWR) | ||||
| Football | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Football | (HFW) | ||||
| Football | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Figure skating | |||||
| Basketball | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Golf | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Basketball coach | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Baseball | (CWR) | ||||
| Basketball | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Figure skater | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Basketball | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Pedro Depacas | Boomerang | ||||
| Football | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| High wire performers | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Basketball | |||||
| Basketball | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Baseball | |||||
| Golf | |||||
| Football | |||||
| Basketball | |||||
| (HFW) | |||||
| Baseball |
| Year | Team | Sport | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Minnesota Twins | Baseball | World Series Champions (first team depicted on box) | [6] |
| 1988 | Washington Redskins | Football | Super Bowl XXII | |
| 1992 | Pittsburgh Penguins | Hockey | Stanley Cup Champions | |
| 1993 | Dallas Cowboys | Football | Super Bowl XXVII Champions | |
| 1994 | Dallas Cowboys | Football | Super Bowl XXVIII Champions | |
| 1995 | Northwestern Wildcats | Football | Big Ten Champions | |
| 1995 | Atlanta Braves | Baseball | World Series Champions | |
| 1995 | Cleveland Indians | Baseball | American League Champions | |
| 1996 | Dallas Cowboys | Football | Super Bowl XXX Champions | |
| 1996 | U.S. Olympic Women's Gymnastics Team | Gymnastics | Olympic gold medalists | |
| 1997 | U.S. Olympic men's ice hockey team | Hockey (men) | Olympic gold medalists (1980) | |
| 1998 | Target Chip Ganassi Racing CART team | CART | CART FedEx Championship Series champions | |
| 1998 | Denver Broncos | Football | Super Bowl XXXII Champions | |
| 1998 | U.S. Olympic Women's Ice Hockey team | Hockey (women) | Olympic gold medalists Five members were unable to be included due to NCAA regulations regarding endorsements | |
| 1998 | Arizona Diamondbacks | Baseball | inaugural season | |
| 1998 | Football | High School football | ||
| 1998 | DeMatha High School | Football | High School football | |
| 2000 | St. Louis Rams | Football | Super Bowl XXXIV Champions | |
| 2001 | Dallas Cowboys | Football | "35 Years of Championship Performance" | |
| 2001 | Baltimore Ravens | Football | Super Bowl XXXV Champions | |
| 2002 | New England Patriots | Football | Super Bowl XXXVI Champions | |
| 2003 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Football | Super Bowl XXXVII Champions | |
| 2004 | Boston Red Sox | Baseball | World Series Champions | |
| 2005 | Texas Longhorns | Football | National Champions | |
| 2005 | Texas Western College | Basketball | NCAA Champions (1966) | |
| 2005 | Chicago White Sox | Baseball | World Series Champions | |
| 2006 | Miami Heat | Basketball | NBA Champions | |
| 2006 | Detroit Shock | Basketball | WNBA Champions | |
| 2006 | Georgia Bulldogs | Football | [7] | |
| 2006 | Michigan Wolverines | Football | ||
| 2006 | Notre Dame Fighting Irish | Football | ||
| 2006 | Texas Longhorns | Football | 2 boxes in 2006 | |
| 2006 | Texas A&M Aggies | Football | ||
| 2006 | St. Louis Cardinals | Baseball | World Series Champions | |
| 2007 | Boston Red Sox | Baseball | World Series Champions | |
| 2007 | Florida Gators | Basketball (men) | ||
| 2007 | North Carolina Tar Heels | Basketball (men) | ||
| 2007 | Kentucky Wildcats | Basketball (men) | ||
| 2007 | Tennessee Lady Vols | Basketball (women) | [8] | |
| 2008 | Boston Celtics | Basketball | NBA Champions | |
| 2009 | Los Angeles Lakers | Basketball | NBA Champions | |
| 2010 | Los Angeles Lakers | Basketball | NBA Champions | |
| 2010 | Seattle Storm | Basketball | WNBA Champions | |
