Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images
Mascots across professional sports can add a lot to the gameday experience for fans. They interact with them during the game, leading cheers and getting the home crowd behind the players.
Mascots often play games with the fans during stoppages in play, and are a great source of entertainment for children.
One mascot has represented his favorite NFL team for over 30 years, but he's finally hanging up the costume after a legendary career.
Dan Meers has announced that he will no longer portray the KC Wolf - the mascot of the Kansas City Chiefs. Meers has worn the wolf costume for the last 35 years, taking the mantle from the original Dana S. Hubbard.
Meers has appeared at all but three Chiefs games since 1990. His run includes several playoff games and the multiple Super Bowls the team has played in during the Patrick Mahomes-Andy Reid era.
"I read one time that if you ask a man his occupation, you'll find out how he pays his bills, but if you ask him his preoccupation, then you'll discover the passion of his life," Meers said, according to the team's website.
"My occupation was a mascot – I paid my bills by running around in a costume – but my preoccupation – and what I'm truly passionate about – are my faith, my family and using my life to make a positive impact in this world. That's what I try and focus on each and every day."
In addition to his role on game days with the Chiefs, Meers has also been very active as a representative of the organization throughout the community.
He's attended more than 10,000 events across 38 states and 12 countries. Those occasions range from birthday parties, weddings and proposals to schools and hospitals.
Meers got his start in the mascot business in college at Missouri, where he portrayed Truman the Tiger. Meers earned honors as the top college mascot in 1990, and that performance earned him his call from the Chiefs.
"I've learned a lot about the things we chase in life, and that those things aren't that important. Everybody is looking for joy, but they're looking in all the wrong spots," Meers said.
"I learned a long time ago that the most important things in life aren't things, but relationships, and those relationships make for a pretty good life. I wouldn't trade it for anything."
We'll see what the team decides to do after spending so many years with Mears in the iconic role.
Longtime NFL Mascot Announces Retirement After 35 Years first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 2, 2025
2025 The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.