Goodbye to this Chiefs legend: Kansas City icon retires after 35 years
It’s not Patrick Mahomes or Travis Kelce, but the Kansas City Chiefs will see a shocking departure ahead of their historic 2025 season opener in Brazil.
Dan Meers, the man behind the Kansas City Chiefs’ beloved mascot KC Wolf, is retiring after 35 unforgettable years. While stars like Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce will return for the 2025 season, Meers is stepping away after over 10,000 appearances at games and community events.
Thank you, Dan Meers. And congratulations on your official retirement after 35 years as KC Wolf - the NFL's longest-tenured mascot. Tonight, Union Station features a special red and gold @Chiefs light show as we celebrate you and thank you for your commitment to the Kansas City… pic.twitter.com/K3Zo8sQfBL
— Union Station KC (@UnionStationKC) July 2, 2025
Chiefs mascot stepping away after decades on the sidelines
Before becoming the mascot for the Chiefs, Meers was Truman the Tiger, the mascot for the University of Missouri, from 1986 to 1990. After his run at Mizzou came to an end, he had a short stint as Fredbird, the mascot for the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team. But when the Chiefs called him up, he quickly accepted the job to portray the Kansas City Chiefs mascot, KC Wolf.
“I figured I’d do it in college and then I’d get a real job like everybody else, but when I was doing Fred Bird for the Cardinals and finishing up college, I got a call out of the blue from the Kansas City Chiefs,” Meers said. “They asked if I’d be interested in this new mascot program that they were starting up called KC Wolf, so I got to thinking about it and just thought it’d be a great opportunity.”
He spent the next three and a half decades in Kansas City. In those 35 years, Meers became a beloved part of the team. From tackling a drunk fan at the 2001 Pro Bowl and at a home game in 2007, to suffering severe injuries while practicing a zipline stunt, Meers told the Chiefs that he wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.
“I have countless stories,” Meers said. “In one word, it has been so joyful. 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. 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.”
The Chiefs have not yet revealed who will take over for Meers as KC Wolf, but whoever it is will have big paws to fill. Meers leaves behind a legacy unmatched in mascot history.
To the next KC Wolf... pic.twitter.com/bheOHVP0JP
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) July 1, 2025
The Chiefs enter a new chapter without their iconic sideline presence, starting with their season opener in Brazil against division rivals Los Angeles Chargers on Friday, September 5.
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