KANSAS CITY, Mo. — After 35 years of high-fives, hijinks and heartwarming community work, Dan Meers, the man behind the Kansas City Chiefs' iconic mascot KC Wolf, has officially retired.
The announcement came Tuesday on National Mascot Day, marking the end of a legendary run that began in 1990 when Meers became the original KC Wolf — a role he has held ever since, making him the longest-tenured mascot in NFL history.
“Dan Meers has been the heart and soul behind KC Wolf for 35 years,” said Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt. “He helped establish KC Wolf not only as a source of energy and enthusiasm on gamedays, but as a symbol of pride and passion for all of Chiefs Kingdom.”
A St. Charles, Missouri, native, Meers graduated from the University of Missouri in 1990 after a standout stint as Truman the Tiger, earning recognition as one of the nation’s top college mascots. After a brief time as Fredbird with the St. Louis Cardinals, he joined the Chiefs full time following the debut of KC Wolf in 1989.
Over the next three and a half decades, Meers donned the furry suit at 375 Chiefs games — including 307 regular-season and postseason appearances at Arrowhead Stadium — and took KC Wolf to six international contests and five Super Bowls. He was part of three Super Bowl titles and represented the team at 14 Pro Bowls.
“To say I’m a blessed man is an understatement,” Meers said. “For the past 35 years I’ve had my dream job. I’ve worked for the team I love, in the city I love, with the people I love. I have memories and stories that will last me a lifetime.”
Beyond the field, Meers made more than 10,000 appearances as KC Wolf at schools, weddings, hospitals, military bases and charity events across 38 states and 12 countries. He built a reputation as a motivational speaker and author, donating all proceeds from his books to global missions and founding the nonprofit Character That Counts.
KC Wolf became the first NFL mascot inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame in 2006. Meers later became the only mascot ever inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2020. He was also honored with the Chiefs Presidential Award in 1993 and the Service Award in 2016.
Fans are invited to celebrate his career by sharing photos and memories at chiefs.com/wolfmemories. Meers will remain connected to the organization as a consultant and backup KC Wolf as the team searches for his successor.