Dogs with a job - saving lives in a earthquake were honored in Mexico in 2017 (Rebecca Blackwell/AP Photos).
If you’re an animal lover like me, the sight of an animal visiting a football game is a highlight of the season. I worry about the animal’s wellbeing and potential stress, but if they come on their own (ideally), I’m a huge fan of their cuteness. A few animal visitors on the gridiron will be detailed below.
Monday Night Football Cat
MNF Cat was one of the many frisky feline friends that have gotten on the gridiron over the years. However, what stood out about this particular cutie was its fantastic form on the field and telling facial expressions.
Allegedly, the Monday Night Football cat is one of 300 feral cats that live at MetLife Stadium. This is according to an employee, “Cat Man,” who says he feeds them with the fiscal support of the Stadium complex owners. Cat Man brings a few cans of cat food each week because “they love the wet food.”
Indeed they do, Cat Man, indeed they do. Any cat owner can point to the hole in their wallet and name it “Fancy Feast.” A spokeswoman for the Stadium says there is no truth to this; there could be one or two wandering around. I think it’s pretty obvious who to believe here. May the 300 kitties be undisturbed as a result of our TVs being graced by feline fantasticness.
The Fart Squirrel
I am not above a funny nickname for a pet; indulge me. The fart squirrel, also known as a skunk, attended a football game in Cleveland, Ohio. Despite being a skunk, he was the least stinky part of the game. Apparently, wild animals are a bit of a good luck charm for the Browns; they tend to win games when, say, a skunk or an opossum is present.
Smokey the Bear
Once upon a time, many years ago, there was a super racist football team, the Oorang Indians, that required the all-Native-American team to do outrageous half-time shows that are what you find in the dictionary when you look up “cultural appropriation.” Nick Lassa, also named “Long Time Sleep,” would wrestle bears during the halftime show. or, more specifically, a bear. Surprisingly, they were sort of friends and had this wrestling thing down pat, but the fans didn’t know that. Thankfully, bears have made few gridiron appearances.
The Tree Rat
The tree rat, AKA the squirrel, enjoys a good football game from time to time. One particular squirrel stood out: Harry Bushtail, who did an interview for a reporter. Motivated by his grandfather, little Harry broke into the stadium and ran across the field in the third quarter of a 2016 Green Bay Packers game.
Does this squirrel have what it takes to play on Sunday? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/mXVojLn3Z1
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) September 23, 2017
Bushtail reports that he did this for his grandfather, for himself, and to fulfill multiple generations of dreams. Nevertheless, his valiant attempts didn’t help the Packers win. Frankly, if Harry Bushtail doesn’t help lead you to a win, that’s on y’all Green Bay.
The Goodest of Boys
Many a pupper has made their way onto the gridiron over the years. From first responder dogs (in protective eyewear) being honored in a ceremony during a game commemorating all who helped during an earthquake in Central Mexico in 2017; to service dogs in training being sponsored by a team; to, of course, the ever-famous frisbee dogs doing their jobs during halftime, puppies have always been a key part of the gridiron experience.
Thanksgiving Dinner
On November 13th, 1988, Thanksgiving dinner arrived on the gridiron, and no one knew who delivered it. In fact, it took 30 years for the Green Bay police force to solve the crime. The turkey in question, Henrietta, was not harmed in the production of this prank. She lived the rest of her life on a rescue farm and not in a crockpot, so all is well that ends well.
However, things weren’t quite so calm when she made her debut that day in 1988, though. The trespassing turkey was allegedly snuck through in a box by a beer vendor and awoken at the end of the 1st quarter of the game. So, Henrietta was none too happy, and the beer vendor had to wrestle her under his coat with feathers flying in the bathroom.
Soon the pissed-off poultry did try to make a run for it and managed to sneak its head out of the jacket in time for another person to see it, but that person did not see something and say something, and so as a result, Henrietta flew. It was more like she was pushed onto the gridiron from the first row of seats, where she hit the ground and started running. The good news? She didn’t have to spend any time in the slammer; the governor was kind enough to pardon her.
A Precious Pigeon
Read this story and don’t tear up. I triple-dog dare you. In October 2009, the Raiders defeated the Eagles in a rare win. This precious pigeon lined up with the rest of the team and flew alongside them, seemingly knowing who he was supposed to block. How did he know that?
Can't forget when a pigeon helped the Raiders on kickoff coverage 😂
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) May 5, 2020
(via @nflthrowback) pic.twitter.com/XXB9FI0cix
Teammates swear that the pigeon was Marquis Cooper, a former Raider who was presumed dead and had been missing since he was in a boating accident earlier that year. The pigeon lined up in the exact spot that Marquis would have had he been playing, and he flew in the direction of the person Brown would have covered. What do I think happened? Somethings cannot be explained with logic and science.
And… a Monkey Riding a Dog
The Bengals put miniature monkeys in uniform and saddled them on the backs of sheepdogs during halftime of their 2016 season. Honestly, it’s a little hard to believe that this got past PETA, but it sure is a sight to behold.
Honorable mentions go to the Quail that got a touchdown.
Did I miss any animals? Let me know down below.
