Denver Broncos The Barrel Man Vinyl Figure

The Fan Who Won a $10 Bet

In 1977, Tim McKernan bet his brother $10 that he could get on television at a Broncos game. His plan was simple: show up wearing a barrel. He won the bet, and Denver gained a legend. For the next thirty years, the Barrel Man stood in the stands at Mile High in an orange barrel, a cowboy hat, cowboy boots and very little else, in sun, wind and snow.

McKernan retired the barrel after the 2007 season and died in 2009, at 69. Fans still talk about him. History Colorado has honored him with a statue in its Denver exhibit, standing for the “D” in Devoted.

The Barrel Man figure in front of its Collector’s Edition box with the NFL shield.

A Close Look

Why Fans Loved Him

He was not a mascot, a player or a paid entertainer. He was a regular fan who bought his tickets and showed up, game after game, for thirty seasons. He was there for the Orange Crush, for John Elway’s comebacks and for the back-to-back Super Bowl titles in 1998 and 1999. Television cameras found him every week, and kids at the stadium lined up to take photos with him.

The Broncos named him their Ultimate Fan in 1999. His story says something about what Denver football means: belonging, loyalty and a sense of humor.

From behind: the back of the barrel, the suspenders and the wide cowboy hat.

The Raised Finger

The figure’s pose, one finger to the sky, is the classic “we’re number one” sign. It also matches the photos fans remember: the Barrel Man on his feet after a touchdown, cheering with the whole stadium. It is a happy pose, and it is how Denver remembers him.

How to Display It

1. Next to a Broncos mug and a football on your desk.
2. On a shelf beside your ticket stubs from Mile High.
3. In a game room, where friends will ask who he is and you can tell the story.
4. Gift it to a longtime season-ticket holder who remembers seeing him in person.

Detail panel: the 10 cm height, the grinning face, the barrel and the flame-trimmed boots.

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FAQ

Who was the Barrel Man?

Tim McKernan, a Broncos fan who wore a barrel to home games from 1977 through 2007.

How tall is the figure?

10 cm (4 in), as marked in our photos.

Does it come boxed?

Our photos show a “Collector’s Edition” window box with the Broncos logo, the NFL shield and a Mile High stadium scene.