Personal Brand Blog

One of the best examples of a brand champion is the fan who loves his team no matter what and proves it rain or shine. In Denver and the Pro Football Hall of Fame via the Hall of Fans, The Barrel Man (Tim McKernan) is an unmistakable personal brand. The Barrel Man is a super fan at every home game at Mile High Stadium (INVESCO Field at Mile High now) wearing nothing but an orange barrel that covered his mid-section, a cowboy hat and boots.

The Barrel Man has been going to Broncos games since 1967 and started to become a staple in 1977. Story goes that he lost a bet with his brother over whether wearing a barrel would get him on television. He won, wearing one painted to resemble an Orange Crush can. This was during the days of the famous "orange crush defense" Everyone in Denver knows the Barrel Man.

McKernan died on December 5, 2009 of lung failure. We have heard many stories from current and former Broncos with appreciation of the super fan and the chatter has started to get The Barrel Man on the "Ring of Fame" at Mile High Stadium. We Mile High Salute you Barrel Man!

Die hard fans like me remember this spoof of the song "I Love L.A." - Check out "I love Elway" featuring the Barrel Man himself.

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