DENVER (KDVR) — Football fans packed Empower Field in Denver on Sunday to watch the Broncos take on the Las Vegas Raiders, but they weren’t the only ones in attendance. A feisty raccoon made a surprise appearance in the stands.
The game started with the Broncos down 10-0 in the first quarter, but the team came back for a 34-18 win against the Raiders, marking their first victory against them in nearly five years.
The stadium erupted with cheers, especially when Pat Surtain II returned an interception 100 yards for a touchdown.
Amid all the excitement, another spectacle unfolded when an unexpected visitor popped up. A person in Section 231 captured the moment a raccoon ran through the stands while a nearby Broncos fan scrambled to dodge the furry intruder.
A video posted on the social media platform X shows police and a response team trapping the raccoon in a bin and trying to transfer the animal to a cage. However, the animal escaped and ran through the stands as fans screamed and jumped out of the way.
Another video shows the raccoon running down the aisles at fans’ feet. The chaos eventually subsided when the raccoon was captured—again.
In a statement to Nexstar’s KDVR, a Broncos spokesperson said the following: “There was a rare occurrence that required Animal Control during Sunday’s game at Empower Field at Mile High that was promptly resolved in coordination with our stadium staff.”
Beyond the raccoon drama, the day carried extra meaning for Broncos fans. The team wore their beloved 1977-inspired “Orange Crush” uniforms for the first time this season, honoring Denver’s victory over the Raiders in the 1977 AFC Championship Game. The field was also transformed to resemble its appearance on Jan. 1, 1978, when the Broncos advanced to their first Super Bowl.
