On a day meant to honor the unsung heroes who roam the sidelines, dance in end zones, and bring energy to stadiums across the country, the Houston Texans received fitting news: TORO, the team’s longtime mascot, has been inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame.

The announcement, fittingly timed for National Mascot Day on Tuesday, marks a career milestone for TORO, who has served as the face of the franchise’s spirit and fan outreach since Houston’s inaugural season in 2002. He becomes the 34th mascot to earn enshrinement, joining a prestigious group recognized for excellence at the collegiate, minor league, and major league levels.

This year’s class was highly competitive. TORO was selected from a pool of 28 nominees that included 11 major league mascots, five from minor league teams, and a dozen representing college programs. Nominees are evaluated on a variety of criteria, including on-field performance, community involvement, and overall impact on fan engagement.

TORO’s resume more than holds up. Over more than two decades, he’s become a fixture in Houston—whether rallying fans at NRG Stadium, leading school programs on character education, or representing the Texans at league events. In 2021 alone, TORO made over 300 appearances in the community, including virtual visits during the COVID-19 pandemic, a testament to his adaptability and reach.

“The Mascot Hall of Fame recognizes TORO’s outstanding performance and dedication to the Texans and the greater Houston community,” the team said in a statement. “His energy, creativity, and ability to connect with fans of all ages make him one of the most iconic mascots in sports today.”

The Texans plan to formally honor TORO’s induction with an enshrinement ceremony during halftime of a home game this season.

Who is TORO?

TORO is a costumed mascot for the Houston Texans, a major league team in the NFL, and has been described as a bovine. According to the Texans, Toro is a fun-loving bull who measures 7 feet on his tippy-hooves, which are a size 12, making him big enough to bull you over. He was drafted by the team in 2001 and has been there since then, playing as a “Centre (of Attention)“. His zodiac sign is Taurus (duh) and has a soft spot for Spain when it comes to going for a nice long vacation, especially for the running of the bulls festival. According to the Texans, his favorite song is the famous ‘Deep in the Heart of Texas’, just as it should be, and he absolutely loves to wear FurBreeze, his favorite cologne.

What all does TORO do?

While he’s best known for energizing Texans fans with elaborate stunts and choreographed antics on gamedays, the blue bull in battle red plays a far more expansive role in the Houston community. Through year-round appearances—many of which are tied to youth education and outreach—TORO has quietly built a résumé that rivals that of any performer in professional sports.

According to the Mascot Hall of Fame, TORO makes an estimated 400 appearances annually, not just in Houston and the state of Texas, but also internationally, with stops as far-reaching as Mexico, Canada, Hong Kong, and England. His programming includes elementary school visits focused on character building, anti-bullying messages, and health education. He’s also a frequent guest at local hospitals, charitable events, and civic ceremonies, serving as an unofficial ambassador for the Texans organization.

What are his achievements?

Given TORO’s active presence on the ground and on social media, he’s quite an achiever for the Texans. He was named the NFL Mascot of the Year in 2020 at the NFL Mascot Summit for his contributions during the pandemic. Specifically, he was awarded for his innovations, his ability to adapt during tough times, and his presence.

As per the Mascot Hall of Fame, “TORO innovated the concept of virtual classroom visits at the start of the pandemic, which impacted nearly 10,000 area students through 200 virtual classroom visits.” A practice that was quickly adapted and replicated by mascots from all over the country. If you thought that this was it. Well, you’re wrong. TORO is quite the achiever and even has a children’s book, “Made To Be A Mascot,” that shares his game-day experiences under his name. Here is a list of everything TORO has achieved to date:

• NFL Mascot Anchor in the Community: 2020
• NFL Mascot Stunt of the Year: 2016 and 2022
• NFL Mascot Video of the Year: 2022
• NFL Skit of the Year: 2024
• 11 X Pro Bowler
• 3rd most followed US sports mascot on social media

Who is TORO underneath the mask?

While with the mask, TORO is a source of inspiration and entertainment for many. Underneath it is Andrew Johnson who makes it all come alive.

For Andrew, the passion for being a mascot began early when he attended an assembly at his elementary school and saw K.C. Wolf, the Chiefs‘ mascot. Dan Meers, the man under the mascot, spoke to the kids that day about his job, and since then, Andrew has had only one goal. In his quest, he has been the mascot for his high school and was, for a brief time, Bobby Bearcat at Northwest Missouri State University.

He later became Meers’ backup with the Chiefs and made about 100 appearances a year as K.C. Wolf. He filled in at games for the Royals, Sporting Kansas City in the MLS, and the local minor league hockey team. This was before he got the main gig as Victor E. Green, the mascot for the Dallas Stars. Soon after, in 2015, Jonathan Frost, the original TORO, handed over the oversized mask to Andrew. Since then, he has been at it with all his strength.

He also reacted to the news of TORO being inducted and said, “We are so proud to have TORO inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame, and we share this recognition with Texans fans everywhere.” “The city of Houston helped bring TORO to life by giving him an identity within the community. We can’t wait to celebrate TORO in the Mascot Hall of Fame this season and for him to continue bringing joy to fans of all ages,” he added.