Worlds collided last month when the Tennessee Titans sideline mascot T-Rac hit it off with a real-life raccoon while on set photographing his new look. Nashville's National Football League team first unveiled its new logo, uniform, and official colors in spring 2026, and a few months later, T-Rac's rebrand came. Instead of brown fur and bright blue eyes, he now has more realistic gray fur and a friendlier gaze. As part of the promo photoshoot that took place in July, the Titans extended an invite to Gizzard, one of the raccoons at Nashville-based wildlife rescue Vermin Sanctuary. "Obviously she took the assignment very seriously," Vermin Sanctuary founder Kara Kirkland said in a social media post. "Raccoons are Tennessee’s state wild animal, and getting to pair Gizzard with a character that so many Tennesseans already know and love is such a special opportunity to get people excited about our native wildlife. We want people to learn how to peacefully coexist with their wild neighbors, what to do if they find a critter that might need help, and why the wild should remain in the wild."
Kirkland started the nonprofit rescue during the COVID-19 pandemic with the goal of taking in injured or orphaned animals, rehabilitating them, and releasing them back into nature in the proper manner. She specializes in raccoons, opossums, and other "misunderstood species," and since the start, she's saved dozens of animals across Tennessee. Gizzard, T-Rac's newest friend, is working as an educational ambassador for the nonprofit, raising awareness about what to do if you encounter a wild animal that may need help. A few of Vermin Sanctuary's top rules include: don't feed it, don't give it water, and don't try to treat the injury without professional help. Also, the sanctuary advises people not to assume any baby animal has been abandoned just because it's alone. "Not every baby animal you see is abandoned," the nonprofit's website reads. "Many wild moms leave their young alone for hours while foraging nearby. Unless the animal is obviously injured, in immediate danger, or cold to the touch, take a step back and wait." If anyone has a question about what to do or thinks Vermin Sanctuary should get involved, Kirkland is available to help. Text (615) 564-0082 with the animal's location, species if known, condition, and a photo or video. Donations can be made at verminsanctuary.com. Hadley Hitson covers business news for The Tennessean. She can be reached at hhitson@gannett.com. To support her work, subscribe to The Tennessean. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee Titans mascot meets rescue raccoon: See photos