The Buffalo Bills are a family.
In the mercenary-filled world of pro sports, it’s rare to see players develop such strong bonds with each other, and members of their community. The culture is a testament to the Bills brass, beginning with owners Terry and Kim Pegula, and running down to general manager Brandon Beane and head coach Sean McDermott.
In a recent segment on NFL Network, reporter Kim Jones was recounting two of her favorite stories from covering the Bills last season. The first was about wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who told her he was in sync with Josh Allen by the third day of training camp.
“[Diggs] said it felt like he had a second family in Buffalo,” Jones said.
It’s not surprising Diggs felt an instant bond with Allen, considering he led the league in receptions. His success is even sweeter when you think about the Minnesota Vikings sending Diggs to Buffalo with hopes he would flounder in Orchard Park. Instead, he thrived.
The bond in Buffalo’s locker room runs through all 53 players. Later in the exchange, Jones talks about right tackle Daryl Williams, and a story he told over Zoom about feeling fully at ease with his teammates.
It nearly brought her to tears. No wonder why Williams re-signed on a team-friendly one year, $2.5 million deal.
“I’m probably going to start to cry, because I’m such a wimp,” Jones said. “He said, and this was probably about three quarters of the way through the Bills season, ‘When I’m comfortable somewhere, I can open up and be myself.’ This stuff gets to me. This was a big 300-pound guy saying that to us strangers over Zoom. That is the culture the Pegula’s, Sean McDermott, and Brandon Beane have made in Buffalo. I believe in that stuff as much as I believe in scheme.”
This offseason, we’ve heard numerous players, including linebacker Matt Milano and wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie, say they couldn’t imagine signing anywhere else. Veteran wideout Emmanuel Sanders, one of the few new faces, said he admired the Bills from afar.
Something special is happening in Orchard Park. Whoever the Bills draft in Round 1 of the 2021 NFL Draft on Thursday will be one lucky rookie.