Growing Up a Bills Fan

By Buffalo Sports Chatter Jared Crockett

Everyone has habits. Whether it’s a good one or bad one. Some people wish they could quit their habits, while others live their life around their habit. Well for me, my bad habit has always been letting the Buffalo Bills break my heart. It started out for me like most of the Bills Mafia’s started out. You were born into it. As soon as your born your mom, but more than likely your dad, dresses you in a Bills onesie. From the minute your born you are a diehard Buffalo Bills fan. We never had a choice in the matter, let’s be honest. My father is originally from Buffalo; however, I was raised in Tennessee.

Growing up outside of Buffalo, while being a Bills fan, isn’t exactly ideal. The short reason would be that no one gets it. All my friends were either Titans fans, or Patriots fans. If I’m being honest, they were just fans of whichever team was good that year. Meanwhile, I’m sitting over here wearing my Paul Posluszny jersey, thinking about who we should draft next season.

I was born in 1996. So up until now, I have never known the feeling of being a “contender”. Constantly getting teased and bullied for sticking with my laughable team was just a regular occurrence. However, I never, not once, was unfaithful to the Buffalo Bills. It was in my blood, and I knew no other way. We all said the words; “next year is our year”, but let’s be honest, we never really expected much. We stood tall with our team no matter what.

Around the country the Bills Mafia is known for getting hammered and jumping threw tables. While that’s certainly true, we are about so much more. We all know what we did for Andy Dalton after he helped us break our drought. More recently, we raised over a million dollars in honor of Josh’s grandmother; Patricia. Over a million dollars! We have also donated money to Josh Norman’s foundation benefitting small businesses. Let’s not forget about how we’ve given money to Lamar Jackson’s foundation as well. Bills Mafia is a lot more than meets the eye, and personally it’s an honor to be associated with them.

The Buffalo Bills have had a record-breaking season this year. It’s an indescribable feeling if it’s your first time living though it, and for me, it is. I’ve waited my whole life for the Buffalo Bills to be a legit contender for the Superbowl. Just typing those words is surreal. I look forward to the upcoming seasons, while having Josh under center. Josh Allen truly is the franchise quarterback we have all been waiting for.

Growing up a Bills fan was never easy, but Bills Mafia is all about loyalty and keeping your faith when times are tough. Nobody circles the wagon like the Buffalo Bills.