Buffalo Bills fans—colloquially known as Bills Mafia—are widely regarded as one of the NFL’s most passionate fanbases. Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams doesn’t share that admiration of the Western New York faithful.
Adams was asked on Hot Ones Versus, a YouTube show by First We Feast, which city was home to the league’s worst fans. The six-time Pro Bowl selection listed the Bills alongside the New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles, and Washington Commanders.
The Raiders superstar appeared on the show alongside Detroit Lions wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown to promote the Netflix documentary Receiver.
Davante Adams Lists Bills Fans Among NFL’s Worst
Raiders WR Points To Antics During Snow Games
Snow games are a regular occurrence for the Bills—it is Buffalo after all. That doesn’t stop the team’s fanbase from making the pilgrimage to Orchard Park on Sundays.
It’s what Bills Mafia does after getting inside Highmark Stadium that rubs Adams the wrong way, though.
“All the snowballs and all of that during the game, that’s just a lack of respect for another man,” Adams said on Hot Ones Versus (via CBS Sports’ Jordan Dajani). “You paid to come to my game and you’re more focused on hitting me with a snowball?”
Bills fans were memorably warned to stop throwing snowballs during a December 2022 game against the rival Miami Dolphins.
Bills Mafia Also Ranked Low In 2023 Fan Ranking
Last year, FanAnalytics and Emory marketing professor Mike Lewis combined to develop a statistical model aimed at a definitive ranking of NFL fans. It included factors such as engagement, performance, market potential and the ability to attract talent.
Buffalo finished 25th, though an uptrend was noted.
“The Bills are also on an upswing in the rankings as Josh Allen has made the team a perennial contender,” FanAnalytics wrote in its recap. “The Bills may be following in the footsteps of the [Kansas City] Chiefs. If Allen takes the team to multiple titles, we could see growth in social (which indicates national following) and improved revenue performance.”
Unlike Adams, the outlet did credit Bills fans for being “spectacular” supporters of their team.
Are Bills Fans Underrated?
A group of fans that continues to support a team despite a 17-year playoff drought deserves praise. That was the case for the Bills. They made the playoffs in 1999, capping a decade that included four straight unsuccessful Super Bowl trips, and then didn’t return to the postseason until 2017.
That return to the playoffs also marked the rise of Bills Mafia as a charitable force. Bills fans donated to the foundation of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton after his late touchdown pass to Tyler Boyd helped Buffalo secure a postseason berth seven years ago.
The Bills are Buffalo. As one of the NFL’s smallest markets, the connection between the team and the community is stronger than most sports franchises. It’s hard to quantify for outsiders. Perhaps the late Tim Russert, longtime host of NBC’s Meet The Press, explained it best years ago:
Tim Russert: "Being a #Buffalo #Bills fan really isn't being a fan, it's a way of life." #FourFallsOfBuffalo pic.twitter.com/5mRliT34xz
— Luke Russert (@LukeRussert) December 13, 2015
Like Adams, not everybody enjoys the antics, whether it’s throwing snowballs or jumping through tables. That’s understandable. Yet, to suggest Bills fans aren’t one of the NFL’s best fanbases is a tough case to make. Saying they’re among the worst is a laughable stance.
Main Photo: Shawn Dowd/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle-USA TODAY NETWORK
