Buffalo Bills fans are known for their crazy antics, but last week they rallied together to defend an opposing player who was treated to a wave of internet hatred.
During Sunday’s key playoff game between the Bills and the Ravens, Baltimore tight end Mark Andrews bobbled and subsequently missed a two-point conversion that would have knotted the game in the fourth quarter. The Bills ultimately prevailed 27-25 and will meet the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game on Sunday.
After the loss, Andrews appeared sad, and Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson consoled him on camera.
“We’re a team,” Jackson explained. “It’s all of us, bruh, it ain’t just you.”
In comments following the loss, both Jackson and head coach John Harbaugh supported the tight end. Jackson reminded reporters that he was responsible for two mistakes in the first half, adding that Andrews had been “battling all season.”
Harbaugh hailed Andrews as a tough, high-character individual who he believed would handle the spotlight well. The coach went on to say that he was as proud of Andrews as he was of all of his players.
“There’s nobody that has more heart, and cares more, and fights more than Mark,” Harbaugh told the crowd. “We wouldn’t be here without Mark Andrews.”
Nonetheless, Ravens supporters vented their rage, filling Andrews’ Instagram account with bitter remarks. Andrews’ most recent post was for National Diabetes Awareness Month in November, where he highlighted the continuous glucose monitoring equipment he uses to manage his Type 1 diabetes.
In the comments section, people demanded that his contract be canceled, with some calling him a “disappointment” and others hinting that if they saw Andrews, they would physically harm him. Supportive fans left messages advising Andrews to keep his head up.
But Andrews also received a surge of support from an unexpected set of people: Bills Mafia, fans of the team that recently defeated the Ravens.
A Bills fanpage established a GoFundMe campaign to raise at least $5,000 for a Type 1 diabetes charity in Andrews’ name.
“We want Bills Mafia to donate to Marks charity for juveniles with diabetes,” the Bills Brief stated in a post on Monday. “Let’s reach a goal of at least 5k.”
That target was met within hours, and as of Wednesday evening, the GoFundMe campaign had garnered over $80,000.
The Baltimore Ravens applauded the good sportsmanship and charity efforts. “Shout out to Bills Mafia for showing support to our guy Mark Andrews and donating to the @BreakthroughT1D organization, which works towards curing and improving the lives of those dealing with Type 1 diabetes,” the squad wrote on its Twitter account.
Donors who wrote comments on the GoFundMe website also offered Andrews words of encouragement, with some stating that if anybody understood the grief of loss, it was Bills fans.
Despite appearing in the Super Bowl every year from 1991 to 1994, the squad has never won one.
Pat Pericak, a donor, stated that his son also has Type 1 diabetes and sees Andrews as a role model.
“Every day has its challenges, but as you’ve shown, you can overcome the challenges to achieve your goals,” Pericak told you. “One play does not negate all of your achievements. This is just another difficulty that you will overcome. “#BillsMafia has your back.”
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