Upworthy’s book GOOD PEOPLE is coming this year — pre-order now!

Shop
 Explore 

buffalo bills

Pop Culture

After Bills kicker flubbed a big kick, fans and Swifties donate $270K to his cat charity

The Bills Mafia, Chiefs Kingdom and Swifties, of all people, are sending the right message.

via IHeartRadio/Wikimedia Commons and All Pro Reels/Wikimedia Commons

Taylor Swift and Buffalo Bills Kicker Tyler Bass.

It can be a tough life being an NFL kicker. You can wind up the hero or the goat when the game is on the line. The problem in today’s sports world is that when athletes have troubles on the field, they are often the target of aggressive bullying on social media.

On Saturday, January 21, Buffalo Bills kicker Tyler Bass missed the 44-yard tying field goal in the Divisional Playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs, which ended up costing them the game.

“It’s completely on me,” he told reporters after the game. “I’ve got to do a better job of getting through to my target. I’ve got to do a better job of playing it a little bit more left when you have a left to right [wind]. I’ve been here long enough to know that you have to do that.”

After the game, Bass became the target of online harassment and death threats. He has since shut down his social media profiles.

Tyler Bass really let this ball game end on a missed kick, Bills going out sad\n\nAll I know is that Lamar Jackson ain\u2019t letting the Chiefs win it all. Mahomes shaking
— (@)

News of Bass’s treatment inspired a diverse group of fanbases to come together to show people the right way to treat players who are the subject of extreme criticism: you do something positive.

Bass supported the Ten Lives Club, a non-profit charity that saves abandoned and homeless cats in the western New York area. “He wanted to help rescue cats, and Tyler took photos with our rescue cats and we were so excited. It's not every day that a Bills player helps our cats, so we were so grateful to Tyler,” Kimberly LaRussa of Ten Lives Club said, according to WGRZ.

The kicker and his fiancée are cat owners.

To show their support, members of the Bills Mafia (the nickname of Buffalo's colorful fan base) called upon one another to donate to Ten Lives Club.

Even though the missed kick propelled the Chiefs to the AFC Championship game, members of the Chiefs Kingdom stepped up to donate money in support of Bass, too. Then, one of the world's most passionate and active fan bases, Taylor Swift’s “Swifties,” joined in asking for donations as well.

Taylor Swift is currently dating Chief's star tight end Travis Kelce. She was at the game when Bass missed the kick.

“There are a lot of Swiftie groups out there that are rallying and donating on behalf of Tyler Bass,” LaRussa told the Today Show. According to WKBW, the non-profit has received over $270,000 in donations in support of Bass.

The fact that Bills fans, Chiefs fans, and Swifties are coming together to show love to Tyler Bass shows why Taylor Swift at football games is a good thing! https://t.co/39XBXj7zLF
— KD 🌉🫶 (@thesfbaediaries) January 23, 2024

#billsmafia if you're a real fan then consider donating to ten lives club in in honor of Tyler Bass. He doesn't deserve any of the disgusting hate he's receiving, so let's at least try to make up for it by donating to a charity he supports. https://t.co/LkxhCyb7rI
— Montgomery (@monty_decker) January 23, 2024

Apparently Tyler Bass had to deactivate his Instagram. Anyone know what charity is important to him? Would be a good time to send him the right message from the fanbase instead of the wrong one. #BillsMafia
— Adam (@adampensel) January 22, 2024

Hey, #ChiefsKingdom    : @BuffaloBills K Tyler Bass had to deactivate his social media accounts due to shitty people messaging him death threats over last night's game.

He promotes a local animal shelter called Ten Lives Club.

Got $22 to spare?https://t.co/pLCPlzFwKC https://t.co/3eVN8LrOZs pic.twitter.com/kIlnI6edT9
— C.D. DyVanc 🆘️ 🗳 (@CDDyVanc) January 23, 2024

It’s beautiful to see people supporting Bass when he is dealing with public scrutiny and healing after a heartbreaking loss. But the actions of the Bills Mafia, Chiefs Kingdom and Swifties will make a massive difference in the lives of countless cats for many years to come as well.

“Ten Lives Club saves 3,000 homeless and abandoned cats in need a year, so this will make an incredible difference for our organization,” LaRussa told People earlier this week. “We are so grateful to everyone for their support and for having Tyler's back. We hope this brings him a smile, knowing what a difference he is making.”

From Your Site Articles

football

Pop Culture

Damar Hamlin breaks down in tears while honoring Buffalo Bills training staff who saved him

OK, I’m definitely crying!

ESPN|YouTube

Damar Hamlin breaks down while presenting Pat Tillman Award.

If you didn't know Damar Hamlin this past year, chances are you know who he is now. While playing football with the Buffalo Bills in the 2022-2023 NFL season against the Cincinnati Bengals, Hamlin's heart stopped after a hit, and he collapsed on the field on national television. The quick action from the Bills' training staff saved his life and allowed Hamlin to have a better chance at recovering fully.

For days, it seemed as if all of America was focused on Hamlin's recovery, collectively holding their breath to find out if he would ever open his eyes again after being placed in a medically induced coma. To everyone's relief, not only did he open his eyes, but he fully recovered and has since been cleared to play football again.

While he was in the hospital, the doctors caring for him continually acknowledged the large role the Bills' training staff had in saving the NFL safety. And at the ESPY Awards, Hamlin got the chance to present the training staff with the Pat Tillman Award for Service through tears.

Before Hamlin started to speak, he was already wiping away tears and the crowd quickly stood on its feet and cheered at the sight of him.

"Please welcome this year's recipient of the Pat Tillman Award for Service, the training staff of the Buffalo Bills," Hamlin said.

After his very quick introduction, the staff came out and embraced Hamlin in an extended huddle of hugs as he cried. The emotion was overflowing, not only for Hamlin and the recipients but for people in the audience.

"It was a massive army of specialists who came together on and off the field to do their jobs that night," Nate Breske, athletic trainer for the Bills said while accepting the award. "That team includes the Bills and Bengals athletic training and medical staffs, equipment managers, player engagement personnel, mental health clinicians, chaplains, security, on-field first responders, the paramedics and the entire medical staff at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center."

Breske went on to thank the owners of the Bills and Bengals for their guidance and Hamlin for staying alive. Watching how much love the staff and Hamlin have for each other after such a terrifying moment elicits tears of joy. You can see the emotional moment below.

From Your Site Articles

damar hamlin

Joy

Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin is awake after his cardiac arrest that shocked the world

'Our boy is doing better, awake and showing more signs of improvement. Thank you God.'

Images via Buffalo Bills and Wikicommons

Damar Hamlin is reportedly making good progress after his traumatic on-field injury.

In a recent game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest on the field after making a tackle. The game was only about 10 minutes into the first quarter when Hamlin collapsed and a flurry of medical personnel rushed to revive him.

His medical emergency immediately raised questions and put renewed focus on the safety of football as a sport and the degree to which professional sports places profits over the health and safety of the players who make the game what it is.

Hamlin was immediately transported to nearby University of Cincinnati Medical Center and the game was postponed indefinitely while the NFL focuses on Hamlin's recovery and what caused the incident. He was placed into a medically induced coma but has since woken up. According to Yahoo Sports, Hamlin is alert, responsive and asking questions, though he's still on a ventilator.

One of the first things he inquired about was who won the game, and while he can't speak, he has been communicating through writing. Doctors are hopeful as “it appears that his neurological condition and function is intact,” according to Dr. Timothy Pritts, division chief of general surgery and vice chair for clinical operations at UC Health, speaking at a UC Health Medical Center press conference.

Hamlin continues to be in critical condition in the ICU, but the news of him being alert has his NFL colleagues and their families cheering for his continued recovery. Patriots player Jonnu Smith tweeted, "Thank God for improvement just as much as we asked him for healing. If not more." Sarah Taylor, the wife of Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor, has organized for schools across Cincinnati to send get-well cards to Hamlin.

\u201c"You won the game of life." \u2764\ufe0f\ud83d\ude4f\n\nDoctors from UC Medical Center speak to the progress they're seeing from Damar Hamlin.\u201d
— NFL (@NFL) 1672948032

Even President Biden tweeted words of support, writing, “Great news. Damar, like I told your mom and dad yesterday, Jill and I – along with all of America – are praying for you and your family.” The entire nation is rooting for Hamlin to make a full recovery. And to show their support, fans have been flooding his fundraisers with money.

Hamlin's The Chasing M's Foundation was formed in 2020 right before he was drafted into the NFL as a sixth round pick in 2021. It was started as his way to give back to his community, according to the foundation's GoFundMe, where Hamlin wrote, "As I embark on my journey to the NFL, I will never forget where I come from and I am committed to using my platform to positively impact the community that raised me."

\u201cZac Taylor's wife, Sarah, started a campaign at their kid's school to make get-well cards for Damar Hamlin.\n\nRoughly 40 schools in Cincinnati are now participating \n\nvia @meghanmongillo | @Local12\u201d
— CBS Sports (@CBS Sports) 1672951300

The GoFundMe was set up for the foundation's very first toy drive, but after Hamlin's on-field cardiac arrest, fans have donated millions. Currently, the fundraiser sits at $7.5 million and it continues to climb. Hamlin's father Mario is the executive director of The Chasing M's Foundation and he is asking for people who would like to help to donate to first responders and the University of Cincinnati Medical Center's trauma center. He has also been encouraging people to buy lunch for their local first responders and trauma center staff.

The Chasing M's Foundation has a website where donations can be made to aid Hamlin in giving back to his hometown of McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania. While Hamlin continues to recover, his teammates headed to practice after hearing the good news. We certainly hope his progress continues and he recovers quickly.

If you would like to contribute to The Chasing M's Foundation's community toy drive GoFundMe, click here.

If you would would like to contribute to The Chasing M's Foundation directly, you can click here.

From Your Site Articles

damar hamlin

The Buffalo Bills just made history with its new coaching staff hire.

Kathryn Smith is their new special teams quality control coach.

On Jan. 20, 2016, the Buffalo Bills made history by naming Kathryn Smith its special teams quality control coach.

It's the very first time a woman has filled a full-time coaching position in the NFL.

Smith was an administrative assistant to the team's head coach, Rex Ryan, this season and worked by his side the past seven years (six of which were with the New York Jets).

In a statement from the Bills, Ryan said Smith has been "outstanding" and is certainly cut out for the new role.

"She has proven that she's ready for the next step," Ryan explained. "So I'm excited and proud for her with this opportunity."

The news marks another recent (and big!) step forward for women in sports.

Just this past September, Jen Welter set the bar higher when she became the first female coach in NFL history, helping to assist the linebackers for the Arizona Cardinals (it was a temporary intern position — not permanent and full-time, like Smith's).

And in July 2015, Becky Hammon cracked a glass ceiling in the NBA when she coached the San Antonio Spurs during summer league play. That's big!

But don't get too excited. Although this is all welcomed progress, we have a seriously long way to go.

Across all four major pro sports leagues in the U.S., there's still not a single female head coach (and I'd think twice before claiming it's because there aren't enough talented women to take advantage of the opportunity).

Looking at college-level athletics? Well ... the news might be even bleaker: In the NCAA, gender equality in coaching has been going in the wrong direction for years.

Former head coach of the Tennessee Lady Volunteers Pat Summitt is a true legend. In 2006, she became the first woman in NCAA basketball to win 900 career games. Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images.

In 1972, about 90% of all college coaches in women's sports were women. That figure had fallen to just 40% in 2015. And across men's college sports teams, the percentage of coaches who are women — less than 2% — hardly registers a blip on the radar, as USA Today reported in February 2015.

"There are an absolute ton of heartbreaking stories that I hear day in and day out about females that are being forced out [of coaching positions]," Erika True, the head coach of women's soccer at Indiana State University, told the outlet last year. "There is a stigma that females are not as good as or as strong of coaches as their male counterparts."

It's a stigma people like Smith, Hammon, and Welter are helping to discredit each day they head into work.

Still, social progress rarely moves forward in a perfectly straight line. And this week, we have reason to celebrate a significant step in the right direction.

Recent years have seen women gaining ground in business, Congress, and at the box office, too. It's great to know Smith's new job with the Buffalo Bills marks yet another point on the scoreboard for gender equality in sports as well.

Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images.

buffalo bills

After Bills kicker flubbed a big kick, fans and Swifties donate $270K to his cat charity

The Bills Mafia, Chiefs Kingdom and Swifties, of all people, are sending the right message.

Damar Hamlin breaks down in tears while honoring Buffalo Bills training staff who saved him

OK, I’m definitely crying!

Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin is awake after his cardiac arrest that shocked the world

'Our boy is doing better, awake and showing more signs of improvement. Thank you God.'

The Buffalo Bills just made history with its new coaching staff hire.

Kathryn Smith is their new special teams quality control coach.

On Jan. 20, 2016, the Buffalo Bills made history by naming Kathryn Smith its special teams quality control coach.

The news marks another recent (and big!) step forward for women in sports.

But don't get too excited. Although this is all welcomed progress, we have a seriously long way to go.

Still, social progress rarely moves forward in a perfectly straight line. And this week, we have reason to celebrate a significant step in the right direction.

Little boy mistakes multimillionaire for homeless man and they end becoming good friends

Nonprofit exposes 'housing cartel' behind sharp rent increases across the country

What will Earth look like if all its land ice melts? Here's your answer.

Music savant Kodi Lee gives a completely new version of 'Bohemian Rhapsody' on 'AGT'

Woman adopts a blind senior dog and spoils him for 28 days before putting him to sleep