NFL fans are some of the most passionate fans in the world, and “Bills Mafia” may be the most intense of them all. The contingent of Buffalo Bills fans is known for their eccentric ways and has earned a reputation as some of the rowdiest fans in football.
The fan base is known for jumping through tables, braving the elements of upstate New York, and bringing unmatched energy to not only their stadium on game day but every road venue their beloved Bills play in on Sundays.
What is Bills Mafia, and where did the nickname originate? Let’s take a closer look.
The Origin Of Bills Mafia
“Bills Mafia” has become a mainstream term when describing Buffalo fans, but how did it come about?
The name was first used over a decade ago when a Bills fan named Del Reid replied to ESPN’s NFL insider Adam Schefter on Twitter. Reid is affectionately known as the “Godfather” of Bills Mafia, and he mocked Schefter for sharing “old news” since he was a day late to retweet something.
The origins of #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/SNLXRR2SD6
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 12, 2025
Shortly after, he and some of his other friends who are Bills fans found themselves blocked by Schefter on Twitter.
After a spat on Twitter, a separate group of people realized they were all blocked by Schefter as well.
Reid used the term “Bills Mafia” to describe those who got blocked, encouraging other fans to follow those accounts, and a rabid fandom was born.
The Evolution of Bills Mafia
Bills Mafia and the group’s reputation has grown over the last 10 years, with their tailgates and gameday experiences being described as something you need to see to believe.
Somewhere along the way, the element of smashing tailgate tables became a staple and rite of passage for the group. The moniker has taken on a life of its own since.
What once started as a group of outcasts on Schefter’s social media has become a wild fan base that proudly wears the Bills Mafia nickname.
The best time to be a fan is when your favorite team is winning, and right now is an excellent time to be a Bills supporter. Buffalo is one of the best teams in the AFC, with a superstar quarterback in Josh Allen and a solid supporting cast.
Having meaningful games to play only adds to the rivalries and stakes of these contests, fueling the fan base to bring the crazy passion that Bills Mafia does.
Last year’s Divisional Round game against the Kansas City Chiefs is a perfect example.
Broadcaster Adam Lefkoe recently appeared on “Up & Adams” to discuss last year’s Bills-Chiefs, and he spoke about how Bills Mafia treated Taylor Swift and the Kelces.
“I have heard from people very close [to the Kelces] that it was not a great experience in Buffalo. It was not — for all parties involved. And I’m talking about the most famous of all the parties,” Lefkoe explained. “I think that it kind of shocked the Kelce family and everyone related to the Kelce family the reception they got.
“They experienced Bills Mafia in full form,” Lefkoe said, adding that Bills Mafia “did their job” and treated the opposing fans with “complete ruthlessness.”
While Bills Mafia is known for being extremely passionate and rowdy, they have also made a difference by donating a ton of money to various causes. For example, $1.4 million was donated to John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital in Buffalo after Josh Allen’s grandmother passed away in 2019, and now there is a pediatric recovery wing named after her.
They have also donated to the causes of opposing players. When Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson got injured against Buffalo in the playoffs in 2021, Bills Mafia donated half a million dollars to the Louisville chapter of Blessings in a Backpack.
This is a big reason why the organization embraced Bills Mafia in recent year.
“We felt like we needed to embrace this because it had really turned into a community spirit,” said Ron Raccuia, former executive vice president of the Bills’ parent company, Pegula Sports and Entertainment. “Our players and our coaching staff have really been engaged with it, and it just became very natural.”
Why Do Bills Fans Jump Through Tables?
Bills fans started the ritual around 2015 when a video of a drunk fan falling through a table went viral. Fans started recreating the video, and a tradition was born.
Now, at Bills tailgates, it’s not uncommon to see fans jumping from their cars or buses onto a table, breaking it, and then having another cocktail to celebrate the Bills.
Buffalo is very serious about their team, and Bills Mafia has become the stuff of legend. Now, Dick’s Sporting Goods stores in Buffalo sell folding tables alongside Bills merchandise. After all, tables are part of the unofficial fan gear.
Table-slamming has become so closely linked to the Bills that ESPN has created graphics showing Bills quarterback Josh Allen jumping off a bus and onto a table during games.
The popularity of table-slamming, reckless as it may be, coincided with the emergence of the Bills Mafia. The seemingly random way in which these two elements quickly turned into traditions is part of their appeal to Bills fans.
“We started Bills Mafia before people started jumping through tables,” said Reid. Though Reid said he has never table-slammed, he said he has no issue with the practice.
“As long as people are being safe, however they want to express their fandom is fine,” he said. “People are trying to outdo themselves.”
During COVID-19, people would get together in small groups at their homes on Sundays and table-slam on their own. Bills Mafia wasn’t going to allow a small thing like a worldwide pandemic keep them from breaking tables.
“Table-slamming is about showmanship,” diehard Bills fan Ashleigh Dopp told the New York Times. “It kind of ends your tailgate.”
The Bills, as an organization, do not condone or authorize table-slamming. The team was concerned with excessive drinking and the violence of table-slamming, announcing a policy in 2018 that fans could face criminal charges, have their tickets revoked, or be ejected from the team-run parking lots for destroying folding tables.