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Sad News: Founding Bills Fan Died at 94 After Birthday Celebration at Highmark — A Final Season Ticket in Her Hands

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Buffalo, NY – The Buffalo Bills community is mourning the loss of one of its most devoted fans. Eleanor “Ellie” Patterson, a lifelong resident of Buffalo and a Bills supporter since the franchise was founded in 1960, passed away on August 23, 2025, at the age of 94.

For more than six decades, Ellie was part of every chapter of Buffalo football. She saw the team rise from its early AFL days, witnessed the unforgettable run of four straight Super Bowl appearances in the 1990s, and never wavered through heartbreak, rebuilding, and hope.

Her 94th birthday became a moment to remember. After suffering a stroke in May 2025, her family worried she would never make it back to Highmark Stadium. But on August 9, 2025, Ellie returned, celebrating her birthday at the preseason Week 1 game against the New York Giants.

The Bills lost that night, but the score didn’t matter. What mattered was Ellie, smiling in her seat, holding a sign that read: “BILLS FAN SINCE DAY ONE – 94 AND STILL CHEERING!” The moment went viral, embodying the very spirit of Bills Mafia.

The Buffalo Bills organization, deeply moved, surprised her with a full season ticket package, honoring her lifetime of loyalty.

But heartbreak soon followed. On August 23, 2025, Ellie passed away from complications tied to her stroke. The gift of a full season — the chance to enjoy one more year in the stands she loved — will now remain tragically unused.

Her family expressed their grief:

“She had cheered for this team since the very beginning. Being back at Highmark for her birthday was everything to her. The Bills gave her the gift of a season, but sadly, she never got the chance to see it through.”

For Bills Mafia, Ellie Patterson’s story is a reminder of what it means to belong: loyalty, resilience, and love that outlasts the final whistle.

Packers Rookie Cut Before Season Retires to Join Military Service
The NFL is often described as the pinnacle of athletic dreams, but for one Green Bay rookie, the path to greatness has taken a turn away from the gridiron and toward a higher calling. After signing as an undrafted free agent in May, the young cornerback fought through training camp and preseason battles, hoping to carve out a roster spot on a Packers team recalibrating its depth and identity in the secondary. That player is Tyron Herring, a Delaware (via Dartmouth) standout known as a true outside corner with length, competitive toughness, and special-teams upside. Listed at 6’1”, 201 pounds with verified long speed, Herring built a reputation as a press-capable defender who thrives along the boundary.  Waived in late August, Herring stunned teammates and fans by announcing his retirement from professional football and his decision to enlist in the U.S. military, trading a Packers jersey for a soldier’s uniform. “I lived my NFL dream in Green Bay, but being cut before the season opened another path,” Herring said in a statement. “This isn’t the end — it’s a higher calling. Now, I choose to serve my country with the same heart I gave the Packers.” Prototypical on paper for Green Bay’s boundary profile and steady on tape throughout August, Herring nevertheless faced heavy competition in a crowded cornerback room. The numbers game won out as the Packers finalized their 53 and practice squad. For the Packers, the move closes the chapter on a developmental project with intriguing tools. For Herring, it begins a profound new journey that echoes his “hidden gem” label — a player who consistently rose above expectations and now seeks to do so in service to something bigger than the game. Fans across Wisconsin and the college football community saluted the decision on social media, calling it “the ultimate sacrifice” and “proof that heart is bigger than the game.” Herring leaves the NFL, but his next mission may prove even greater.