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Former Bills DB Superstar Shares How a Bills Jersey Saved His Life

Former Buffalo Bills free safety Aaron Williams is retiring due to head and  neck injuries from crackback block - ESPN


Buffalo, NY –
Sometimes the most powerful football stories aren’t about touchdowns or trophies, but survival. This one begins not with glory, but with a man whose life unraveled the moment football was suddenly taken away.

He once stood at the top of the NFL, celebrated for his toughness, leadership, and fearless play in the secondary. But by 2016, a devastating neck injury against the Dolphins ended everything. Surgery followed, depression set in, and the reality of an abrupt end at just 26 years old shattered his identity. By 2018, he had nothing left but one request: to keep a single Bills jersey.

That jersey, signed by his teammates, represented the last piece of pride he held on to. In his darkest moment, it became more than just a relic of the past — it became a lifeline. Selling it gave him the means to start again, a small chance to rebuild a broken life.

Fans remember the interceptions and fiery spirit, but few knew how close he came to losing it all. Only later did he reveal that the blue and red threads he once wore had literally kept him alive.

It was Aaron Williams, the former second-round pick who wore the Buffalo Bills uniform from 2011 to 2016. Over six seasons, he recorded 257 tackles, 18 passes defended, 7 interceptions, and 3 forced fumbles. He was more than a player — he was a leader in the locker room and a spark on the field before injuries cut his career short.

Bills give safety Aaron Williams four-year, $26 million contract extension  - Sports Illustrated

“By 2016, a neck injury ended my career and nearly ended me,” Williams admitted. “The only thing I begged to keep was my Bills jersey signed by the team — I sold it for the chance to start fresh. Buffalo didn’t just give me a career — they gave me the fight to keep going.”

The Bills jersey, once a symbol of triumph, became his salvation. For Williams, it wasn’t just a reminder of his proudest days — it was the anchor that stopped him from drifting away completely.

Now his story is no longer only about football. It’s about resilience, redemption, and how even a single piece of fabric can carry the weight of a second chance.

Bills sign punter who looks just like famous comedian and their head coach
The Buffalo Bills were not joking around about upgrading their kicking game. They signed a punter who looks like comedian Bill Burr. Buffalo added Cameron Johnston and kicker Matt Prater to their active roster on Monday, waiving punter Brad Robbins after just one game. Sean McDermott now has a punter close to his likeness and a kicker close to his age. Cameron Johnston joins Bills   Johnston, 33, is an eight-year NFL veteran who has appeared in 96 games with the Philadelphia Eagles, Houston Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers, posting a career average of 47.3 yards per punt. Looking for a free mini puzzle? Play the USA TODAY Quick Cross now. A native of Victoria, Australia, he transitioned from Aussie rules football to punting at Ohio State, where he won a national title in 2014. He was Philadelphia’s starter from 2018–20, spent three seasons with Houston, and played in Pittsburgh in 2024 before a knee injury ended his year. Johnston lost the job in training camp to Corliss Waitman in Pittsburgh this year. Off the field, Johnston and his wife cover adoption fees for shelter dogs every time one of his punts lands inside the 20. He has 183 such kicks in his career. Bill Burr lookalike goes viral McDermott won't look to punt. But if he does, he'll think he's looking in the mirror. Johnston is a McDermott doppelgänger — bald head, fair skin and orange scruff — and has long been compared to stand-up comedian and actor Bill Burr. Burr acknowledged the resemblance on The Breakfast Club radio show. "Oh, yeah, I've seen that guy," Burr said. "It's scary. I concur. The guy definitely looks like me." Bills release Brad Robbins Robbins signed with Buffalo this offseason, but lasted just one game. He had the worst punting expected points added (EPA) and was next to last in punt average (39.5 yards) in Week 1. The Bills gave Robbins the boot on Monday. Matt Prater rewarded with roster spot   Prater, 41, is the NFL’s king of long kicks, holding the league record for most field goals from 50 yards or more (81). Elevated from the practice squad for Sunday night’s 41-40 win over the Ravens, he went 3-for-3 on field goals, including the 32-yard walk-off, and made both of his extra points. With Tyler Bass on injured reserve, Prater had already exhausted one of his three practice squad elevations. Prater is the second-oldest active player in the league, behind only Aaron Rodgers, and ranks 14th in NFL history \with 1,819 career points.