Brantford, Ont. man named Buffalo Bills’ international fan of the year

Darryl Russell, the Buffalo Bills' international fan of the year, posed for a photo in Brantford, Ont. on Feb. 16, 2026 (Courtesy: Christian Bender/Buffalo Bills)

Many people in southern Ontario may claim to be major Buffalo Bills fans, but now a Brantford, Ont. member of the Bills Mafia has the title to prove it.

Darryl Russell has been named the NFL team’s international fan of the year.

He has been a fan since 1990 and has been a season ticket holder since 2012.

In a news release, the team said his love for the Bills began thanks to his brother, who later died of cancer in 2012.

“When he attends games, he always wears his Buffalo Bills necklace with a picture of his brother and the autograph of his favorite player of all time, Thurman Thomas,” the release said.

When he’s not watching football, Russell works at the W. Ross Macdonald School for the Blind, where students are known to greet him with, “Go Bills!”

In recognition of his dedication, Russell has been invited to the NFL draft in Pittsburgh later this week.