Buffalo Bills kicker Tyler Bass missed a potential game-tying field goal late in Sunday’s 27-24 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. While he received some hateful responses, other members of Bills Mafia showed their support.
Bass deleted his social media accounts after his 44-yard try sailed wide right in the closing minutes of the AFC Divisional Round game. Other fans responded by donating to a local cat adoption group he supports.
Kimberly LaRussa of Ten Lives Club said the organization received an influx of people donating $22 in honor of Bass. According to Katherine Fitzgerald of the Buffalo News, they raised over $7,000 through Facebook alone as of early Monday evening.
“That’s when we kind of learned that he was receiving a little hate today from yesterday’s football game,” LaRussa said. “And we were just so saddened to hear that, because everyone at Ten Lives Club, all our supporters, when they watch the Bills game, they’re all rooting for Tyler. That’s because he loves cats, and he helped Ten Lives Club last year.”
Donations swell to Ten Lives Club cat adoption group for Bills kicker Tyler Bass https://t.co/534hu1rCNp
— The Buffalo News (@TheBuffaloNews) January 22, 2024
Ten Lives Club posted a message on Facebook claiming their phones were “ringing off the hook” from people who wanted to contribute in Bass’ name.
“Tyler doesn’t deserve any of the hate he’s receiving,” the Facebook post said. “He’s an excellent football player and an even better person who took the time to help our organization and rescue cats last year. Leave our friend alone.”
It’s not the first time Bills fans have rallied around a charitable cause.
Six years ago, they donated over $44,000 to Andy Dalton’s foundation after he led a win that helped the Bills make the playoffs. They poured money into Tua Tagovailoa’s foundation after the Miami Dolphins quarterback suffered a scary head injury in 2022.
They were also part of a nationwide effort sending over $9 million to Damar Hamlin’s charity after the Bills safety went into cardiac arrest.