{"id":870486,"date":"2026-04-20T07:30:10","date_gmt":"2026-04-20T07:30:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/870486\/"},"modified":"2026-04-20T07:30:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T07:30:10","slug":"brantford-man-named-buffalo-bills-international-fan-of-the-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/870486\/","title":{"rendered":"Brantford man named Buffalo Bills International Fan of the Year"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Darryl Russell will attend the NFL draft and make a selection for the team<\/p>\n

Published Apr 20, 2026 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated 1\u00a0hour ago \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 4 minute read<\/p>\n

\"Brantford'sBrantford’s Darryl Russell was recently named the Buffalo Bills International Fan of the Year. Photo by Buffalo Bills \/Buffalo BillsArticle content<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a good chance when Darryl Russell bleeds, it\u2019s Buffalo blue.<\/p>\n

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Russell, a Brantford native and diehard Buffalo Bills supporter, was recently named the NFL team\u2019s International Fan of the Year.<\/p>\n

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It all came as a shock to the 53-year-old, who was nominated by an unknown person and then asked to take a call by his ticket rep where he thought they would go over details about a tour of the team\u2019s new stadium.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen all of a sudden I\u2019m in a Zoom call or Teams call and (former Bills kicker) Steve Christie and a couple of other representatives were there and they said, \u2018Hey, we just want you to know that you\u2019ve been elected as International Fan of the Year,\u2019\u201d Russell recalled.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was overwhelmed and I teared up a little bit. It was pretty cool.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Buffalo Buffalo Bills International Fan of the Year Darryl Russell (middle) with his step-brother Rob Johnson (left) and brother Jason Russell. Photo by Submitted \/jpg, BR, apsmc<\/p>\n

Russell\u2019s love of the Bills began in the early 1990s.<\/p>\n

In Grade 10 at North Park Collegiate, Russell\u2019s brother, Jason, and a few of their friends were fans and they all eventually attended a game together in 1992. Russell was hooked.<\/p>\n

He and his buddies continued to go to games throughout high school and they watched as the Bills lost four straight Super Bowls from 1990-93. Despite the disappointment, Russell hung in tight.<\/p>\n

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\u201cYoung kids now, they became fans probably because of Josh Allen,\u201d said Russell, who attended the 1993 AFC championship game when Buffalo defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 30-13.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor us guys when we were their age, it was because of the Fab Four. It was awesome but I never thought I\u2019d go through 17 years of nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Following the run of the Fab Four \u2013 Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, Andre Reed and Bruce Smith \u2013 the Bills suffered a massive drought where they missed the post-season from 2000-2017.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf someone had told me after the Music City Miracle (in 2000) that we wouldn\u2019t get to a playoff game until 2017, I would have said, yeah right,\u201d said Russell.<\/p>\n

\"Buffalo Buffalo Bills International Fan of the Year Darryl Russell (in suit) poses with fellow fans. Photo by Submitted \/jpg, BR, apsmc<\/p>\n

While the Bill suffered, Russell still enjoyed the atmosphere of the games and spending time with his friends and family.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a build up all week and then the big game comes and there\u2019s something about going to an NFL game,\u201d said the longtime employee at W. Ross Macdonald School who is appreciative of the students\u2019 support of Russell\u2019s passion for the Bills.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIt\u2019s insane. It\u2019s like a party atmosphere with the adrenaline flowing right from when you pull out of your driveway.\u201d<\/p>\n

Russell has made so many friends during his time cheering on the team, including superfan \u2018Pinto Ron,\u2019 Bills Elvis and Darth Bill, among others.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what\u2019s kind of neat,\u201d he said. \u201cYou meet a lot of different, what they call, characters.\u201d<\/p>\n

Breaking the playoff drought meant a lot.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just remember being in tears and thinking, \u2018We\u2019re going to do this,\u2019\u201d he said. \u201cAnd there was a part of me that was sad too because my phone was ringing off the hook, everyone was texting me but not to be able to call my brother and say, \u2018Can you believe we did this,\u2019 hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n

Darryl and Jason had been through all the ups and downs during their time as Bills fans but sadly Jason passed away from cancer in 2015.<\/p>\n

\"Buffalo Buffalo Bills International Fan of the Year Darryl Russell (right) with his brother Jason Russell (left) and their friend Brandon (Beezer) Henriksen. Photo by Submitted \/jpg, BR, apsmc<\/p>\n

Carrying on the tradition of attending games as a season ticket holder since 2012, Russell has been able to see a resurgence in the Bills as they continue to build towards an elusive Super Bowl.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI always used to say there\u2019s no one better than the Fab Four but I would say Josh Allen is the greatest thing to ever happen to Buffalo,\u201d he said of the current quarterback leading the team.<\/p>\n

Russell, who named his new dog Rusty Allen Russell, which is a nod to his own nickname and Josh\u2019s last name, would love to see his team win a Super Bowl.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s crazy because you think it\u2019s just a sport, right,\u201d he said. \u201cThere\u2019s more important things that have happened in my life like losing my brother.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe I\u2019m a little too passionate but . . . it would be crazy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Since being named International Fan of the Year, Russell has been introduced at a Raptors game and been inducted into the Water Buffalo Club \u2013 716, a group that wears distinctive hats to show their support for the Bills.<\/p>\n

As Buffalo\u2019s fan of the year nominee, he will attend the NFL draft in Pittsburgh from April 23-25 where he\u2019ll make one of Buffalo\u2019s selections. There will also be a commissioner\u2019s dinner that week where each International Fan of the Year from the 32 teams in the league will attend with one eventually named the overall winner.<\/p>\n

That person receives a trip to the Super Bowl.<\/p>\n

Russell said when people ask him if he considers himself the team\u2019s biggest fan, he has an answer ready.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t consider myself the biggest Buffalo Bills fan,\u201d he said. \u201cThere\u2019s millions of us out there. That\u2019s what makes us Bills fans \u2013 we\u2019re like a family.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo be selected is a great feeling. I just think about how emotional I would be if Jason was here because he would have been beside me the whole time. There\u2019s a part of me recognizing my brother, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

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