Death Threats and Charity: Tyler Bass Miss Leads to Bills Mafia Donations - And Abuse

Death Threats and Charity: Tyler Bass Miss Leads to Buffalo Bills Mafia Donations - And Abuse

Buffalo Bills kicker Tyler Bass missed a potential game-tying field goal late in Sunday's 27-24 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs and was clearly as heartbroken about as even the most passionate member of Bills Mafia.

"I feel terrible," Bass said after the game. "I love this team, and it hurts.''

Also hurtful: Bass deleted his social media accounts after his 44-yard try traveled wide right in the closing minutes of the AFC Divisional Round game. ... amid allegations that the veteran kicker has received death threats from supposed "fans.''

Other fans, however, have responded with gestures of support.

Bass on the bench

Kimberly LaRussa of Ten Lives Club said the organization received an influx of people donating $22 to a fund that rescues cats, all 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."

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.

This is not the first time Bills Mafia has rallied around a charitable cause.

Six years ago, they donated about $44,000 to Bengals QB Andy Dalton's foundation after he led a win that helped the Bills make the playoffs. They donated to Tua Tagovailoa's foundation after the Dolphins quarterback sustained a scary head injury in 2022.

Tyler Bass Deactivates Social Media After Brutal Miss

And most famously, they were also part of a nationwide effort that sent $9 million to Damar Hamlin's charity after the Bills safety went into cardiac arrest on the field.

Bass, 26, did not experience a great postseason as he missed three of five kicks in two games. His teammates have come to his defense, however, with star quarterback Josh Allen supporting him.

"You win as a team, you lose as a team,'' is Allen's mantra here.

Happily, the majority of Bills Mafia seems to understand that.