Bills Mafia raises more than $60K to Mark Andrews-backed charity after Ravens TE received death threats

Buffalo Bills fans — best known as Bills Mafia — have shown out in full support of Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews following this past Sunday’s AFC Divisional Round.

Andrews dropped the potential game-tying two-point conversion pass from Lamar Jackson with just over a minute remaining in the fourth quarter. Baltimore lost, 27-25, and Andrews became the source of blame for many. The 29-year-old even received death threats on social media.

Bills fan Nicholas Howard has since started a GoFundMe to back Breakthrough T1D, a global Type 1 diabetes research organization that Andrews has supported. As of Wednesday afternoon, the fund has raised $64,000 for the charity.

“As many of you know, Ravens TE wasn’t able to catch the game-tying 2-point conversion and upset Ravens fans,” Howard wrote. “On top of that, the TE has been receiving death threats and nasty comments after his performance last night. We want Bills Mafia to donate to Marks charity for [Type 1] diabetes.”

Andrews was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes as a child. Breakthrough T1D said the donations will help support the population who, like Andrews, live with the autoimmune disease.

“Breakthrough T1D [formerly JDRF] greatly appreciates the generosity of the Buffalo Bills community and the many fans who were compelled to donate after Sunday’s game,” the organization said in a statement to Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN. “These donations will support research and advocacy on behalf of the 1.6 million Americans who, like Mark Andrews, live with type 1 diabetes.”

Ravens refuse to blame Mark Andrews for crucial drop vs. Bills

The Ravens publicly thanked Bills Mafia for the gesture.

“Shout out to Bills Mafia for showing support to our guy Mark Andrews and donating to the @BreakthroughT1D organization, which works towards curing and improving the lives of those dealing with Type 1 diabetes,” the Ravens said in a statement.

The disease hasn’t stopped Andrews from having a successful playing career, making three Pro Bowls in seven NFL seasons. Though he didn’t make the play that mattered most, his teammates refused to place the blame solely on him.

“I’m just as hurt as Mark,” Jackson said after the game. “[It’s not] his fault. All of us played a factor in that game. It’s a team effort. We’re not going to put that on Mark because he’s been battling all season. He’s been doing all the great things he’s been doing all season. It [doesn’t] always go our way. We want it to, but at the moment in time, it’s not going our way. We need to figure it out.”