Bills Legend 'Locker Room Leader' Signs One-Day Contract with Buffalo Bills Before Retirement

Buffalo, NY – April 30, 2025

The Buffalo Bills welcomed back a beloved icon, as edge rusher Jerry Hughes signed a one-day contract to retire as a Bill, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The move, a heartfelt nod to Bills Mafia, caps a 14-year career for the “locker room leader,” whose grit fueled Josh Allen’s era and left an indelible mark on Buffalo.

Hughes, 36, played nine seasons with the Bills from 2013-2021, amassing 53 sacks, 67 tackles for loss, and 138 quarterback hits. His relentless motor and leadership defined a golden era, guiding Allen’s rise. After stints with Houston and Indianapolis, Hughes returns to retire where his legacy shines brightest, stirring emotions among fans.

“Hughes is Buffalo’s heart,” Brandon Beane told The Buffalo News’ Ryan O’Halloran. “His leadership shaped Allen and our culture.”

In 2024, Hughes remained unsigned, prompting speculation of retirement. His one-day deal fulfills a promise to end as a Bill, echoing fan chants of “Bills legend” from his 2014 season (10 sacks). James Cook, who trained under Hughes’s mentorship, called him “the soul of our defense” during Buffalo’s playoff runs.

“He’s a true Bill,” said NFL Network’s Bucky Brooks. “Hughes’s return honors Allen’s championship pursuit.”

The Bills, fresh off a 2025 draft featuring Maxwell Hairston and Landon Jackson, face a tight $5.3 million cap. Beane’s symbolic signing of Hughes, costing no cap space, galvanizes a roster eyeing a Super Bowl. Cook’s $15 million contract drama lingers, but Hughes’s legacy offers unity.

Hughes delivered a five-word message to Bills Mafia: “Forever grateful, Buffalo’s my home.” His 2014 fumble return touchdown and 2020 playoff sack remain etched in memory. As he retires, Hughes’s leadership inspires Allen’s 4,306-yard passing attack and a defense bolstered by Hairston and Strong.

Bills Mafia celebrates Hughes’s homecoming, a fitting farewell for a leader who embodied Buffalo’s spirit. His retirement as a Bill cements a legacy of heart and hustle.