If you’ve ever spent a freezing Sunday in Orchard Park, you know the feeling. It’s not just about the football. It’s about the wind whipping off Lake Erie, the smell of charcoal, and that specific, defiant energy that defines Western New York. Somewhere between the second and third quarter, you'll hear it. Or you’ll see it on a t-shirt. Or a sign. Nobody circles the wagons like the Buffalo Bills. It’s five words. That’s all. But for a fan base that has survived four straight Super Bowl losses, a seventeen-year playoff drought, and more "wide right" heartbreaks than any human should reasonably endure, those words are a religious text. It’s a mantra of survival. It’s the ultimate "us against the world" battle cry.
But where did it actually come from? Most people think it’s just a generic saying. It’s not. It has a specific architect: Van Miller. He was the "Voice of the Bills" for generations. During the glory years of the 1990s, when Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, and Bruce Smith were tearing through the AFC, Miller used it to describe the team’s uncanny ability to fight back when their backs were against the wall. He didn't just say it; he growled it.
The Birth of a Buffalo Legend
To understand why nobody circles the wagons like the Bills, you have to look at the 1990s. This wasn't just a good team. They were a juggernaut that everyone loved to hate because they kept winning, yet never won "the big one."
Van Miller first started leaning into the phrase during the K-Gun era. The term "circling the wagons" originally referred to 19th-century wagon trains in the American West forming a defensive circle to protect against attacks. In a football context, it was Miller’s way of saying that when the national media doubted Buffalo, or when the score looked grim, the team would tighten their ranks and protect their own.
It became the unofficial theme of the 1992 season. Remember the "Comeback" game? Buffalo was down 35-3 against the Houston Oilers. It was over. People were literally leaving Rich Stadium. Frank Reich was the backup quarterback. It was the most "it’s over" moment in sports history. And then, they circled. They scored 38 points in the second half and won. That’s the phrase in its purest, most chaotic form.
It Is More Than Just a Game
Western New York is a place that feels forgotten by the rest of the country. It’s not NYC. It’s not the Hamptons. It’s a blue-collar town that takes pride in being tougher than the weather.
When people say nobody circles the wagons like the Bills, they aren't just talking about the 53 guys on the roster. They are talking about the guy shoveling three feet of snow off his driveway just to get to the stadium. They’re talking about Bills Mafia.
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Honestly, the phrase gained its second life during the "drought" years. From 2000 to 2017, the Bills didn't make the playoffs once. Not once. In any other city, the stadium would have been empty. But in Buffalo? People showed up in Zubaz. They jumped through tables. They leaned into the absurdity of it all.
Why the National Media Still Doesn't Get It
National pundits love to use the phrase as a joke when the Bills lose a big game. They think it's about failure. They’re wrong.
The phrase is actually about resilience.
Take the 2022 season, for example. The team dealt with a historic blizzard that forced a home game to be moved to Detroit. Then, the Damar Hamlin collapse happened on national television. The entire sports world stopped. In that moment, the "circling of the wagons" wasn't about a defensive scheme. It was about the community, the players, and the fans holding each other up.
The Chris Berman Connection
While Van Miller birthed the phrase, ESPN’s Chris Berman turned it into a national phenomenon. "Boomer" has been a closet Bills fan for decades. On NFL Primetime, his highlight narrations for Buffalo weren't complete without him bellowing the phrase in his gravelly voice.
Berman understood the rhythm of it. He understood that it fit the cadence of a Bruce Smith sack or a Don Beebe hustle play. By repeating it every Sunday to a national audience, he transformed a local Buffalo idiom into a piece of the NFL's permanent lexicon.
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It’s one of the few phrases in sports that is tied to a specific geography. You don’t hear people saying "nobody circles the wagons like the Falcons." It wouldn't make sense. It’s inherently tied to the rust-belt, cold-weather, underdog identity of Buffalo.
How to Use the Spirit of the Bills in Real Life
You don't have to be a football fan to get something out of this. The concept is basically a masterclass in organizational psychology and community building.
1. Lean into the Underdog Status
The Bills are at their best when nobody expects them to win. If you’re running a small business or a small team, use that. There is a specific kind of bond that only forms when a group feels underestimated. Don’t shy away from being the "small market" player. Use it to build a tighter culture.
2. Focus on the Collective, Not the Star
Even in the era of Josh Allen, the Buffalo identity is about the whole group. Circling the wagons implies that every wagon in the circle is equally important for the defense to hold. In your own life, acknowledge the "special teamers" and the behind-the-scenes people who make your success possible.
3. Loyalty Over Results
Bills fans are famous for their loyalty, even when the team is bad. Why? Because they’ve decided that the community is more important than the scoreboard. If you want to build a brand or a following, you have to give people something to belong to, not just something to buy.
4. Prepare for the "Blizzard"
In Buffalo, you know the snow is coming. You don't know when, but you know it’s coming. Circling the wagons is a defensive posture. It means having a plan for when things go sideways. Build your "wagon circle" (your support system) before the crisis hits, not during it.
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The Modern Era and Josh Allen
When Josh Allen arrived in 2018, the phrase took on a new weight. He is the physical embodiment of Buffalo. He’s big, he’s loud, he plays with a certain "reckless abandon" that mirrors the city’s spirit.
Under Sean McDermott, the team has leaned heavily into "The Buffalo Way." It’s a culture of discipline and mutual protection. When a teammate gets hit late, five Bills are over there immediately. That is circling the wagons. It’s the visual representation of a philosophy that says if you mess with one of us, you mess with all of us. It’s interesting to see how the phrase has evolved. It used to be a way to handle grief or loss. Now, it’s a warning. It’s a statement of intent. The Bills are no longer just happy to be there; they expect to win, and they expect to do it their way.
Actionable Takeaways for the Buffalo Experience
If you find yourself heading to a game or just wanting to understand the culture better, here is how you actually "circle the wagons" in the modern day.
- Respect the Tailgate: The "wagons" are literally circled in the parking lots of Orchard Park. It’s a communal experience. If you’re a visitor, bring some food to share. The hostility is mostly theatrical; the hospitality is real.
- Learn the Shout Song: You can't truly understand the Bills without knowing the lyrics to "Shout." It’s the celebratory counterpart to the defensive "circling the wagons."
- Support the Charities: One of the coolest parts of this fan base is how they use their "circle" for good. When an opposing player gets hurt or a rival team does something noble, Bills fans flood their charities with $17 or $25 donations. That’s the most impactful way they circle up.
- Ignore the Hype: Part of circling the wagons is blocking out the noise. Don't get caught up in the "Super Bowl or Bust" talk. Enjoy the process of the season.
At the end of the day, nobody circles the wagons like the Bills because nobody else has to. Other teams have better weather. Other teams have more trophies. But no other team has a connection to its city that feels quite this visceral. It’s a bond forged in lake-effect snow and shared heartbreak, and that’s a circle that’s impossible to break.
If you want to apply this to your own world, start by identifying your "circle." Who are the people who will stand with you when the national narrative turns against you? Who are the people who will stay until the fourth quarter when you're down by 32? Find them. Hold onto them. Circle up.
To truly adopt this mindset, start by evaluating your team's internal culture. Are you protecting each other, or are you looking for someone to blame when things go south? True "wagon circling" requires a total lack of finger-pointing. It demands that the group takes responsibility for the failure so they can collectively achieve the comeback. Whether you're in a boardroom or on a high school field, that shift from "me" to "us" is the only way to build something that lasts as long as the Bills' legacy in Buffalo.