The 2025 season was the Buffalo Bills' 56th in the National Football League (NFL), their 66th overall, their eleventh full season under the ownership of Terry and Kim Pegula, their ninth under general manager Brandon Beane, and their ninth and final under head coach Sean McDermott. The Bills started the season 4–0, but became the last undefeated team in the NFL to lose after a Week 5 loss to their division rival, the New England Patriots. It was the first time that no team reached 5–0 since 2014.
Despite the strong regular season record, the Bills faced some struggles throughout the season. This included failing to match their 13 wins from 2024 following a Week 12 loss to the Houston Texans. In addition to this, they failed to win the AFC East for the first time since 2019 after a Week 17 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.Patriots clinch AFC East title with Bills loss, first win since 2019, WCVB, December 29, 2025 Nonetheless, the Bills qualified for the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season after the Indianapolis Colts lost in Week 16. With the Kansas City Chiefs failing to qualify, the Bills now hold the longest active playoff appearance streak in the NFL, appearing in every postseason since 2019.Bills playoff picture: Buffalo's seed scenarios, possible first-round matchups, Democrat and Chronicle, December 29, 2025 In addition to this, running back James Cook lead the league in rushing yards for the season, with 1,621 total rushing yards, becoming the first Bills player to achieve this since O.J. Simpson in 1976.
It was the Bills' final season playing their home games at their current Highmark Stadium, as their New Highmark Stadium is scheduled to open in time for the 2026 season. For the first time since 2016, safety Micah Hyde was not on the roster, as he announced his retirement on January 27. The team drew an average home attendance of 70,877 in 9 home games of the 2025 NFL season, a 1% increase from the previous year.
The Bills entered the playoffs as the #6-seed, and beat the #3-seed Jacksonville Jaguars by a score of 27–24 in the Wild Card Playoffs. This would be their first road playoff victory since 1992. However, their season ended in heartbreak once again, as they were defeated by the top-seeded Denver Broncos by a final score of 33–30 in overtime in the Divisional round of the playoffs - their fourth Divisional Round exit in five seasons.
Transactions
Arrivals Position Player 2024 team(s) Date signed P Jake Camarda Tampa Bay Buccaneers January 7, 2025 TE Armani Rogers Philadelphia Eagles Atlanta Falcons January 17, 2025 WR Josh Palmer Los Angeles Chargers March 10, 2025 DE Michael Hoecht Los Angeles Rams March 11, 2025 DE Joey Bosa Los Angeles Chargers March 11, 2025 DT Larry Ogunjobi Pittsburgh Steelers March 12, 2025 S Darrick Forrest Washington Commanders March 12, 2025 WR Laviska Shenault Seattle Seahawks Los Angeles Chargers March 13, 2025 CB Dane Jackson Carolina Panthers March 14, 2025 G Kendrick Green Houston Texans P Brad Robbins Cincinnati Bengals March 31, 2025 CB Tre'Davious White Los Angeles Rams Baltimore Ravens April 17, 2025 WR Elijah Moore Cleveland Browns April 30, 2025 DT Casey Rogers New York Giants May 9, 2025 WR Kristian Wilkerson Las Vegas Raiders May 20, 2025 DT Marcus Harris Houston Texans New England Patriots June 6, 2025 LB Shaq Thompson Carolina Panthers June 10, 2025 TE Matt Sokol Pittsburgh Steelers July 22, 2025 LB Jimmy Ciarlo New York Jets August 6, 2025 S Jordan Poyer Miami Dolphins August 27, 2025 S Sam Franklin Jr. Carolina Panthers DE Andre Jones Jr. Washington Commanders August 28, 2025 WR Gabe Davis Jacksonville Jaguars September 2, 2025 K Matt Prater Arizona Cardinals September 9, 2025 P Cameron Johnston Pittsburgh Steelers DT Phidarian Mathis Washington Commanders New York Jets September 10, 2025 P Mitch Wishnowsky Washington Commanders (2025) September 30, 2025 WR Mecole Hardman Green Bay Packers (2025) November 11, 2025 DE Morgan Fox Los Angeles Chargers November 12, 2025 DE Shaq Lawson Carolina Panthers November 25, 2025 WR Brandin Cooks New Orleans Saints (2025) S Darnell Savage Washington Commanders (2025) December 5, 2025 K Michael Badgley Indianapolis Colts (2025) December 16, 2025 DE Matthew Judon Miami Dolphins (2025) December 20, 2025
Departures Position Player 2025 team Date signed Notes DT Eli Ankou — Free Agent Contracts expired January 26, 2025 C Will Clapp New Orleans Saints March 13, 2025 FS Micah Hyde — Retired SS Kareem Jackson — Free Agent DE Kingsley Jonathan Houston Texans February 7, 2025 LB Tyreek Maddox-Williams — Free Agent DE Casey Toohill Houston Texans March 13, 2025 OT Tommy Doyle — Retired P Sam Martin Carolina Panthers March 11, 2025 Released March 6, 2025 LB Von Miller Washington Commanders July 21, 2025 Released March 9, 2025 WR Amari Cooper — Retired Contracts expired March 12, 2025 CB Rasul Douglas Miami Dolphins August 26, 2025 WR Mack Hollins New England Patriots March 10, 2025 DT Quinton Jefferson Detroit Lions September 24, 2025 DT Austin Johnson Jacksonville Jaguars August 4, 2025 TE Quintin Morris Jacksonville Jaguars May 14, 2025 DE Dawuane Smoot Jacksonville Jaguars June 3, 2025
Trades Position Arrived From Date of trade Departed CB 2025 5th-round pick 2026 7th-round pick Dallas Cowboys March 12, 2025 Kaiir Elam 2025 6th-round pick
Draft
+ 2025 Buffalo Bills draft selections Round Selection Player Position College Notes 1 30 Maxwell Hairston CB Kentucky 2 41 T. J. Sanders DT South Carolina From Bears 56 Traded to the Chicago Bears From Vikings via Texans 62 Traded to the Chicago Bears 3 72 Landon Jackson DE Arkansas From Bears 94 Traded to the Cleveland Browns 4 109 Deone Walker DT Kentucky From To From Bears 132 Traded to the Chicago Bears 5 166 Traded to the Houston Texans 169 Traded to the Chicago Bears Compensatory selection 170 Jordan Hancock CB Ohio State Compensatory selection; from Cowboys 173 Jackson Hawes TE Georgia Tech Compensatory selection 6 177 Dorian Strong CB Virginia Tech From Giants 204 Traded to the Dallas Cowboys From Browns 206 Chase Lundt OT UConn 7 240 Kaden Prather WR Maryland From Bears 246 Traded to the New York Giants Draft trades
Notes The Bills received two fifth-round compensatory selections (169th and 173rd overall) for WR Gabe Davis signing with the Jacksonville Jaguars and DE Leonard Floyd signing with the San Francisco 49ers last offseason.
+ 2025 Buffalo Bills undrafted free agents Name Position College Ref. Kelly Akharaiyi WR Mississippi State Stephen Gosnell WR Virginia Tech Hal Presley WR Baylor Keleki Latu TE Washington Jacob Bayer C Arkansas State Rush Reimer G California Wande Owens S New Hampshire Daryl Porter Jr. CB Miami (FL) Keonta Jenkins LB Virginia Tech Paris Shand DE LSU Hayden Harris DE Montana Devin Brandt-Epps DT New Mexico
Staff
Final roster
Preseason The Bills' training camp and preseason were featured on the HBO documentary series Hard Knocks.
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 New York Giants L 25–34 0–1 Highmark Stadium Recap 2 at Chicago Bears L 0–38 0–2 Soldier Field Recap 3 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 23–19 1–2 Raymond James Stadium Recap
Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 7 Baltimore Ravens W 41–40 1–0 Highmark Stadium Recap 2 September 14 at New York Jets W 30–10 2–0 MetLife Stadium Recap 3 Miami Dolphins W 31–21 3–0 Highmark Stadium Recap 4 September 28 New Orleans Saints W 31–19 4–0 Highmark Stadium Recap 5 October 5 New England Patriots L 20–23 4–1 Highmark Stadium Recap 6 at Atlanta Falcons L 14–24 4–2 Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap 7Bye 8 October 26 at Carolina Panthers W 40–9 5–2 Bank of America Stadium Recap 9 November 2 Kansas City Chiefs W 28–21 6–2 Highmark Stadium Recap 10 November 9 at Miami Dolphins L 13–30 6–3 Hard Rock Stadium Recap 11 November 16 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 44–32 7–3 Highmark Stadium Recap 12 at Houston Texans L 19–23 7–4 NRG Stadium Recap 13 November 30 at Pittsburgh Steelers W 26–7 8–4 Acrisure Stadium Recap 14 December 7 Cincinnati Bengals W 39–34 9–4 Highmark Stadium Recap 15 December 14 at New England Patriots W 35–31 10–4 Gillette Stadium Recap 16 December 21 at Cleveland Browns W 23–20 11–4 Huntington Bank Field Recap 17 December 28 Philadelphia Eagles L 12–13 11–5 Highmark Stadium Recap 18 January 4 New York Jets W 35–8 12–5 Highmark Stadium Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries Week 1: vs. Baltimore Ravens
Beginning their final season in Highmark Stadium, the Bills started the game strong, charging down the field and ending the drive with a passing touchdown from Josh Allen to Dalton Kincaid. The defense also started off strong, only allowing the Ravens a field goal by Tyler Loop to start the game off 7–3. However, things would begin to take a turn when the Ravens answered back as Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson scored rushing touchdowns in quick succession. The half would end with three consecutive field goals, two for the Bills by Matt Prater filling in for Tyler Bass, and one for the Ravens.
Going into the second half at 13–20, the game turned into an offensive shootout. For the Ravens, Jackson would throw two touchdown passes to Zay Flowers and DeAndre Hopkins respectively, while Henry rushed for another touchdown that put the Bills down 25–40. For the Bills, James Cook and Allen each scored rushing touchdowns, both scores having failed two-point conversion attempts to follow. In addition, Allen threw a touchdown pass to Keon Coleman that was deflected off the hands of another receiver. With just under four minutes of the game left and the Ravens with the ball, Ed Oliver forced Henry to fumble, setting up another Allen rushing touchdown to cut the deficit to 38–40, with the Bills failing to get the two-point conversion once again. The Bills' defense forced another 3-and-out for Baltimore, and after receiving the punt, the offense charged downfield one last time with two decisive passes from Allen to Josh Palmer and Coleman, respectively, setting up a game-winning 32-yard field goal to defeat Baltimore 41–40.
The Bills' win was their first when trailing by 15 points or more in the fourth quarter since 1967, as they scored their final 16 unanswered points in the final four minutes of the game. They would begin the season with a 1–0 record and continue their home-field winning streak at 11 games. Allen also broke the record for most rushing touchdowns in Buffalo Bills franchise history, at a total of 67 and counting. This surpasses Thurman Thomas's record of 65.
Week 2: at New York Jets
After a down-to-the-wire win in Week 1, the Bills dominated the Jets in their first divisional game of the season, thanks to a strong rushing attack led by James Cook and a blitz-heavy defensive game plan, despite key defensive starters Ed Oliver and Taron Johnson missing the game due to injury. Notably, veteran cornerback Tre'Davious White made his first start with the Bills since 2023, having returned after a season-ending Achilles injury that year and playing the 2024 season on other teams. With a substantial lead in the fourth quarter, the Bills rested several starters as Jets backup quarterback and former Bill Tyrod Taylor threw a touchdown to Jeremy Ruckert in garbage time, filling in for starter Justin Fields, who struggled all game against the Bills' pass rush and left in the fourth quarter to be evaluated for a concussion. With their 30–10 victory, the Bills improved to 2–0.
Week 3: vs. Miami Dolphins