Buffalo, NY – November 4, 2025
The Buffalo Bills may have just delivered the fastest disciplinary decision of the 2025 season. Only 61 minutes after officially elevating a rookie linebacker to their 53-man roster at the exact trade deadline, the team abruptly reversed course, sending shockwaves through the locker room and league circles.
The player in question is rookie DT Tommy Akingbesote, a sixth-round pick out of Texas A&M. He was promoted to replace Ed Oliver, who is sidelined indefinitely with a quad injury. But just hours after the Week 9 win over the Chiefs, Akingbesote was arrested for DUI, ending his roster stint almost instantly.
According to the Orchard Park Police report, Akingbesote left the team celebration at Southern Junction around 1:45 AM and was stopped at 2:17 AM after swerving, running a red light, and clipping a concrete divider. His blood alcohol test registered
0.12% — roughly 1.5 times New York’s legal limit.
No injuries were reported, but an open beer can on the passenger seat and his refusal to submit to a roadside test escalated the incident. When the official police file reached the Bills around 5:00 PM, the team needed only seven minutes to issue a transaction notice: Akingbesote was waived on the spot.
Head coach Sean McDermott was direct when addressing the decision:
“This stage of the season, discipline isn’t a slogan — it’s survival. If we ignore one mistake, we lose the whole locker room.”
His words made it clear: talent doesn’t outrank accountability, not even for a rookie trying to break through.
General manager Brandon Beane added that the organization still believes in Akingbesote’s physical upside, but “trust once broken is harder to replace than a depth chart spot.” Meanwhile, Josh Allen posted a supportive message on social media, and
#Akingbesote briefly trended in the U.S. within minutes of the news.
Akingbesote later posted a public apology at 6:30 PM, confirming he would voluntarily enter a 30-day alcohol program. His agent said the 23-year-old “fully accepts responsibility and understands the consequences.” Many fans expressed sympathy once they learned it was his first known disciplinary issue.
After internal discussions and formal apologies, the Bills brought Akingbesote back — this time on the practice squad, under a strict four-week probation clause. From “deadline call-up hero” to “61-minute cautionary tale,” his story now stands as a reminder of how thin the line is between opportunity and regret in the NFL.
