Buffalo, NY – Just days before final cuts, Buffalo Bills rookie running back Marcus Green has decided to step away from the 53-man roster battle to return home and care for his seriously ill parents.
Green, 22, joined Buffalo as an undrafted free agent after the 2025 NFL Draft. In the preseason, he turned heads with 72 yards on 9 carries and a 36-yard touchdown dash against the Chicago Bears—capped off by his first Lambeau-style leap into the Bills Mafia crowd at Highmark Stadium—showing real depth potential behind James Cook, Ty Johnson, and Ray Davis.
Head coach Sean McDermott praised him after the game: “Marcus runs with toughness and patience. He’s the kind of player who represents what we want in Buffalo.”
Within hours, Green issued a heartfelt statement echoing the family-first decisions fans have seen across the league:
“Thank you Buffalo Bills for the incredible opportunity to chase my NFL dream. But right now, my parents—who gave everything for me—are battling illness. My father is in advanced stages of kidney failure, and my mother is recovering from cancer surgery. I need to be with them. The NFL is a dream, but family is my foundation. Thank you, Bills Mafia, and I hope to be back soon. #GoBills”
General manager Brandon Beane offered support: “Marcus is a talented young man with great character. We respect his decision to put family first, and the door will always be open for him in Buffalo.”
Green’s choice doesn’t significantly disrupt the Bills’ RB depth—anchored by Cook and supported by Davis and Johnson—but it highlights that football is more than touchdowns and tackles; it’s about loyalty and human values.
On social media, fans rallied with the hashtag #MarcusStrong. If his family situation improves, Green could pursue another NFL opportunity in 2026—perhaps even rejoining Buffalo’s practice squad—with his preseason film giving him a legitimate shot.
