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Buffalo Bills sign quarterback three days after NFL debut with Kansas City Chiefs
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- Buffalo Bills sign quarterback three days after NFL debut with Kansas City Chiefs
Shane Buechele left Buffalo chasing an NFL opportunity. He returned with a professional debut, a birthday week surprise, and a shot at a Super Bowl ring.
The Kansas City Chiefs finally helped the Buffalo Bills in the playoffs.
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Buffalo signed quarterback Shane Buechele to its practice squad Wednesday, reclaiming a familiar arm after a brief detour through Kansas City that worked out for everyone involved, including the Bills.
Buechele could have remained on Buffalo's practice squad in December. Instead, he agreed to join the Chiefs' active roster after season-ending injuries sidelined Patrick Mahomes and Gardner Minshew . The move gave Buechele his first NFL game appearance, and allowed Kansas City to fill an immediate need.
With the Chiefs' season over, Kansas City waived Buechele the day after his debut. He cleared waivers, allowing him to return to Buffalo in time for the postseason.
A familiar quarterback returns to Buffalo
Bills quarterback Mike White celebrates as Shane Buechele throws a perfect three-for-three during position drills during the final day of Buffalo Bills training camp at St. John Fisher University Thursday, August 7, 2025 in Pittsford, NY.
Buechele, an undrafted free agent out of Southern Methodist University, first signed with the Bills in August 2023 after spending his first two NFL seasons with the Chiefs. He entered the league with Kansas City in 2021 and served as the No. 3 quarterback behind Patrick Mahomes and Chad Henne during the 2022 season, though he was inactive for every game.
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Buffalo signed Buechele to its practice squad in 2023 , then signed him to a reserve/future contract to remain with the team in 2024. His season ended before it began when he suffered a broken neck in the preseason, landing on injured reserve.
Even while sidelined, Buechele remained a fixture around the team, attending practices and games and helping the quarterback room.
A preseason statement then a tough cut
Shane Buechele #6 of the Buffalo Bills and Tyrell Shavers #80 celebrate a touchdown in the first half during the NFL Preseason 2025 game between Buffalo Bills and Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on August 23, 2025 in Tampa, Florida.
Buechele spent all of training camp and the preseason with the Bills and made a strong final impression.
He started and played the entirety of Buffalo's third and final preseason game, a 23-19 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers , completing 25 of 30 passes for 278 yards and a touchdown. Despite the performance, the Bills let him go during final roster cuts.
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Buffalo brought him back the very next day, choosing Buechele over veteran Mike White as its practice squad quarterback.
Buechele signs with Chiefs, makes NFL debut
Shane Buechele #17 of the Kansas City Chiefs rushes for yards during the third quarter of the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on January 04, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Chiefs signed Buechele to their active roster on Dec. 22, poaching him from Buffalo's practice squad after Kansas City suffered season-ending injuries to Mahomes and Gardner Minshew.
Two weeks later, Buechele finally got his NFL opportunity.
He made his professional debut Jan. 4 against the Las Vegas Raiders , completing 7 of 14 passes for 88 yards while being sacked five times in a 14-12 loss. Buechele played the entire second half and delivered a 51-yard completion to Marquise "Hollywood" Brown in the fourth quarter that set up Harrison Butker 's go-ahead 41-yard field goal with 1:01 remaining. The Raiders answered with Daniel Carlson 's 60-yard field goal with eight seconds left for the 14-12 victory.
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Kansas City waived Buechele the following day. He cleared waivers, allowing him to sign back with the Bills.
Buechele back with Bills for playoffs
Aug 23, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Shane Buechele (6) reacts with quarterback Josh Allen (17) after a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Buffalo signed Buechele on Wednesday, just one day before his 28th birthday.
The move positions Buechele to run the Bills' scout team offense during the postseason and places him back in a quarterback room where he is well-liked and trusted. Bills quarterbacks coach Ronald Curry has said Buechele has already considered transitioning into coaching once his playing career ends.
Buechele is close with Bills quarterback Josh Allen . Allen and now-wife Hailee Steinfeld attended the gender reveal party for Buechele and his wife, Paige, in November 2024. Shane and Paige attended Allen and Steinfeld's wedding in May 2025, with Paige posting photos from the wedding weekend.
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Buechele could have remained on Buffalo's practice squad last month instead of joining Kansas City's active roster. Instead, he chased an NFL debut, got it, and still found his way back.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Bills sign QB Shane Buechele three days after Chiefs debut
