He started games for nine different NFL teams during his career, but retired quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick still bleeds the blue and red of the Buffalo Bills.

Showing his dedication to the Bills Mafia, Fitzpatrick was memorably photographed in the stands at Highmark Stadium without a jersey in sub-zero temperatures while cheering on his former team in the 2021 AFC Wildcard round against the Patriots. New England.

Now Fitzpatrick, a former seventh-round pick, is stepping up to help undrafted rookie linebacker Joe Andreessen.

It all started when ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg reported that the NFL fined Andreessen “$4,421.29 for unnecessary roughness (helmet use) during the win over the Seahawks last week, making a tackle on a kickoff return to third quarter. What makes the retroactively imposed fine somewhat ridiculous is the fact that Andreessen’s actions were not penalized by the match officials on the field.

Apparently angered by the NFL’s punitive action against his teammate, Bills long snapper Reid Ferguson reposted Getzenberg’s report on the social media site now known as ‘money”.

This is where Fitzpatrick, also known affectionately as FitzMagic, came to Andreessen’s defense. In response to Ferguson’s post, the 41-year-old Bills alumnus offered to foot undrafted rookie’s bill.

“Send me Joe’s information and I’ll pay the fine for him…I can’t take money from Mr. Buffalo,” Fitzpatrick said.

Andreessen, a native of Western New York, wrote the ultimate Cinderella story this past offseason. Invited to the Bills’ rookie minicamp on a tryout basis, the linebacker earned a contract and earned a spot on the 53-man team. Playing on a contract that pays $795,000 for the season, he has been active for four games so far this season.

Meanwhile, Fitzpatrick is a multi-millionaire after a 17-year NFL career. After initially signing with the Bills as a backup in 2009, Fitzpatrick eventually passed Trent Edwards for the starting job. In 2011, he became FitzMagic by leading Buffalo to a 3-0 start to the season that included a thrilling victory over Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.

RELATED: Joe Andreessen’s improbable path from Bills turf to Players Field

Shortly after, the Bills gave the quarterback a six-year contract extension, worth $60 million. His tenure in Buffalo ended after the 2012 season when head coach Chan Gailey was fired. In a Bills uniform, he passed for 11,654 yards and 80 touchdowns to 64 interceptions.

Fitzpatrick has remained connected to the Bills organization over the years. He is good friends with former center and current radio color commentator, Eric Wood.

He never won a Super Bowl and couldn’t end the playoff drought, but Fitzpatrick became a Buffalo legend and for good reason.

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