Buffalo Bills kicker Tyler Bass is coming off likely the worst moment of his young career, missing a potential game-tying field goal late in a Divisional Round loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Since then, though, fans have done their best to lift Bass up during a difficult time. Many fans have sent hundreds of thousands worth of donations to the Ten Lives Club, a cat rescue in Western New York that Bass previously worked with. Then on Saturday, a local artist gave Bass and the Ten Lives Club a gift they won't soon forget.
Eric Jones, who is known for his snow sculptures, spent much of the day outside the Ten Lives Club designing a sculpture based on one of Sunday's most-touching moments, when quarterback Josh Allen gave Bass a much-needed hug after the game.
"When Josh embraced Tyler I made that my social media photo and a lot of people commented we should make that into a sculpture, so I was like that's the perfect way to end the Bills snow sculpture season," Jones told reporters.
The sculpture also fittingly features a cat next to Bass, representing the charity that he works so close with.
With the sculpture reportedly taking five hours to mold, Jones' work drew a big audience for its unveiling late on Saturday. For the artist of the hour, it was a perfect chance to show what Buffalo is all about.
"This is a perfect opportunity to continue that even after they lose," Jones said. "Bills fans are fans for life, win, or lose. The way Josh Allen embraced Tyler Bass after the missed field goal is indicative of the neighborly kindness that the Queen City and Western New York displays regularly."
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