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Norm & Poo, aka 'The Chefs', named Buffalo Bills 2024 Fans of the Year

Nov 01, 2024 at 11:59 AM

Alec White

Content Coordinator

Fan of the Year, October 22, 2024 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.

There aren't many things that can top spending every Sunday tailgating and watching football with your best friend.

For Norm & Poo, aka 'The Chefs', that's exactly how they've spent their Sundays in Buffalo for over 20 years. Their tailgate tradition, famous for its food and welcoming atmosphere, along with recognizable Chef hats make Norm & Poo iconic members of Bills Mafia.

'The Chefs' were surprised by a visit from Bills Legend and Hall of Famer Jim Kelly earlier this season who shared the news that they are the Buffalo Bills Fans of the Year in 2024. Norm & Poo also win a trip to Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans in February where they have a chance to win the 2024 NFL Fan of the Year.

"It means the most because we never expected something like this. We get the chef hats and the jerseys, and we get season tickets and we just love cheering on the home team," Poo said. "We just love football and love to be around the team and the stadium and everything."

The two friends started attending Bills games together in 1999 and quickly realized there was something special brewing in Buffalo. Norm & Poo haven't missed a home game since.

The Chefs' Tailgate, located on Abbott Rd. and Fay St. every Bills home game, is one of their favorite parts about being football fans, which has grown from a small group to now hosting 100-200 people, including fans from various countries who come in for Bills games.

"We come out here to every home game and do what we do, cook all our food and enjoy and have a good time," Norm said of their famous tailgate scene.

The Chefs spend nearly all week perfecting their craft to make their tailgates as memorable for fans as possible.

"Our tailgate starts on Thursdays and Fridays. So we do all the shopping and all the cooking and prepping, and then we go out here on Saturday mornings, just hanging out cooking the rest of our food out here in the lots. Sunday morning, when they wake up, we are already rolling. So come on out," Norm said.

Their iconic chef hats started as a fun idea by Poo and was something that Norm initially thought was ridiculous.

"I'm like, dude, I'm not wearing a chef hat. Man, we're gonna look silly," Norm recalled.

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But eventually, Norm caved and the pair went into a Bills football game dressed in chef hats. They had no idea it would become so recognizable.

"We put them on and the rest is history," Norm said. "Everybody loves the chef hats. Everybody wants to take pictures. Everybody give us high fives."

Poo shared that they get new hats every year, airbrushed with. Poo's hat reads "Who we with?" and Norm's reads "The Bills".

What makes The Chefs an integral part of Bills Mafia is their genuine friendship. The two love watching Bills games together.

"I guess you could call us 'The Odd Couple'," Poo said. "Norm is super hyped and I'm kind of laid back. Norm is really a rah rah guy, when we are at the game or at home, he's just always yelling 'Let's go Buffalo'."

Norm gives credit to Poo for why their fandom has taken off and is amazed and how well Poo knows the game of football.

"Poo was the one that got us started with the chef hats. So he is outstanding, because every game we go away, at home, or in the stadium, he's predicting different calls and different plays that they should run, And every time he does that, it happens. He's a big fan, he's like a coach in the stands," Norm said.

After Jim Kelly surprised The Chefs with the Bills 2024 Fan of the Year award, he shared why Norm & Poo mean so much to Bills Mafia.

"Tailgating at the Bills games is like something everybody looks forward to," Kelly said. "They embrace that 100%. They have been doing so much over the years. Keep up the great work. Hopefully you'll be able to do this many, many more years."