Ian Wheeler Buffalo Bills news broke Thursday, and it marks another chapter in one of the more compelling comeback stories in recent HBCU football.
The Buffalo Bills announced that they signed Wheeler, a former Howard University standout, to a one-year deal. The move comes fresh off a breakout season with the Louisville Kings of the United Football League, where Wheeler helped author one of the league’s most dramatic championship runs.
A Championship Run That Changed Everything
Wheeler’s path back to the NFL started with a dominant UFL campaign. He rushed for 541 yards on 85 carries across 11 games with Louisville, and along the way, he set a UFL single-game record with four rushing touchdowns in an April 26 contest. That kind of production doesn’t go unnoticed, especially in a league increasingly used as a proving ground for NFL hopefuls.
Wheeler saved his best for the biggest stage. In the United Bowl championship game, he broke off a 44-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter that gave Louisville the lead for good in a 27-20 win over the D.C. Defenders. He finished the title game with 81 rushing yards on 10 carries and walked away with United Bowl MVP honors.
From Howard University to the NFL
Wheeler’s HBCU roots run deep. He played at Howard University from 2019 through 2023, developing into one of the most explosive players in HBCU football during that stretch. He finished his college career with nearly 2,500 all-purpose yards and set a school record by returning three kickoffs for touchdowns. Along the way, he helped Howard capture back-to-back MEAC championships.
What set Wheeler apart, though, extended well beyond the field. He earned a 3.57 cumulative GPA at Howard, picked up MEAC Commissioner’s All-Academic Team honors, and was accepted into Howard University’s College of Medicine in 2023. That combination of athletic and academic achievement made him one of the more notable success stories to come through the program in recent years.
A Rocky Path to This Opportunity
Wheeler’s road to Buffalo hasn’t been straightforward. After going undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft, he signed with the Chicago Bears and quickly turned heads in training camp, rushing for 100 yards and two touchdowns across two preseason games. One of those strong outings came against the very team that just signed him.
Then injury struck. Wheeler tore his ACL during the Bears’ third preseason game in 2024 and was later released with an injury settlement. He spent time on the New Orleans Saints practice squad in 2025 before landing with Louisville in the UFL, where his championship-winning season ultimately rebuilt his case for another NFL shot.
What Comes Next
Buffalo announced that Wheeler will wear No. 27 as he joins the roster. For a player who started his collegiate career at an HBCU walk-on and has since become a UFL champion, United Bowl MVP, and now an NFL signee, the journey reflects exactly the kind of perseverance that defines so many HBCU-to-pro success stories.
Whether Wheeler earns a permanent roster spot in Buffalo remains to be determined. Still, his path back to the league after a serious injury setback offers a clear reminder that talent developed at HBCU programs continues to find its way onto NFL rosters, even when the route there isn’t a straight line.
