The Buffalo Bills announced that they re-signed center Connor McGovern on a four-year deal. He was scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent entering the 2026 league year.
"It's just been a whirlwind . . . we're just happy to be back in Buffalo," McGovern said.
McGovern, 28, came to Buffalo in 2023 and started in all 49 games he played in for the Bills through the 2025 regular season as well as each playoff matchup. Over his three-year career in Buffalo, he logged 3,134 snaps on offense, averaging roughly 96.67 of the Bills' total snaps. He also took 79 snaps on special teams when he first joined the squad.
When McGovern first got to Buffalo, he played at left guard and allowed zero sacks. In 2024, he made the transition to center following former Bills offensive lineman Mitch Morse's release and has been quarterback Josh Allen's rock ever since. McGovern was also a 2024 Pro Bowl selection.
Allen took it upon himself in recent weeks to reach out to both McGovern and the Bills.
"[Allen's] always checking up . . . it was last week, he called just to check in and just make sure I was going well before free agency, trying to give his two cents on everything and then just got the ball rolling from there," McGovern said. "He was talking to both sides."
In 2024, McGovern helped lead an offensive line unit that allowed the fewest sacks in the league; in 2025, his line paved the way for running back James Cook III's NFL rushing title.
Heading into 2026, the Bills have McGovern, left tackle Dion Dawkins, right guard O'Cyrus Torrence and right tackle Spencer Brown all returning. Buffalo also re-signed versatile lineman Alec Anderson to a one-year deal.
The consistency with the unit and the desire to invest in that level of protection are things the center recognizes and appreciates about the Bills. McGovern considers himself as one of the main pillars on the offensive line, especially at the position he plays. He said he sees himself as the glue of the line who's behind the scenes while Dawkins brings the energy and hype for the guys.
"It means a lot when you have a guy like [Allen] back there, an MVP, and [Cook who's] a rushing leader," McGovern said. "You want to protect them, so you got to invest up front; and I'm very excited that I get to be one of those guys."
As he returns to One Bills Drive with his fellow offensive linemen, McGovern also comes back with head coach Joe Brady. The two experienced each other grow and develop as a player and coach, respectively, going all the way back to their Penn State days. When McGovern was a true freshman in college, Brady was a graduate assistant for the Nittany Lions.
Now, McGovern enters year eight of his professional career and Brady embarks on a new path as a first-time head coach in the NFL. He believes Buffalo is poised for big things under Brady.
"It was craziness for a couple weeks there right after the season ended. But I think, overall, we're in a better spot," McGovern said. "I think [Brady] brings a nice, new fresh breath of air . . . certainly brings the energy and fun."
Though former offensive line coach Aaron Kromer retired at the conclusion of the 2025 season, new offensive line coach Pat Meyer is very familiar and worked with Kromer as his assistant from 2015-16. The transition from Kromer to Meyer is something McGovern looks forward to the transition from Kromer to Meyer entering the 2026 season and beyond. It's another piece of consistency he values, players and coaches alike, even if it doesn't look the exact same from the season prior. The Bills also retained assistant offensive line coach Austin Gund.
McGovern, his wife and daughter have a home in the Buffalo area they live in during the season and is a place they wanted to keep their roots.
"I think we have the best neighbors and neighborhood we live in," McGovern said. "So that really helped. We don't have to go look for another house, move, pick up."
Four more years in Buffalo means McGovern will continue anchoring one of the best offensive lines in football in the City of Good Neighbors.
"I knew I loved it here [in Buffalo] . . . I knew they loved me. They knew I loved it here," McGovern said. "It was easy. It was one of those things we knew it was going to happen at some time, but it was nice to finally put that pen to paper and make sure it's finalized."
