Flannigan-Fowles, 29, is entering his eighth professional season after spending six years with the San Francisco 49ers and one with the New York Giants, appearing in 73 career regular-season games with 129 tackles, two sacks, and four pass deflections.
We have signed ILB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles to a one-year deal.@Ticketmaster | https://t.co/7FFch3HNCh pic.twitter.com/bT2H42ozxP
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) May 27, 2026
He began his career as a safety after going undrafted out of Arizona in 2019, where he totaled 243 tackles and six interceptions across four college seasons, and converted to linebacker ahead of the 2022 season in San Francisco, a position transition that proved a natural fit for his size and range.
With the 49ers, Flannigan-Fowles was one of the more reliable core special teams contributors on the roster, playing between 59 and 75 percent of San Francisco's special teams snaps in each of his four full seasons with the club.
His 2025 campaign with the Giants was his most defensively active to date, starting three of his ten appearances and playing a career-high 36 percent of New York's defensive snaps, a sample that showed he could contribute on that side of the ball even as his primary value remained on coverage units.
The Bills got a playmaker in Demetrius Flanningan-Fowles! 👀#Bills | #GoBills | #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/ygjAWRfun9
— Built in Buffalo (@BuiltInBuffalo_) May 27, 2026
The Bills drafted linebacker Kaleb Elarms-Orr in the fourth round last weekend and have a reasonably deep linebacker group headed by Dorian Williams and Matt Milano, but Flannigan-Fowles adds the kind of experienced special teams presence that has value on any 53-man roster regardless of where the linebacker depth chart sits.
He replaces Tomczak, an undrafted receiver from Louisville who was the roster casualty needed to accommodate the veteran minimum deal.
Photo Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images
