Buffalo, NY – April 7, 2025

The Buffalo Bills are locking down their future up front, sealing a 3-year, $36 million extension with rising star center Connor McGovern, sources confirmed to ESPN Monday. After months of talks—kicked off post-Pro Bowl 2024—GM Brandon Beane snagged the anchor of Josh Allen’s line before his $22.3 million deal expires in 2025 (Spotrac). “We’ve got our guy,” Beane grinned.

McGovern spilled the beans on Cover1’s latest podcast, hinting at the deal: “Talks started right after the Pro Bowl—tabled it then, but now it’s done. I love Buffalo, the locker room, the fans—everything.” The 27-year-old’s staying put, cementing Western New York’s core (SI.com).

His 2024 stat line dazzles—959 snaps, zero sacks allowed, zero QB hits, tops among NFL centers (NFL.com). Swapping from left guard in 2023 to center after Mitch Morse’s exit, McGovern’s 6’5”, 328-pound frame became Allen’s shield, fueling a Pro Bowl nod (SI.com).

Back in 2023, his debut Bills season as a free-agent grab from Dallas, McGovern logged a stellar stint at guard—paving lanes for James Cook’s record-busting 1.122 yards (NFL.com). His pass protection’s a brick wall, a big reason Allen’s 2024 MVP run hit 4,642 yards and 42 TDs (ESPN).

Bills Mafia’s buzzing on X: “McGovern locked? O-line’s set!” Beane’s cap juggling—$4.45 million left—made it work, pairing McGovern with Dion Dawkins and Spencer Brown for years (Spotrac). The trio’s continuity could lift Buffalo’s 9th-ranked run game (ESPN).

McGovern’s more than stats—he’s a locker room glue guy. “I cook for the team—pizza parties with players, families, even coaches,” he chuckled on Cover1. His low-drama vibe contrasts Cook’s standoff, easing tensions (SI.com).

Beane’s no stranger to prizing centers—Morse got multiple extensions before McGovern’s $22.3 million pact in 2023 (SI.com). Now, this deal—$12 million AAV—secures Allen’s blind side past 2025, dodging free agency 2026 (Spotrac).

The Bills’ AFC Championship run last season owes plenty to McGovern’s grit—his double-zero protection stats scream elite (NFL.com). With Cook’s fate up in the air, Beane’s bet on this rising star could be the key to cracking the Super Bowl code.