BUFFALO, N.Y. — There have been a few rebirths of indoor football teams across New York over the years. The Albany Firebirds are locked in for a 2025 season after the Empire had their struggles and a team with a newer league is set to start this year on Long Island.

For some who remember the Buffalo Destroyers, a recognizable name is working to bring them back. Buffalo Bills legend Stevie Johnson is aiming to get a team back in the 716.

"When I got to Buffalo, you know, I was looking at Thurman Thomas. I was looking at Andre Reed, the Jim Kelly's and those guys," said Johnson. "I was looking at those guys, Bruce Smith, and seeing what they was doing in the community. And I always felt like, hey, I guess football and go last forever. You know what's going to happen after this?"

In the early phases of logistics, Johnson has his eyes on the community that's given him so much so naturally. He's giving back how he's learned to after the years in Orchard Park.

"I didn't know anything about indoor football like that. I didn't know anything before I went to a game in San Diego and met with the San Diego Strike Force," he added. "But when I did see it as, 'wow,' it opened my mind to another platform for people. I got to learn the ins and outs of the business, the Indoor Football League."

The mission is clear — the identity and location, not a heavy lift.

"Is there a team why what happened this and that? I started doing my due diligence," said Johnson. "Let's try to bring some proteins there. You know, Buffalo is the spot. The community is the best. It's the best in the world, there's no doubt about it. You tell anybody from Arizona to the top parts of the East Coast. You say Buffalo — 'Oh, that fan base.'"

So to help bring the Destroyers back to life, Johnson has enlisted the help of an old friend — fellow Bills legend and IFL alum, Fred Jackson.

"He saw the busy. He understands the vision and what we're trying to provide. He understands that this is not something that we're going to make money on," he said. "This is something that we're going to [do to] have that feeling, that fulfillment in our hearts because we help someone else — have that feeling that we felt amongst millions."

The goal is a 2026 inaugural campaign with some potential venues and partners pre-scouted. It all comes back to the startup.

"The hard part is getting investors, because, again, these people are spending their hard earned money, you know, and they have to spend it on something that they believe in," he said.

And Johnson is all in, from some turf to all the potential for the community they'll represent.

"I mean, it'll be worth it if we can get it all collectively together," he said. "It'll definitely be worth it. It'll be something special for the city."

Nothing is set in stone as of right now, although fundraising is well under way. Johnson and the group putting this together have a few solid leads on potential leagues, a venue and have purchased some of the major equipment to make that 2026 benchmark very attainable.